In this article, Oakes against ability grouping, or tracking in classrooms. She believes that this method is only effective in helping advanced students, but leaves behind the rest of students.
- "the nature of these differences suggests that students who are placed in high-ability groups have access to far richer schooling experiences than other students?
This quote basically sums up her belief in advanced students receiving a greater benefit from tracking than other students. This is essentially the main argument against tracking in the classroom. In a classroom that isnt grouped according to ability, it is believed that students will work together, outside of their ability groups and help each other. It is the hope of a teacher that advanced students will lend a hand to other students. That being said, it is also argued that this system isnt fair to advanced students, whose abilities may 'level out', as a result of not being challenged enough.
- "In low-ability classes, for example, teachers seem to be less encouraging and more punitive, placing more emphasis on discipline and behavior and less on academic learning"
This is one of the main arguments against tracking, but also one that I struggle with. My understanding of this statement is that low-ability students have a tendency to require more attention in terms of discipline and behavior. This extra attention is needed as a result of their behavior and conduct. Or, is this extra attention needed as a result of the enviornment that these students are in? In other words, by putting all of the low-ability children together in one classroom, you are encouraging bad behavior, and providing a classroom enviornment that is condusive to bad behavior. I believe that this is at the heart of this debate. Those who argue for tracking, on the behalf of advanced students, are frustrated with advanced children sitting through a class that is dedicated to behavior and discipline, and rightfully so.
This article was short and easy to read with very basic concepts. Tracking is an issue that I have though alot about and cant seem to settle on an opinion. I was an advanced student in elementary adn middle school and was never challenged. I feel as though I recived only a small part of what I could have from my education. I am a firm believed in parent's role in this entire equation. Many children are poorly behaved as a result of poor parenting, which effects the entire classroom. I look forward to discussing this issue in class.
3 comments:
In your opinion, what is lacking in giving kids a successful education today? Are teachers to blame for the poor education, the school systems, the government, or, is it something entirely different?
There are many things lacking in a child's education. I believe that in many cases it starts at home, with neglectful parenting. Our society makes it very hard to be a good parent. Our lifestyle pace is so quick and demanding,and children are suffering for it. Many parents have no choice but to work multiple jobs. Being a middle class parent is much more difficult than it used to be. I have also found that many 'upper class' parents are actually in the same position, except they rely on daycare, or a nanny, to do their parenting, either way, the child suffers. Parenting has a direct and significant effect on a child's education. Teachers should not have to raise children, they should educate them. The role of a teacher has taken on far too many responsibilities as a result of neglectful parenting.
Our government doesn't give nearly enough funding to education, this is the case with Federal and state government. If I were able to reform or reconstruct the education system, one of my first lines of business would be to:
a. make it harder to become a teacher, by this I don't mean taking more classes at RIC, or spending more time with VIPS, or making the FSED even more demanding and impossible. I would require testing for middle and high school teachers. I hope this would 'weed out' unqualified teachers that made it through the system. This would make it a more 'valuable job'. The smartest people in our society rarely move towards education, and I think that is a major problem.
b. This would require, or course, a pay increase for teachers, which they should have anyway.
Alex- I don't have time to elaborate further, thanks for your question, I know my answer wasn't very well put together or organized. I will try to come back later and finish.
great point about advanced students not being challenged enough. either way tracking goes, it seems like one group of students is missing out.
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