tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2707703066300530859.post7382200856315001573..comments2024-03-15T02:09:23.712-06:00Comments on for the love of learning: Summary of Alfie Kohn's Keynote in Calgary, Alberta, CanadaAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15047405950514440042noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2707703066300530859.post-55256637648763888622010-02-20T05:16:18.796-07:002010-02-20T05:16:18.796-07:00Thought provoking post. Thank you. I apologize for...Thought provoking post. Thank you. I apologize for the longish comment in advance.<br /><br />I was struck by "Research has shown that 50% to 90% of the variation in student learning is not attributable to school factors" If that can really be supported as stated, it says to me that school, as presently organized, might be a huge waste of money.<br /><br />Given the amount of resources, energy and focus societies put on schooling it should be taken seriously. If true it undercuts much of public discourse and expenditures.<br /><br />As a global stat, I don't trust it. It's more likely that some schools do add to student learning and others don't. In the States 1500 high schools create over 50% of the High School pushout/dropouts. Taken at the scale of the nation, we have a "high school dropout" crisis.<br /><br />In fact, it's more like an epidemic with centers of virulence. Not surprisingly, it overlaps with poverty. Concentrations of recent immigrants and 2 or 3 generation poor have massive dropouts rates. I heard recently on twitter that the graduation rate in Baltimore is 35%. (have not confirmed.)<br /><br />My question is what does Kohn use as his measure of learning? No doubt standard high stakes tests are exactly as described. Tools for politicos who think they are doing the right thing, but deeply flawed. Fair enough.<br /><br />But at the system level we need numbers to help inform intelligent decisions. In the absence of tests, any thoughts about the best way to collect and analyze unambiguous numbers.<br /><br />I've been thinking about using attendance as a plausible real time indicator of success. The notion is that "learning" in principle can not be an unambiguous metric. Complexity does not lend itself to simple numbers.<br /><br />Attendance in poor middle and high schools is both unambiguous and reflects the students "vote" about whether a school is worth going to. If it is reframed as a indicator of school success instead of a judgment on the students and their parents I think it works.<br /><br />Any thoughts from you and other visitors to the blog would be very appreciated.Coordinator of the Printernet Projecthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08225553436567452557noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2707703066300530859.post-48363002982203750092010-02-19T12:25:30.238-07:002010-02-19T12:25:30.238-07:00He does not speak about his family too often. He i...He does not speak about his family too often. He is quite sure to keep his private life private, but I believe he has mentioned that his kids were home schooled. But don't quote me on that.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15047405950514440042noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2707703066300530859.post-67303372195620106972010-02-19T12:21:38.173-07:002010-02-19T12:21:38.173-07:00Do you know anything about Alfie Kohn's kids a...Do you know anything about Alfie Kohn's kids and school? Where they go or went? Do you happen to know his thoughts on homeschooling?T O'Gradyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07729242236198683931noreply@blogger.com