Seems like we are coming full circle in a way. Back in the 70s when we lived in CA, went to a school that was experimenting with allowing kids to learn at their own pace, at least in math and reading. Was great. In the 4th grade I was doing high school algebra and reading at an 8th grade level along with at least a 1/2 dozen friends. I say give it a try. Nothing stomps out the desire to learn than sitting at a desk all day listening to lectures.
4 Likes
One of the best things my three years older brother did for me was to teach me how to hide what I was really reading inside of whatever textbook or handout i was supposed to be reading. He later added the bright idea of making a habit of “checking out the teacher” before every page turn.
4 Likes
The engineering school I attended had no required classes and prohibited professors from using class attendance or class participation as part of your grade. If you thought you could learn Fluid Mechanics by just reading the textbook, have at it. You just had to turn in the homework assignments and pass the exams,
But you were required to complete three projects and to pass a 2-day Comprehensive Exam in your major that 30% of the students failed on the first try. In Civil Engineering, the exam was similar to the Professional Engineering licensing exam you take after 4 years of work experience.
The Competency Exam regime lasted for 13 years and some 7,000 students passed it. But eventually it was dropped because too many failed it (30%) and that was bad for business.
intercst
7 Likes
In New Jersey our schools had “tracks.” We also had a standardized test every year (The Iowa, IIRC) which gave the system an idea of where you were. The smart kids were all grouped together, and had classes that included 2 years of chemistry, 2 of physics, algebra & calculus, etc. The “English” was also tracked; the smart ones had “humanities” with significantly different reading requirements than the regular English classes.
There was no reason “to be bored” unless you ended up in the wrong track, and no reason you couldn’t excel if you wanted to.
4 Likes
METARs were all excellent students, of course, and didn’t need classes to learn.
GET REAL!
Most students are average. This will be a disaster for actually getting average students to learn.
Wendy
5 Likes
Aren’t Montessori schools based on the idea that students learn at their own pace? They are available as private schools in most cities.
2 Likes
You just gotta create context that resonates with the student.
ralph
2 Likes