Comments on: Different Students, Different Standards? http://www.thecenterformichigan.net/blog/different-standards-for-different-students/ Tue, 02 Dec 2008 00:07:10 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Robert O'Brien http://www.thecenterformichigan.net/blog/different-standards-for-different-students/#comment-37830 Robert O'Brien Fri, 13 Jun 2008 15:29:31 +0000 http://www.thecenterformichigan.net/blog/?p=881#comment-37830 Standards as we know are essential to quality whether in education,the work place or in the home. For to long Michigan has relied on a brawn over brains approach to educating its citizens. This is no better exemplified than by recent and repeated surveys of Michigan households that report only 21% of adults believe education beyond High School is essential for a quality life. Unfortunately taking more classes in scientific areas then measuring recall of facts and discreet knowledge will only drive down the graduation rate and cause a shrug of the shoulders of the vast majority of Michiganians who don't believe in a higher value of education. I believe the answer to our dilemma does lie in flexible standards partitioned by routes to success as defined by many European systems. In addition the overall assumption that by boosting standards and rigor will make the Michigan culture more compliant with educational pursuit is at the very least naive and at the worst prone to make things worse. No better we honor the true axiom of how people find a path to success regardless of lifes circumstances. The saying "You become whats expected of you as defined by those you most respect" comes to mind. If the vast majority of exemplars in Michigan expect so little from our young people then rigor and standards will not impact much of anything. Better I believe is to put in place wholesale systemic mentor systems and pathways to success programs. Systems and programs that reward intiative and effort and sideline high stakes testing and rigor to its proper place. Both are as stated needed but should not be dominant in our efforts to educate our best and brightest Standards as we know are essential to quality whether in education,the work place or in the home. For to long Michigan has relied on a brawn over brains approach to educating its citizens. This is no better exemplified than by recent and repeated surveys of Michigan households that report only 21% of adults believe education beyond High School is essential for a quality life.

Unfortunately taking more classes in scientific areas then measuring recall of facts and discreet knowledge will only drive down the graduation rate and cause a shrug of the shoulders of the vast majority of Michiganians who don't believe in a higher value of education.

I believe the answer to our dilemma does lie in flexible standards partitioned by routes to success as defined by many European systems. In addition the overall assumption that by boosting standards and rigor will make the Michigan culture more compliant with educational pursuit is at the very least naive and at the worst prone to make things worse.

No better we honor the true axiom of how people find a path to success regardless of lifes circumstances. The saying "You become whats expected of you as defined by those you most respect" comes to mind. If the vast majority of exemplars in Michigan expect so little from our young people then rigor and standards will not impact much of anything.

Better I believe is to put in place wholesale systemic mentor systems and pathways to success programs. Systems and programs that reward intiative and effort and sideline high stakes testing and rigor to its proper place. Both are as stated needed but should not be dominant in our efforts to educate our best and brightest

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