The debate of the fairness and efficacy of quota systems heated up this week after German legislators have passed a law requiring the top 100 companies to allot at least 30 percent of the seats on their boards to women within the next two years. The bill also mandated increased in women in upper level positions for some 3,500 companies. The companies could face sanctions if they cannot find enough women to fill the quota.
I have long been a critic of quota systems and this is no exception. While I certainly agree with the motivation behind the law, the emphasis of regulations should be to tear down barriers to women — not to force hiring based on gender. I am a firm believer that the market works against discriminatory values and practices. Women have made amazing strides in business and politics, as vividly shown by the leadership of Germany by Chancellor Angela Merkel.
There is clearly an underrepresentation of women on these boards. However, the way to erase that differential is to guarantee opportunities for women and to combat discriminatory practices in my view.
What do you think?
Source: NBC
Happypappies,
The school reformers include Democrats and so-called liberals as well as Republicans/conservatives. I have no use for Arne Duncan.
I never said that school was utopic. In fact, I said that the school reform movement, which brought with it the mania for high stakes testing, has done great damage to public education in this country. Those that believe this is true should be criticizing the politicians/powers that be who brought this upon our public schools.
Prairie Rose,
“Reading and writing are prime examples. Some kids are not ready to learn to read or have the coordination to write until they are a little older (6 or 7). Yet, so many schools are pushing these skills into kindergarten or earlier because of standards imposed by those who don’t really seem to know how kids learn!”
*****
This is happening because of the school reform movement that brought with it the mania for high stakes testing. Teachers fought against the implementation of the high stakes tests. Now prepping kids for tests if a big focus of the educational process. Unfortunately, when the powers that be, the school reformers, and the privatizers were pushing to “standardized” everything in our schools, teachers were criticized for fighting against many of the so-called reforms. Now many of the people who demanded these changes blame the teachers and schools for doing what they have been forced to do. If parents and other citizens are unhappy with what has now become the status quo in education, they have got to speak up. They have got to demand that we ditch the high stakes testing if children.
For nearly all of my years in working in the school district where I taught, we teachers had a lot of freedom. We had children reading on different levels, didn’t push children to do things that they weren’t developmentally ready to do, did lots of hands on activities and projects, etc. I so enjoyed being a teacher…until school reform came along. I saw what was going to happen and knew I wouldn’t be able to teach the way I had been teaching for years. That’s why I left the classroom before I had planned. I spent my last three years in education working as an elementary school librarian.
Happy, I was talking about hostility for teachers from people in a Wisconsin. I know you live in MO. Most people don’t work office jobs and their physical presence is needed at their work site. Those patients in hospitals sure won’t be taking care of themselves. Your friend who homeschooled 15 children most likely worked from home or didn’t work at all. My kids all learned to read in kindergarten or first grade, one was reading very simple books at four years old, while I understand that some children aren’t ready for those concepts at four or five. I think socialization is important for kids, even as young as four or five. I had one daughter in 4K and she didn’t like it, wanted to be home with mommy, so I didn’t push it.
Keeping kids home until 9th grade? For what purpose? If the child is learning well in school, is happy and social, why keep the child home all those years? If the child is being bullied, is extremely shy, or has some emotional or learning problems, maybe homeschooling would be a better option. If parents want to homeschool, more power to them, but to make homeschooling the preferred method of teaching and defunding brick and mortar schools, no way. That sounds like an attempt by right wing think tanks to decimate the teaching profession, because they hate unions.
Inga
Healthcare certainly needs you. Offices can really cut back. With the Advent of Personal Computers in the MId Ninety’s they need to be there as much as a brick and mortar store like Best Buy does on every Corner.
I backed down. Why can’t you? I said 8th grade, not 9th. It was just an idea. And I can’t help what is going on in Wisconsin.
You simply did not pick up on what I was saying at all about socialization.
I totally disagree with you regarding socialization in the lower grades. I don’t live in a box and I am beyond perceptive. Kids get in trouble for “socializing” at school. They are there to learn for G-d sake. I know so many children with learning disorders on drugs today being distracted and having to sit all over class rooms. That’s why I even brought it up in the first place.
I simply disagree that it’s utopic in school because I know better. It drives me nuts when you and Elaine say it is. Prairie Rose Agreed with me in her last post.
There is a movement in the schools back and forth every 10 years or so and I just looked at the “High Stakes Testing” that is being blasted by the Progressives and it’s Standardized testing being somewhat funded by Corporate America and the Koch think tank which drive you guys batty. So what! They had gone too far the other way with the curve of making things too easy with the Common Core and what came before it and the Math and History and Grammar was inferior. I looked all of this up for my girlfriend the last couple of years because of her Grandson and I know someone who is highly placed in the Department of Education here.
Now it’s time for it to get Standardized again like it was when we were in school. Maybe it’s not a cycle in WI but it is in MO because we pay for almost all of our Schooling out of State taxes
Inga and Elaine,
There is a great deal of tension in me regarding the teaching profession. There are many obstacles to teaching in the best interest of kids. Politicians seem to be causing a good share of those problems (nice speeches about “back to basics” or pushing for new reforms so they look like they care).
Reading and writing are prime examples. Some kids are not ready to learn to read or have the coordination to write until they are a little older (6 or 7). Yet, so many schools are pushing these skills into kindergarten or earlier because of standards imposed by those who don’t really seem to know how kids learn!
Some of things people rail against are legitimate, but cannot be solved without a major overhaul.
What are the unspoken concerns? Poorly prepared or poorly educated teachers? A system/institution that causes people to hate the way they were/are educated (zero tolerance policies, excessive testing or teaching to the test, etc.)? What are the real issues behind the protesting?
Too many adults had poor experiences during their education, save for 1-2 excellent teachers, I fear.
One thing that seems to be lacking is sufficient freedom for both teachers and students. Teachers, too often, are beholden to curricula outside their control or beholden to standardized tests they are required to administer. Students do not have enough freedom to learn according to their needs and abilities (e.g., I had gaping holes in my math education because mastery was not expected and I missed some concepts and the class marched on, and, my brother was given busy-work because he finished his work so quickly and effortlessly and was bored stiff).
“Our educational programs should focus on meeting the needs of our students. Not all children learn in the same way. Lots of bright kids aren’t great test takers.”
What would you like to see done differently? (Beyond Howard Gardner’s multiple intelligences, e.g.). Would you restructure how schools are run in any way?
Prairie Rose
Do You agree with this statement you made here
Reading and writing are prime examples. Some kids are not ready to learn to read or have the coordination to write until they are a little older (6 or 7). Yet, so many schools are pushing these skills into kindergarten or earlier because of standards imposed by those who don’t really seem to know how kids learn!
because it is a prime concern of mine and it was one of the first things I mentioned in taking the children away from their parents.
Earlier in this discussion I could not understand why in these earlier grades say from 3 until 7 the parents could not work out a way to work from the home as most jobs are not brick and mortar anymore for those who are having the children. This is NOT always true. I realize that. But my point is that with office jobs, the Computer work does not need to be done from an office. Most of that is show and to sell cars and keep them on the road.
Unfortunately this discussion went off the rails. I was just throwing ideas out there. My mother was a teacher and I was concerned because most children are not ready to leave the home at 3 or 4.
I substitute taught for a while and it was not bad in the 3rd grade and up, but under the third grade all of the things that Elaine M was mentioning were a problem and the issue I was trying to get across and was unable to was I don’t think they were ready.
I threw out the idea of maybe keeping them home until ninth grade. It was just a discussion!!!!! I kept explaining ways I thought in the future, if the country went broke that we could teach our children.
The thing is and it was ignored even when I brought up my friend who successfully home schooled her 18 children and sent 8 to college so far and I know one of them is a Priest, was that I visited her and saw all of said computers with small children and the interaction the programs. It was amazing. Why can’t you believe that you guys??? Or hear it. The programs are a great investment.
I certainly have no hostility towards teachers nor an agenda and if this is what this has been all about. Whatever. I don’t live in Wisconsin. My beef is with ACA 😉
PR,
During the protests in WI was the first time I really began seeing the animosity toward teachers and the profession. It was awful to hear all the negative comments about teachers. I have two friends who are MIlwaukee Public School teachers, they are dedicated, brave enthusiastic teachers. To hear public school teachers demonized was very disheartening to them and anyone who know them.
Prairie Rose,
“Have you read One World Schoolhouse by Salman Khan?”
No–but I have heard about Salman Khan and the Khan Academy.
Elaine,
“The children interacted with one another, expressed their thoughts and opinions openly, began to think about what they read more deeply and to seriously consider their peers’ viewpoints.”
Well said again. That last part is the toughest to do though. 🙂
The carry-over of enjoying a good English class is probably why people flock to blogs–because they enjoy small group discussion. 😉
“I do think that the federal government has truly hurt public education in this country with its No Child Left Behind and Race to the Top programs…and their focus on high stakes testing of children. Our educational programs should focus on meeting the needs of our students. Not all children learn in the same way. Lots of bright kids aren’t great test takers.”
I very much agree with you on this point. It angers me that teachers are not treated as professionals. They are treated as though they do not know what it means to be educated, or that they are incapable of recognizing comprehension in their students without wringing it out of them with some test. The attitude of ‘if you cannot do, you teach’ has poisoned the profession. There are certainly bad apples, but that is not the fault of the profession, that is the fault of the gatekeepers to the profession.
Have you read One World Schoolhouse by Salman Khan?
Prairie Rose,
In addition to learning from their teachers, students learn from one another. We had some excellent discussions during our small reading group sessions. The children interacted with one another, expressed their thoughts and opinions openly, began to think about what they read more deeply and to seriously consider their peers’ viewpoints.
Good gracious, davidm, those programs are expensive!!
I, too, have concerns about using computers to teach reading. There is a time and place for technology in education, but for learning to read, I think interaction with a proficient reader is more effective.
“That doesn’t prove that using computers and software is a good way to teach reading. Becoming literate isn’t just about learning to “read” words. It’s about comprehending what one reads, learning to read between the lines/making inferences, learning about idioms, figures of speech, etc.”
Well said, Elaine.
Home schooling is fine for a stay at home parent, but there are many families in which both parents work. Mortar and brick schools will never become obsolete. Involved parents have kids who learn, either at home school or traditional school. Hooray for dedicated teachers like Elaine!
Inga
Very nice
You won’t believe this but it’s me so you will. lol. Bring up Monarch Kennels. That lady had 18 Children. Her Husband passed away on Mothers day on the day the littlest boy was 3. She home schooled all of her Children. I am serious about the desks built in the walls. Those kids were happy and they had Happy Pappies and I got my Champion there. Go ahead. Bring it up I should be on there at the end because it was a long time ago but I should be there. You know my name lol
http://monarchkennel.com/
davidm,
Thanks. That’s an explanation of how reading readiness is approached using software. What kinds of software are available to help children develop higher level reading skills, such us fluency, comprehension, making inferences, etc.?
Elaine M wrote: “What kinds of software are available to help children develop higher level reading skills, such us fluency, comprehension, making inferences, etc.?”
I am limited to two links, so here’s but a small sampling. I’m sure you can research this yourself.
http://www.time4learning.com/readingpyramid/Comprehension.htm
https://essentialskills.net/product/reading-comprehension-grades-1-6
davidm,
Saying that children can learn to read using software and computers is vague about the process of how children go about learning to read and to comprehend what they read using software and computers. I was asking for an explanation. That’s all.
Elaine, have you ever looked at software that does this? The software I have used for my children have a wide range of ways in which it does this. When they are very young, the software can help them by simply teaching the alphabet. It shows a large A on the screen and the audio says “A”… and likewise for “B”, etc. It teaches the sounds of the letters too. In more advanced lessons, it creates simple words like CAT and shows the individual letters and sounds for it. It is not really all that much different than something like Sesame Street, but it is better because it is interactive on the computer. For older ages, the software has them play games that are fun. As it teaches math, getting correct answers to math problems allow them to progress in the game. I truly do not know what you want explained. The best thing for you to do is just look at the software. Here is a review of some that might get you started:
http://www.superkids.com/aweb/pages/reviews/multisub/preschoo/
happypappies,
You’ll have to point out where I asked you to explain how someone would go about homeschooling their children. I have never had an issue with parents choosing to homeschool their children. I have a young friend who home schools her two children…and they are doing wonderfully.
*****
You wrote:
I have repeated over and over again how the child could learn at home with special books and programs with supervision and the books that could be ordered that supervise the teaching so it is accredited. One can give the child IQ and aptitude tests to see where their talents lay and then see how they do with different things. It’s fun. fun Elaine. Different and fun.
Have you done no research on this at all being a school teacher???? With Science experiments at home and dressing up like the Forefathers and so forth and acting out plays like Snow White. Did you teach your children Christmas Carols and how to read music and sing parts together and amuse themselves and be spontaneous without having to be in a “classroom” situation” My God woman! What else do you want to discuss. It’s 2:53 in the morning. We can work with them on instruments also like I said earlier so they can be ready for band and orchestra and choir and Musicals. I will leave the sports up to my Husband and his buddies. Of course this is hypothetical and I would do it if I had it to do all over again.. I know people who have and are. 😉 I hope this will suffice as an explanation this time
*****
Saying that children learn at home with books and programs and supervision does not explain how children become literate/learn to read using software and computers. How does dressing up as a forefather help a child learn to read using software and a computer. How does giving a child an IQ test help a child learn to read using software and a computer?
You can’t make yourself understood because you write in rambling prose that isn’t responsive to my actual inquiry.
Pray tell, how did I get “sophisticated?”
Elaine M wrote: “… does not explain how children become literate/learn to read using software and computers.”
Have you ever considered that your question is vague? Is it a trick question? Do you really not understand the value of technology for teaching?
Davidm2575
I really don’t know what that was all about but she was given all of that information way back in the thread by both myself and DBQ, I believe it’s because I am not thought to be qualified enough. I do think what I came up with though was kind of fun and creative. Especially at 3:00 AM lol 😉
“What did you teach @ BU? Were you a real professor or just an adjunct like Barack? ”
*******************
Hey Bobby, wrong again about Obama. Here’s the facts from the UC law school. Do you ever check any of your heart-felt statements for accuracy or should we just presume they are all bs:
Statement Regarding Barack Obama
The Law School has received many media requests about Barack Obama, especially about his status as “Senior Lecturer.”
From 1992 until his election to the U.S. Senate in 2004, Barack Obama served as a professor in the Law School. He was a Lecturer from 1992 to 1996. He was a Senior Lecturer from 1996 to 2004, during which time he taught three courses per year. Senior Lecturers are considered to be members of the Law School faculty and are regarded as professors, although not full-time or tenure-track. The title of Senior Lecturer is distinct from the title of Lecturer, which signifies adjunct status. Like Obama, each of the Law School’s Senior Lecturers has high-demand careers in politics or public service, which prevent full-time teaching. Several times during his 12 years as a professor in the Law School, Obama was invited to join the faculty in a full-time tenure-track position, but he declined.
What did you teach @ BU? Were you a real professor or just an adjunct like Barack? At what campus did you teach? Can you add a link to your CV?
mespo,
🙂
So does Sheldon Cooper and everybody laughs at him, too.
http://youtu.be/A4ugfCjqlZ4
mespo,
One lives to be of service.
😉
It appears that happypappies keeps trying to imply that I was lacking as a teaching professional. She’s the expert. She was a substitute teachers for years and has an eidetic memory, you know.
Correction: Or are you still trying to avoid responding to MY request?