Hah-hah! "like write now". Indeed, at Mount Holyoke (1968-72) I very rarely took a test; most frequently wrote papers. Which latter required my thinking carefully about the topic on which I wrote. Learning to prepare an 'expose de texte'--a feature of academic life for French lyceens, but only for me reached at college, was, I suspect, not an inconsiderable part of learning to think and to write.
One other aspect could be the student was overly "protected" and coddled. They never learned consequences of their actions... Yet the "social life" in college away from those protections, the student made poor choices. Need I say more? (read Drugs, alcohol etc.) Perhaps Marilyn was afraid of offending the parent who set up their child for failure instead of instilling as you described "critical thinking skills." I recall in my college days in a fraternity (long ago) there were classmates who started drinking Monday night and didn't stop until Sunday! They were drunk perpetually, never attended classes and imagine that, they flunked out.
JD: I found your points relevant regarding why someone might fail in college. All your observations are true but do not necessarily indicate a lack of intelligence.
You are completely wrong about Marilyn's answer. I also have a degree in physics and experienced the requirement of taking several classes that were not only boring but have been of no value since then. Deciding to drop out after one year in college does not necessarily indicate a lack of intelligence. There are many careers that do not require a college degree. The best example is when someone decides to start their own business. I am sure you can find such examples easily.
Another huge change in our K-12 public schools over the last few years is the ratio of administrators to teachers (and students). Using data from the U.S. Department of Education and The Center for education Statistics, between 2019 and 2020, the percentage of admin to teachers and students increased by almost 88%. More admin means more school counselors and more teacher inservice, neither of which are needed for teachers to do their job.
Some states & K-12 school districts are lowering their graduation requirements to the point high school diplomas are issued to the illiterate. Somehow there always seems to be enough budget for sports, at the expense of class sizes, teacher resources, and SPED programs (which include some savants). The USA prefers to fund entertainment & war industries over education...
Aside from the utter lack of critical thinking skills instruction, decision making skill learning is equally AWOL. If you can't make good decisions, smarts, knowledge and a big roll away won't help you.
Having “the highest IQ in the world” does not necessarily endow the possessor with common sense.
Hah-hah! "like write now". Indeed, at Mount Holyoke (1968-72) I very rarely took a test; most frequently wrote papers. Which latter required my thinking carefully about the topic on which I wrote. Learning to prepare an 'expose de texte'--a feature of academic life for French lyceens, but only for me reached at college, was, I suspect, not an inconsiderable part of learning to think and to write.
One other aspect could be the student was overly "protected" and coddled. They never learned consequences of their actions... Yet the "social life" in college away from those protections, the student made poor choices. Need I say more? (read Drugs, alcohol etc.) Perhaps Marilyn was afraid of offending the parent who set up their child for failure instead of instilling as you described "critical thinking skills." I recall in my college days in a fraternity (long ago) there were classmates who started drinking Monday night and didn't stop until Sunday! They were drunk perpetually, never attended classes and imagine that, they flunked out.
Superb, and in my opinion, extremely accurate assessment on your part, John!
JD: I found your points relevant regarding why someone might fail in college. All your observations are true but do not necessarily indicate a lack of intelligence.
You are completely wrong about Marilyn's answer. I also have a degree in physics and experienced the requirement of taking several classes that were not only boring but have been of no value since then. Deciding to drop out after one year in college does not necessarily indicate a lack of intelligence. There are many careers that do not require a college degree. The best example is when someone decides to start their own business. I am sure you can find such examples easily.
Very good answer. This is a very good answer.
Another huge change in our K-12 public schools over the last few years is the ratio of administrators to teachers (and students). Using data from the U.S. Department of Education and The Center for education Statistics, between 2019 and 2020, the percentage of admin to teachers and students increased by almost 88%. More admin means more school counselors and more teacher inservice, neither of which are needed for teachers to do their job.
Re your first #1 & 3 items:
Some states & K-12 school districts are lowering their graduation requirements to the point high school diplomas are issued to the illiterate. Somehow there always seems to be enough budget for sports, at the expense of class sizes, teacher resources, and SPED programs (which include some savants). The USA prefers to fund entertainment & war industries over education...
Aside from the utter lack of critical thinking skills instruction, decision making skill learning is equally AWOL. If you can't make good decisions, smarts, knowledge and a big roll away won't help you.
This is a very good answer. I hope Marilyn will be tutored by JD.
Seriously? "like write now!"? Fingernails on the chalkboard could be blunted by a pair of quotation marks around "write", right?
The only saving grace would be that AI and not a staff writer might be penning Marylyn's articles while she's away. Fingers crossed, am I write?