5 ms·

In terms of actual solutions, I think programs like KIPP are promising. If someone can demonstrate the right way to run a school system on a small scale, we can

by apollo 16y ago

In terms of actual solutions, I think programs like KIPP are promising. If someone can demonstrate the right way to run a school system on a small scale, we can learn from it and encourage adoption of those changes nationally.

mattchew 16y ago
KIPP does well, but it is very much at odds with the way a normal school is run. KIPP schools demand a hell of a lot from the teachers who work there. You need people of high ability and dedication who are mostly motivated by the intrinsic reward of a job done well. These people are like the Special Forces of education, and I don't think there are that many of them. I'd love to be wrong.
- WalterBright 16y ago
  It's true that you cannot mass replicate a system that depends on exceptional people. It's sort of like vast quantities of high quality goods were not produced until people figured out how to produce such without requiring highly skilled craftsmen.
- piguy314 16y ago
  Most of the reason KIPP is successful is because they eliminate the summer performance gap between rich and poor students. When you don't let poor students sit at home playing x-box and watching TV all summer they don't forget things you've taught them. This is why I believe one of the simplest and most effective solutions we could implement would be universal year round school (not 12 months of school, but 3 months on 1 month off schedule). We no longer have an agrarian society, there is no compelling reason to allow for a 3 month break in school during harvest anymore. And summer is absolutely detrimental to the learning of poor students. And because schools would still be closed 3 months out of the year (just not in a row) the operating costs of the schools would be the same (electrical, maintenance, free lunches, salary, etc...)

5 ms·

In terms of actual solutions, I think programs like KIPP are promising. If someone can demonstrate the right way to run a school system on a small scale, we can

by apollo 16y ago

mattchew 16y ago
KIPP does well, but it is very much at odds with the way a normal school is run. KIPP schools demand a hell of a lot from the teachers who work there. You need people of high ability and dedication who are mostly motivated by the intrinsic reward of a job done well. These people are like the Special Forces of education, and I don't think there are that many of them. I'd love to be wrong.
- WalterBright 16y ago
  It's true that you cannot mass replicate a system that depends on exceptional people. It's sort of like vast quantities of high quality goods were not produced until people figured out how to produce such without requiring highly skilled craftsmen.
- piguy314 16y ago
  Most of the reason KIPP is successful is because they eliminate the summer performance gap between rich and poor students. When you don't let poor students sit at home playing x-box and watching TV all summer they don't forget things you've taught them. This is why I believe one of the simplest and most effective solutions we could implement would be universal year round school (not 12 months of school, but 3 months on 1 month off schedule). We no longer have an agrarian society, there is no compelling reason to allow for a 3 month break in school during harvest anymore. And summer is absolutely detrimental to the learning of poor students. And because schools would still be closed 3 months out of the year (just not in a row) the operating costs of the schools would be the same (electrical, maintenance, free lunches, salary, etc...)