Bill Dooley wrote: > I am beginning to come around to the European school system > of culling and retracking. The Minneapolis School Board should > at least consider establishing a vocational school that would > track students into Dunwoody-type technical-vocational institutions. > In American society, under our current educational system, everyone > has a chance for the whole pie with fewer people likely to > obtain it. Under culling and retracking, everyone has a chance for > half the pie with more people likely to obtain it. The question is: in > these days of rampant consumerism and disposable goods, will enough > people be satisfied with half the pie?
While it is true that the current approach of providing "everyone" with a college predatory education is not working, I don't think that either "culling" or "tracking" are a necessary or even a positive alternatives. As Mr. Mann argues many minority students are already the victims of low expectations. My solution is to eliminate grade levels (at least in middle and high schools). Courses should be offered at incremental levels of difficulty. Students would advance according to their own interest and ability. Anyone would be free to take calculus or auto shop. Students would be free to move between college prep courses and vocational courses. One disadvantage with this approach is that it might require large schools in order to provide a wide variety of options. However, the alternative of failing to provide high school graduates with marketable job skills is no longer acceptable. The MPS need stronger vocational programs. Michael Atherton Prospect Park REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
