Comments on: Refining the Message: A Re-Post and Self-Check on Fear and Irrelevance in Education http://beyond-school.org/2007/12/11/refining-the-message-a-re-post-and-self-check-on-fear-and-irrelevance-in-education/ . . . and beyond "schooliness" - notes of an uncensored teacher Fri, 29 Aug 2008 21:39:36 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Can Leopard change my spots? : thinking 2.0 http://beyond-school.org/2007/12/11/refining-the-message-a-re-post-and-self-check-on-fear-and-irrelevance-in-education/#comment-1196 Can Leopard change my spots? : thinking 2.0 Thu, 20 Dec 2007 15:45:43 +0000 http://beyond-school.org/2007/12/11/refining-the-message-a-re-post-and-self-check-on-fear-and-irrelevance-in-education/#comment-1196 <!--%kramer-ref-pre%-->[...] your friendWhat’s the key to systemic success? : thinking 2.0 on Is that a light on the hill?On Fear and Irrelevance in Education - Revised | Beyond School on Dissenting VoicesElvine on Free web tools for educatorsElaine on Why Hitler lost the [...]<!--%kramer-ref-post%--> Kramer auto Pingback[...] your friendWhat’s the key to systemic success? : thinking 2.0 on Is that a light on the hill?On Fear and Irrelevance in Education - Revised | Beyond School on Dissenting VoicesElvine on Free web tools for educatorsElaine on Why Hitler lost the [...]

]]> By: Clay Burell http://beyond-school.org/2007/12/11/refining-the-message-a-re-post-and-self-check-on-fear-and-irrelevance-in-education/#comment-1194 Clay Burell Thu, 20 Dec 2007 10:47:43 +0000 http://beyond-school.org/2007/12/11/refining-the-message-a-re-post-and-self-check-on-fear-and-irrelevance-in-education/#comment-1194 Testing Bloglines new Preview feature - let's RSS reader view and leave comments. Awesome. Testing Bloglines new Preview feature - let’s RSS reader view and leave comments. Awesome.

]]> By: Clay Burell http://beyond-school.org/2007/12/11/refining-the-message-a-re-post-and-self-check-on-fear-and-irrelevance-in-education/#comment-1124 Clay Burell Tue, 11 Dec 2007 22:04:05 +0000 http://beyond-school.org/2007/12/11/refining-the-message-a-re-post-and-self-check-on-fear-and-irrelevance-in-education/#comment-1124 Diane, that's one reason the <a href="http://students2oh.org" rel="nofollow">Students 2.0</a> blog fascinates me. It's a coalition of the willing. My hope is that other students discover the possible by the s2oh example, and catch the wave. Sonik, thanks for your nice comment, but my post apparently was unclear to you. I said I was too young "a blogger" - not a human. I'm 45 - look at that wrinkly mug in my photo upper left for proof ;) Diane, that’s one reason the Students 2.0 blog fascinates me. It’s a coalition of the willing. My hope is that other students discover the possible by the s2oh example, and catch the wave.

Sonik, thanks for your nice comment, but my post apparently was unclear to you. I said I was too young “a blogger” - not a human. I’m 45 - look at that wrinkly mug in my photo upper left for proof ;)

]]> By: sonicjk http://beyond-school.org/2007/12/11/refining-the-message-a-re-post-and-self-check-on-fear-and-irrelevance-in-education/#comment-1122 sonicjk Tue, 11 Dec 2007 11:26:54 +0000 http://beyond-school.org/2007/12/11/refining-the-message-a-re-post-and-self-check-on-fear-and-irrelevance-in-education/#comment-1122 Well Well Well.... You might be too young to write in to a blog, But I have a doubt that you are not that young, or you are very clever to your age. This post explain that this content can not be written by a too young person or a boy from school. I am very much amazed, and still if you are a kid from a school then that is a great post for the person like you. I am very happy that we have people like you in our country. Well Well Well…. You might be too young to write in to a blog, But I have a doubt that you are not that young, or you are very clever to your age. This post explain that this content can not be written by a too young person or a boy from school. I am very much amazed, and still if you are a kid from a school then that is a great post for the person like you. I am very happy that we have people like you in our country.

]]> By: Clay Burell http://beyond-school.org/2007/12/11/refining-the-message-a-re-post-and-self-check-on-fear-and-irrelevance-in-education/#comment-1120 Clay Burell Tue, 11 Dec 2007 10:32:52 +0000 http://beyond-school.org/2007/12/11/refining-the-message-a-re-post-and-self-check-on-fear-and-irrelevance-in-education/#comment-1120 Dave, thanks for the kind words and, moreover, the good instinct to cut to the "write" direction: Kris. We'd love it if you invited her to join the staff writers at S2oh. Arthus tells me he's been subscribed to (and faithfully reading) her for some time now. As for the frustrations in the faculty rooms, I hear you loud and clear. Just makes you want to start your own school, doesn't it? Dave, thanks for the kind words and, moreover, the good instinct to cut to the “write” direction: Kris.

We’d love it if you invited her to join the staff writers at S2oh. Arthus tells me he’s been subscribed to (and faithfully reading) her for some time now.

As for the frustrations in the faculty rooms, I hear you loud and clear. Just makes you want to start your own school, doesn’t it?

]]> By: David Truss http://beyond-school.org/2007/12/11/refining-the-message-a-re-post-and-self-check-on-fear-and-irrelevance-in-education/#comment-1118 David Truss Tue, 11 Dec 2007 03:31:30 +0000 http://beyond-school.org/2007/12/11/refining-the-message-a-re-post-and-self-check-on-fear-and-irrelevance-in-education/#comment-1118 Wow. There is almost too much in this post worthy of commenting on, so I will only say what can move the conversation in the right (write) direction. Kris is turning 16 soon. She wrote this post: http://wanderingink.wordpress.com/2007/05/23/how-to-prevent-another-leonardo-da-vinci/ Of all the web2.0 things I've attempted in my classroom, (superficial at best after reading this post), the most interesting thing I have done is to ask students their opinions of this critical-of-our-educational-system post. I will point her to Students2.0 and perhaps she may even become a contributor! The disappointment for me has been when I show this post to teachers... 'sweeping generalizations', or 'we do ______'(some aspect 'Murdered' according to the post), or another rationalization is quickly brought up. My stomach turned as I sat with Curriculum Leaders who all admitted 'We need to listen to students' one minute, then got their backs up watching a Marco Torres student video... 'Our school isn't like that'... Meanwhile Kris is a product of the our 'elite' IB stream... bored with school and using the web to pursue what will be a lifelong quest for learning/wisdom that lives inside her, dare I say despite her schooling. I have many links to follow in the coming days and a lot of thinking to do. Thank you for reposting this! Wow. There is almost too much in this post worthy of commenting on, so I will only say what can move the conversation in the right (write) direction.
Kris is turning 16 soon. She wrote this post:
http://wanderingink.wordpress.com/2007/05/23/how-to-prevent-another-leonardo-da-vinci/
Of all the web2.0 things I’ve attempted in my classroom, (superficial at best after reading this post), the most interesting thing I have done is to ask students their opinions of this critical-of-our-educational-system post.
I will point her to Students2.0 and perhaps she may even become a contributor!
The disappointment for me has been when I show this post to teachers… ’sweeping generalizations’, or ‘we do ______’(some aspect ‘Murdered’ according to the post), or another rationalization is quickly brought up. My stomach turned as I sat with Curriculum Leaders who all admitted ‘We need to listen to students’ one minute, then got their backs up watching a Marco Torres student video… ‘Our school isn’t like that’… Meanwhile Kris is a product of the our ‘elite’ IB stream… bored with school and using the web to pursue what will be a lifelong quest for learning/wisdom that lives inside her, dare I say despite her schooling.
I have many links to follow in the coming days and a lot of thinking to do. Thank you for reposting this!

]]> By: diane http://beyond-school.org/2007/12/11/refining-the-message-a-re-post-and-self-check-on-fear-and-irrelevance-in-education/#comment-1114 diane Mon, 10 Dec 2007 22:44:23 +0000 http://beyond-school.org/2007/12/11/refining-the-message-a-re-post-and-self-check-on-fear-and-irrelevance-in-education/#comment-1114 Clay, Many of our students have already slipped into an attitude of indifference, mirroring an adult attitude of passivity and acceptance of the world as it is. I have one student who attends area peace rallies with his parents, and some very dedicated Key Club members willing to perform local volunteer work. But by and large, the majority remains uncommitted. They are not unfeeling, just unable to comprehend the larger picture. We've spoken about student voice in class, but the concept doesn't seem to catch their interest. So I've decided to give them an assignment that will extend beyond our classroom, in hopes of lighting a fire. In New York state, qualified schools can apply for an Excel grant to use for improvements to the facility, security, and technology. The kids were intrigued by the idea of our district having some "extra" money. So I've decided that I will have each one of them write a letter to the Board of Education, suggesting possible uses for these funds. They are not spontaneous writers, so it may take more than one class to focus their ideas and get them to articulate their ideas appropriately. I will tell them that copies of their letters will be given to the Superintendent and the High School Principal. If possible, I will have one or more of the students accompany me to a Board meeting to present the final products. This is a small beginning, but I'm hoping that responding to a "real" issue might encourage them to broaden their horizons and start considering other local, state, national, and global events. I would be happy to follow their lead, if only they will take the first step. diane Clay,

Many of our students have already slipped into an attitude of indifference, mirroring an adult attitude of passivity and acceptance of the world as it is.

I have one student who attends area peace rallies with his parents, and some very dedicated Key Club members willing to perform local volunteer work. But by and large, the majority remains uncommitted. They are not unfeeling, just unable to comprehend the larger picture.

We’ve spoken about student voice in class, but the concept doesn’t seem to catch their interest. So I’ve decided to give them an assignment that will extend beyond our classroom, in hopes of lighting a fire.

In New York state, qualified schools can apply for an Excel grant to use for improvements to the facility, security, and technology. The kids were intrigued by the idea of our district having some “extra” money. So I’ve decided that I will have each one of them write a letter to the Board of Education, suggesting possible uses for these funds. They are not spontaneous writers, so it may take more than one class to focus their ideas and get them to articulate their ideas appropriately. I will tell them that copies of their letters will be given to the Superintendent and the High School Principal. If possible, I will have one or more of the students accompany me to a Board meeting to present the final products.

This is a small beginning, but I’m hoping that responding to a “real” issue might encourage them to broaden their horizons and start considering other local, state, national, and global events.

I would be happy to follow their lead, if only they will take the first step.

diane

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