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At the same time, schools could get rid of computer labs and antiquated teaching materials like hanging wall maps.

Now America can have a real reason for not knowing there is somewhere called "the rest of the world" ;)
 
This is a major part of the problem with education. Too many people are willing to completely ignore the significantly better results because they would rather stick with the status quo.

In case you haven't noticed the status quo isn't cutting it.

What significantly better results? Larger class sizes and fewer teachers have always had a negative impact on education. Human interaction is key.

jW
 
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Wow, Steve was amazing- he knew everything there is to know about education from running a computer company where as I took 4 years to train as a teacher. It's amazing how everyone is an expert when it comes to educating children. The fact that Apple will make a shed load of money from selling laptops and e-books has nothing to do with it at all.
 
I dont see anywhere where it states there is less interaction between students and teachers. You could make the same argument for someone learning from a text book instead of a teacher.

They achieved better educational results than they were before, with all those amazing teachers they let go. Honestly am I the only one who had some lousy teachers? I specifically remember multiple social studies classes in middle school that consisted of the teacher putting up a transparency for us to copy by hand. I would gladly have traded her job for a computer.
 
Interesting. I would have guessed the opposite would be true, but i guess machines can replace teachers. Cool!
 
The Mooresville Graded School District paid for the initiative by eliminating 65 jobs, including 37 teaching positions, and accepting larger class sizes.

This is absolutely terrible... Trading off expensive computers for teachers? Wow. Just wow.

It's hard to argue with success. If it cost that many jobs to to finally getting hundreds of kids learning, it was well worth it, IMHO.

LOL?? Yes, because once you eliminate teachers and hand a kid a laptop, all problems are solved. Wow. :rolleyes:
 
Reminds me of the "king of queens" episode where arthur says to doug he has job security (key maker and bowling ball polisher) and doug (parcel delivery driver) will someday be replaced by a machine. LOL
 
If this is what it takes to purge the system of poor and/or apathetic teachers, then so be it.

Now if we can figure out how to deal with poor and/or apathetic parents, then more kids might just have a chance.
 
Since when was a "hanging wall map" an "antiquated teaching material"? Having a classroom with an academic atmosphere can only be a good thing, and adorning the walls with things such as maps is a really good way of creating that atmosphere.

Also, firing teachers so kids can have laptops? No. Bigger class sizes with each kid having a computer that they can be goofing around on instead of paying attention to the (now more thinly spread) teacher hardly sounds like a recipe for academic excellence to me.

This whole drive to make education less about personal interaction and more about computers just sounds plain bad to me. While computers in and of themselves are no doubt a good thing, they are no substitute for direct human access and influence, especially during a child's formative years.
 
This is absolutely terrible... Trading off expensive computers for teachers? Wow. Just wow.



LOL?? Yes, because once you eliminate teachers and hand a kid a laptop, all problems are solved. Wow. :rolleyes:

Did you bother to look at the numbers? With numbers like that i say let ALL the teachers go and just give every kid a laptop + iPad + smartphone!
 
What significantly better results? Larger class sizes and fewer teachers have always had a negative impact on education. Human interaction is key.

Since you obviously didn't read the article...I'll post it here:
- The district’s graduation rate was 91 percent in 2011, up from 80 percent in 2008.
- On state tests in reading, math and science, an average of 88 percent of students across grades and subjects met proficiency standards, compared with 73 percent three years ago.
- Attendance is up, dropouts are down.
- Mooresville ranks 100th out of 115 districts in North Carolina in terms of dollars spent per student — $7,415.89 a year — but it is now third in test scores and second in graduation rates.

There are other schools with similar successes. If you know of schools that have tried this and seen performance decrease, I would love to see the results and would be open to possibly changing my opinion on the matter.
 
Since when was a "hanging wall map" an "antiquated teaching material"? Having a classroom with an academic atmosphere can only be a good thing, and adorning the walls with things such as maps is a really good way of creating that atmosphere.

Also, firing teachers so kids can have laptops? No. Bigger class sizes with each kid having a computer that they can be goofing around on instead of paying attention to the (now more thinly spread) teacher hardly sounds like a recipe for academic excellence to me.

This whole drive to make education less about personal interaction and more about computers just sounds plain bad to me. While computers in and of themselves are no doubt a good thing, they are no substitute for direct human access and influence, especially during a child's formative years.

Having wall maps doesn't seem to have increased the general publics awareness of where countries or states are. Have you watched the tonight show where jay leno walks around the street asking 1st grade geography questions and most of the time he gets the most bazzar answer possible?
 
This is absolutely terrible... Trading off expensive computers for teachers? Wow. Just wow.



LOL?? Yes, because once you eliminate teachers and hand a kid a laptop, all problems are solved. Wow. :rolleyes:

I'll quote the article for you
The district’s graduation rate was 91 percent in 2011, up from 80 percent in 2008. On state tests in reading, math and science, an average of 88 percent of students across grades and subjects met proficiency standards, compared with 73 percent three years ago. Attendance is up, dropouts are down

Eliminating 37 teachers yet the graduation rate and tests scores increased and attendance is up while dropouts are down....terrible I say!
 
were the curriculums changed to better fit the education that a laptop would provide? (example: more multiple choice) or was it the same curriculums that a regular teacher would impose?
 
This, I have a significant problem with. Not a worthwhile tradeoff, in my opinion.

jW


With results like this?

The district’s graduation rate was 91 percent in 2011, up from 80 percent in 2008. On state tests in reading, math and science, an average of 88 percent of students across grades and subjects met proficiency standards, compared with 73 percent three years ago. Attendance is up, dropouts are down. Mooresville ranks 100th out of 115 districts in North Carolina in terms of dollars spent per student — $7,415.89 a year — but it is now third in test scores and second in graduation rates.

Kids today are different that in the past. Technology has been a part of their lives since birth. It's no wonder most of them are bored in schools using 19-20th century teaching methods.
 
Since when was a "hanging wall map" an "antiquated teaching material"? Having a classroom with an academic atmosphere can only be a good thing, and adorning the walls with things such as maps is a really good way of creating that atmosphere.

Also, firing teachers so kids can have laptops? No. Bigger class sizes with each kid having a computer that they can be goofing around on instead of paying attention to the (now more thinly spread) teacher hardly sounds like a recipe for academic excellence to me.

This whole drive to make education less about personal interaction and more about computers just sounds plain bad to me. While computers in and of themselves are no doubt a good thing, they are no substitute for direct human access and influence, especially during a child's formative years.

I would completely agree with you if the statistics backed up your statement. Unfortunately their graduation rate and test scores have increased since the trial including attendance rates
 
re: worthwhile tradeoff?

I don't know... I'd say if it shows positive results, it was a VERY worthwhile tradeoff! Schools aren't supposed to exist for the purpose of keeping as many teachers and faculty employed as possible. They exist to provide STUDENTS with as good an education as possible.



This, I have a significant problem with. Not a worthwhile tradeoff, in my opinion.

jW
 
I'll quote the article for you

Eliminating 37 teachers yet the graduation rate and tests scores increased and attendance is up while dropouts are down....terrible I say!

Which can be empirically proven to be the cause of the new computers...yeah sure.

What a joke!

Perhaps they fired the bad teachers which put all the kids into the classrooms of the good teachers.

But please, lets keep masturbating about the computer in the class room :rolleyes:
 
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