kitchen table math, the sequel: something new and different

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

something new and different

The first two lines of narration in a video on "Learning Cultures" by Jackson Loo and Devon Puglia:
PRINCIPAL: The mentality in education right now in America is that teachers are responsible for everything. If someone is successful, it’s because of the teacher. If someone fails, it’s because of the teacher.

NARRATOR (with enthusiasm): So what if students became their own teachers? That’s what’s happening at 10 schools across New York City under a radical new pilot curriculum called Learning Cultures.

“Giving Voice to Learning” by Noreen O’Donnell
The Daily | Monday, June 11, 2012
You have to wonder what was going on in Loo and Puglia's unconscious minds when they chose this hook for the video: that the reason to have constructivist classrooms is to relieve teachers of responsibility.

AND SEE:
Has Constructivism Increased Special Education Enrollment in Public Schools? By Nakonia (Niki) Hayes
Mathematics Education: Outwitted by Stupidity by Barry Garelick
Growth of Special Education Spending and Enrollment in New York since 2000-01

2 comments:

Barry Garelick said...

According to Jay Mathews of the Washington Post, constructivism never makes it out of ed schools, so it isn't practiced in schools. This is Dave Labaree's contention in "The Trouble with Ed Schools". That's their story and they're sticking by it.

Catherine Johnson said...

I'm going to post the transcript --- there's an amazing moment where the principal talks about group work as old-fashioned & out of date.

They've gone way past group learning!