Response to Linda in regards to Amanda's
Wonderments -- I agree with your "Top
skills I wish students were taught at home" list. I am constantly awe-struck
at the complete lack of respect today's students seem to have. Many seem to
be lacking most, if not all, of skills in your list. I have a discussion about
respect and/or appropriate behavior with my students at least once a week.
It seems to go in one ear and right out the other.
Response to ShereeB -- I agree. A person does not have to go to college
to be successful. I do not believe that college is the right direction for
everyone. I have a good friend, who was the salutatorian of our high school
class. She became engaged during our senior year and opted not to go to college.
Several of our classmates were resentful, saying she did not deserve to be
salutatorian since she wasn't going to go to college and didn't take the college-prep
courses. She took courses that interested and meant something to her. Just
because she chose not to take college-prep courses or to go on to college,
does not mean that she did not deserve the honor or that she was unsuccessful.
She is very successful in the path she has chosen. That just happens to be
a different path that others chose to follow. There are some of my students
that will probably not attend college, partly because of lack of ability.
That does not mean that they will not be able to find a steady job and become
successful members of society.
Response to Karin -- "I wonder if an IQ test score is an accurate
measure of intellectual ability." -- I agree with you. I cannot see how
a single test, given on during one day, or even over a week's time (like state
tests) can acurately assess a student's ability. There are so many factors
that can stand in the way of a student accurately completing the tests, like
family difficulties, distractions, health issues, etc. These factors can cause
a student to do poorly on a test. How can that test, then be an accurate assessment
of his or her intellectual ability?
