Dear E.D. Hirsch,
I am a 2nd year High School Biology teacher in Glen Rock, NJ. Recently I have read about some of your philosophies on education and since my aspirations are to someday become Science Department Chair and then eventually go into some form of higher administration, it has been very thought provoking and interesting to read about your philosophies.
Recently I have become part of a committee to revamp the science curriculum in my district. Part of looking at the science curriculum is seeing when our students need to learn particular topics and what those topics need to be. And of course one of the things we visit is whether a topic should be covered more than once. Upon reading about your thoughts I have noticed that you believe once a topic has been taught there should be no repetition of that topic. However, it is my belief that students often need a review or expansion of a topic when they arrive at the next level of their education. For example: the Scientific Method is often taught in elementary school all the way to high school however, more details are added each year as well as practice. It is usually not until the students are in high school that they actually put the method in lab practice. Mostly because they do not have enough lab experience and practice until than. But, if we were to teach it in 5th grade and then never visit it again, it is likely that the students will forget it and never have practical practice with it.
I do agree with your concept of standards, whether it be national, state, school or a combination of all of the standards it is important that our students leave their subjects with a general understanding that is constant across the board. Standards are important within a subject area but they are also important within a school. Standard requirements to graduate high school or be promoted to the next grade insures that all students are being promoted with the same general knowledge. And I completely agree that there are basic, general knowledge and skills that all students need to know.
When you say that students who fail objective tests should repeat the class or be put into remediation, are you talking about individual tests or the culmination of all the tests throughout the course? Because a student failing one test or even a few tests does not mean that the student has completely failed to master the general topics in a course, it may just mean that they failed to master a few of the topics in the course. However, if you are referring to the culmination of tests or end of the year assessments like the end of course Biology Assessment the state of NJ has implemented than you may be on to something.
Lastly, you stated that memory and repeated practice are the ways that we should be teaching and that it has been neglected because of things like inquiry learning or group work. However, I believe that it is a combination of all of these practices that leads to good learning. Students should be exposed to a variety of teaching and learning styles. Students should be kept guessing, when they come into the classroom they should be asking, "What are we doing today?" because they are not sure what type of teaching you will be doing. They should be wondering what type of homework they will be given, will it be practice, reading and questions or studying for a quiz or test.There isn't one right way to teach or learn. Therefore, I believe that many types of teaching can be used when educating a student.
Sincerely,
Sally Casper
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4 comments:
Dear Ms. Casper,
Thank you for taking the time to read my work and for writing. I always welcome any commentary on my writing especially since I know it is a bit controversial in the educational world.
You tell me that your students need a review of material at the beginning of a new year. If the information had been taught well through repetition and memorization, your students would not need that review. That review is in my opinion a waste of valuable time. Time that can be used on learning new concepts. This is why our students lag behind the rest of the world. We spend too much time reinforcing something that should have been taught already.
At the end of the year, students should be assessed. If students fail these assessments than they have not mastered the information to the level they should have. Our students have to live up to the standards that we have set forth for them. By following my procedures of memorization and repetition, our students will be successful.
I hope that I was able to clarify a few things for you and that you will be able to you it within your own classroom.
Sincerely,
E.D. Hirsch
Dear Ms. Casper,
I always appreciate any feedback on my work, especially when it comes directly from educators. As we teachers know, getting a response from something we've said, positive or negative, means that we have struck a chord.
In your discussion concerning the update of your science curriculum, review shouldn't be necessary if the students have learned the proper material in the first place. I understand that there might be some learning lost during the 'off time,' but students should be able to move on with perfunctory review of last year's work. I don't believe there should be no repetition of a topic, such as plant biology, but students should be able to build upon that prior knowledge, like studying hybrid varieties.
As far as testing is concerned, if a student fails any sort of cumulative assessment, then that student has not obtained the knowledge to progress. The national or state exams should be in line with any other assessment given in class. In this way, the progress of the student is clearly defined.
I wish you the best of luck in your educational endeavors.
Sincerely,
E.D. Hirsch
Dear Ms. Caspare,
First of all, being that you are a relatively new teacher, I want to tell you that I think choosing to enter the field of education was a great decision. You will most likely find it very rewarding. Also, I wish you the best of luck at becoming a successful administrator. I hope your goal is to develop curriculum so that all students become as culturally literate as possible.
On a different note, you mentioned that you think repetition in the curriculum is important. While I see where you are coming from, I am pretty sure that you missed my point. If my uniform curriculum were to be adapted it would be efficient. Thus, there is no room for repetition. Thus, everything about a particular topic would be taught at one time, and then, the topic would not be revisited. I admit that the downside is that students may learn things that are not age appropriate. However, that is a small price to pay when one can save time, and thus, teach more material. Your example of the scientific method is a good one. My suggestion for teaching the scientific method is that students be taught everything about the scientific method and all the laboratory skills necessary in fifth grade. This way it is not necessary to waste time and revisit the same topic at a later date.
Also, while I respect your opinion that instruction and assignments should be varied, I strongly disagree. Why should we vary from the most efficient learning technique, rote memorization? Using techniques like the “project method” only waste the students’ time. I admit that techniques such as the “project method” may make learning more interesting; however, the purpose of education is to develop culturally literate individuals. The purpose is not to entertain the students. Thus, I feel that making students memorize lists of terms is the most effective way of meeting the goal of education.
Finally, I must say that I am flattered that you support my idea of making students repeat a grade or receive remediation if he or she does not pass objective tests. I feel that students should take an objective test after each concept is taught. Thus, criteria must be developed for the determination of which students will move on to the next grade level or subject, which students will need remediation, and which students will have to repeat the grade or subject. In addition, I do feel that cumulative objective tests should be administered at the end of the school year.
Thank you for mailing me your opinion on education. It is refreshing to realize that there are other people who care very deeply about the future of the American education system.
Sincerely,
Mr. E. D. Hirsch
Dear Ms. Casper,
I definitely agree with the concept of standards. I agree that we should have state or national standards. Standards ensure that all school’s curriculum is aligned with the standard.
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