Re: the learning revolution (loooong, rant-ish)

Marcy Bauman (marcyb@UMD.UMICH.EDU)
Fri, 6 Sep 1996 17:58:48 -0400


On Fri, 6 Sep 1996, Eric Crump wrote:

> Marcy,
>
> School is a state of mind.
>
> Getting rid of school wouldn't *necessarily* mean getting rid of places
> for kids & adults to hang out together during the day, playing and
> learning.
>
> Maybe we just need to get rid of *grades* (the letters *and* the levels)
> and extend kindergarten to encompass the educational experience.

Hmm. I see I wasn't entirely clear when I said before that I was
being "serious." I am -- but sort of tongue-in-cheek serious, as Steve
was being when he suggested that less grading tastes gu-uud.

Think of it, though. At the moment we have a huge, intricate
system of locally-funded and nationally-supported daycare facilities
masquerading as "school." In a country that can't even pass a law
guaranteeing working mothers six weeks of unpaid maternity leave, what
are our chances of dropping or reconfiguring the educational pretext
altogether, here?

Better question: what strategies might work?

Marcy

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Marcy Bauman
Writing Program
University of Michigan-Dearborn
4901 Evergreen Rd.
Dearborn, MI 48128

Web page: http://www.umd.umich.edu/~marcyb
email: marcyb@umd.umich.edu
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