Best and the brightest- LA schools?

[utvolpj]

From the story title it looks like LA is really trying to put out better students that are more prepared for college

LAUSD Looks To Raise The Bar For Graduating Seniors « CBS Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES (CBS) — Officials with the Los Angeles Unified School District were considering a plan on Wednesday that would require all students to take advanced courses and earn at least a “C” in order to graduate.
The proposal is part of the district’s effort to make every LAUSD graduate meet the minimum standards for admission to University of California and Cal State University Systems.

sounds good but hard to accomplish. That is, until you get to this part

To help students meet the tougher new standards, the district is proposing to shrink the graduation requirement from 230 to 170 units and making electives optional, according to the Los Angeles Daily News. This would allow students to repeat classes or get tutoring during the school day.

just when it appears someone is raising the bar you realize they're just lifting it off the hooks to so they can drop it to the floor

 

[Weezy]

You know that's not a terrible idea imo. I would rather somebody take calculus twice than take a bunch of electives. Most AP courses are very beneficial in comparison to their counterparts. And taking something like Calculus and Physics twice can actually be really helpful. And it's not unexpected for even good students to struggle in those courses since the material and thought process can be almost foreign. You are pushing the students, but letting them know it's not the end if they push themselves further than they can handle. Of course if kids use it as an opportunity to just sleep through it, then that's no good. But you can't change your policy based on bad apples.

I took Calculus in both high school and college despite passing out of it, but after seeing the practical side in high school (just doing the work) and then a more difficult side in college (proofs, etc.), I felt like I could teach the course. And a sound foundation in Calculus and Physics can carry you through most engineering courses.

edit: And I'll even say that AP art, history, and English are very beneficial for high school students.

edit2: And more technical/trade skills schools should be used as an option as well, but that's an argument for another day.

 

[utvolpj]

the problem is I don't think we're talking about AP classes when it says "advanced". Do you really think the LA schools aren't going to graduate anyone who can't pass Calc BC or AP physics? Come on, this is just making them take something above college algebra to get a diploma. Not necessarily a bad thing but allowing them to take it multiple times is kinda cheating

 

[Vols520]

the problem is I don't think we're talking about AP classes when it says "advanced". Do you really think the LA schools aren't going to graduate anyone who can't pass Calc BC or AP physics? Come on, this is just making them take something above college algebra to get a diploma. Not necessarily a bad thing but allowing them to take it multiple times is kinda cheating

But at least they are learning core skills. Not taking bogus classes

 

[Weezy]

the problem is I don't think we're talking about AP classes when it says "advanced". Do you really think the LA schools aren't going to graduate anyone who can't pass Calc BC or AP physics? Come on, this is just making them take something above college algebra to get a diploma. Not necessarily a bad thing but allowing them to take it multiple times is kinda cheating

I'd settle for Calculus AB...but I get your point. And you're right. I'm dreaming for thinking AP Calculus and Physics. But a kid can dream. I wouldn't mind if they gave them multiple shots at AP. For other stuff, it's probably just sad.

We need to raise our standards and stop coddling. When a kid reaches high school, when need to treat them like adults so they will act like it. And the everyone gets a trophy attitude needs to stop. Push them, and let them know that sometimes you fail...it happens. But you should always push yourself. We are a generation of men raised by women. /rant.

 

[utvolpj]

hey I took all those classes and would have loved for there to be tougher requirements. One of the valedictorians in my HS finished with a 4.0 but her Sr schedule looked like a mix between my soph and jr one. Then you see the people struggling with simple classes and they get a hold of the same diploma that everyone else did.

and I am a big fan of the trade/vocational route as well

 

[volinbham]

I don't care how many times they take it if it results in proficiency. I'd be fine if HS was only the 3 Rs.

The problem I see is that Ds will be Cs, Cs will be Bs due to grade inflation and parental pressure.

 

[tkemo]

Every school/college I attended makes it easy enough for stupid kids to make decent grades. It just lowers the bar for everyone. Some kids just don't belong in advanced classes. It serves them no purpose and takes away from others that are really preparing for college.

 

[utvolpj]

I don't care how many times they take it if it results in proficiency. I'd be fine if HS was only the 3 Rs.

I would say very little in US high schools results in proficiency for the lower students. Teachers just don't want to see them for 2 consecutive years. Passing != proficient

 

[rjd970]

Agreed that taking an advanced course twice is better than taking two elective courses that are worthless.

 

[MG1968]

I don't know if he coined the phrase, but this is what George W. meant when he talked about the "soft bigotry of low expectations."

and, elective courses can be quite valuable. My HS offered courses like drafting, auto mechanics and metal shop as electives.

 

[rjd970]

I don't know if he coined the phrase, but this is what George W. meant when he talked about the "soft bigotry of low expectations."

and, elective courses can be quite valuable. My HS offered courses like drafting, auto mechanics and metal shop as electives.

I wouldn't consider those electives worthless. Things like drawing/painting/music etc are basically glorified hobbies.

 

[volinbham]

Plenty of good electives but the core must be completed to level of proficiency. We've lost the ability to claim one subject is more important than another and as a result our education system is a joke compared to many industrialized nation peers.

 

[milohimself]

Plenty of good electives but the core must be completed to level of proficiency. We've lost the ability to claim one subject is more important than another and as a result our education system is a joke compared to many industrialized nation peers.

Depends on where you look. In Taiwan, Japan, Shanghai, etc., kids are hitting the books 60 hours a week eleven months out of the year. But in Finland, UK, etc., electives and extracurriculars are emphasized as much as the three R's, and they still whoop our ass in standardized testing.

 

[MG1968]

Depends on where you look. In Taiwan, Japan, Shanghai, etc., kids are hitting the books 60 hours a week eleven months out of the year. But in Finland, UK, etc., electives and extracurriculars are emphasized as much as the three R's, and they still whoop our ass in standardized testing.

that's because even in the EU, being educated doesn't carry a stigma, for an example of what I mean, take a look at the "Juicy Kouture" video linked to elsewhere

 

[milohimself]

that's because even in the EU, being educated doesn't carry a stigma, for an example of what I mean, take a look at the "Juicy Kouture" video linked to elsewhere

Which leads to teaching being a more desired profession, and in spite of heavy unionization virtually across the board, they are easier to fire for performance-based reasons, driving out the lemons, so on and so forth.

Also, I can't let this thread go on without this:

How can I reach these keeds?!

 

[Volst53]

I would say very little in US high schools results in proficiency for the lower students. Teachers just don't want to see them for 2 consecutive years. Passing != proficient

Also high schools get evaluated on graduation rates. Failing a student dramatically increases the likelihood of dropping out.

The school has an incentive to just push students though.

 

[JayVols]

hey I took all those classes and would have loved for there to be tougher requirements. One of the valedictorians in my HS finished with a 4.0 but her Sr schedule looked like a mix between my soph and jr one. Then you see the people struggling with simple classes and they get a hold of the same diploma that everyone else did.

and I am a big fan of the trade/vocational route as well

Until we stop treating everyone like they are going to college, education will continue to decline. We need a real dual track curriculum. Vocational students need to be taking classes that will prepare them for their vocation that has heavy doses of real world apprenticeships. College bound students need to be taking classes to prepare them for that. I like the Japanese approach to education. Seems like it has worked for them.