tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5458172893016186479.post5507371778464211057..comments2024-03-09T03:28:44.216-05:00Comments on Thoughts on Education Policy: Paternalism at What Age?Corey Bunje Bowerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09764159604965707919noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5458172893016186479.post-53047853445897300302008-08-30T02:26:00.000-04:002008-08-30T02:26:00.000-04:00So if lack of "enforcement" mechanisms in the youn...So if lack of "enforcement" mechanisms in the younger grades is the issue, it leads to the question:<BR/><BR/>What do schools and families that are successful in teaching these behaviors to younger children Most middle-class children learn these without threat of expulsion from either school or family, and without loss of individuality or self-esteem.<BR/><BR/>And do the enforcement mechanisms available to KIPP middle schools actually help teach the kids these behaviors, or do they just weed out the kids who won't learn them?RDThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08566356038836885187noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5458172893016186479.post-48729783045237296312008-08-29T16:20:00.000-04:002008-08-29T16:20:00.000-04:00Matt: What I was trying to ask was why the schools...Matt: What I was trying to ask was why the schools profiled are targeting middle/high schoolers rather than younger students.Corey Bunje Bowerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09764159604965707919noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5458172893016186479.post-64498947840537295012008-08-29T12:21:00.000-04:002008-08-29T12:21:00.000-04:00why are we teaching these behaviors to middle and ...why are we teaching these behaviors to middle and high-schoolers? Obviously if middle and high-school age students haven't learned these things yet then they need to know them, but why aren't we making an effort to teach these to younger students?<BR/><BR/>Why? Because enforcing such behaviors on young students "stifles their individuality" or "damages their self-esteem." <BR/><BR/>But by the same token, I am pretty sure that the proper behaviors are taught at the younger grade levels, but they are not enforced!<BR/><BR/>That is the problem, you can teach a six, seven, eight year old to be respectful, to track the speaker, to do what is "right" but unless there is a punishment for failure or a reward for success, it will not be engrained. <BR/><BR/>Then these kids get to middle and high school without the proper behavior and then wonder why they are being punished for doing exactly what they have always done.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01352443552682708733noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5458172893016186479.post-58691825566340462062008-08-29T10:18:00.000-04:002008-08-29T10:18:00.000-04:00Good point. However, the problem is that these be...Good point. However, the problem is that these behaviors can only be taught and enforced in schools that have remedies at their disposal in the event students fail to comply with the rules and behavior mandates. <BR/><BR/>In KIPP schools, the available remedy is expulsion (or threat thereof). Of course, KIPP also has much lower-grade punishments, for first offenses, etc. But with repeat offenders, they can expel the kids, and the kids know it. Plus, schools like KIPP only enroll students whose families have chosen to apply - not the average kid. <BR/><BR/>No public schools have the remedy of expulsion available for minor behavior problems or dress code violations. And the kids know it. Unless the schools are given some enforcement mechanism, they will not be able to enforce these behavior rules at the elementary level or any other level.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com