5 ms·

Simply end social promotion. You shouldn't move up to the next level of a class until you've mastered the current level. (Levels can be much smaller than a year

Simply end social promotion. You shouldn't move up to the next level of a class until you've mastered the current level. (Levels can be much smaller than a year.) Being at a different pace isn't a problem if you can just make up the time. The side effect bonus is letting other students test out of levels they don't need, they can finish early while others end later.

spiderice 4y ago
This solution appeals to me, though I'm wondering what the implications are. Like what does a 12 year old who finished the curriculum do for the next 6 years? Early college? Continue to go to public school anyway even though they've mastered everything? I'm not suggesting the solution wouldn't work. Just interesting to think about the new problems that would arise from it. Especially given that public school doubles as "babysitting" for a lot of working parents.
- lapcat 4y ago
  > Like what does a 12 year old who finished the curriculum do for the next 6 years? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doogie_Howser,_M.D https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doogie_Howser,_M.D.
- beej71 4y ago
  > Like what does a 12 year old who finished the curriculum do for the next 6 years? Don't have a curriculum that "finishes". Put more material out there, even college-level. Maybe a student gets their PhD by 18, but they're unlikely to get it but 12. And if they do, congratulations. I think the concepts of grade levels and even different school types (elementary, high, college), useful as they are socially, are getting in the way. We should be trying to make it a granular, smooth progression all the way up.
- mattmcknight 4y ago
  I remember a girl in my area who had a masters before she got her high school diploma. https://www.gmu.edu/news/2017-05/class-2017-masons-youngest-graduate-will-be-just-17-when-she-receives-her-masters https://www.gmu.edu/news/2017-05/class-2017-masons-youngest-...
izzydata 4y ago
They would have to end this concept of no child left behind. Also such a meritocracy system would likely be perceived as racist as the students with more time and financial support become more likely to succeed.
- sodality2 4y ago
  Race is just a proxied variable in this equation. The root issue is fundamental inequality in family support, which is shown to be influenced by race, age of parents, wealth, location, etc.
annyeonghada 4y ago
I agree with what you say in an ideal world where every teacher is of good quality but given that many teacher are incompetent or actively despise their students[1], how can I trust them that they're evaluating students in a unbiased, just, meritocratic fashion. I've always had top grades but seeing teachers' behavior has never let me trust them. I have respect for the job, I've even passed the exam to become a teacher (!) but it takes a toll on your mental health knowing that the majority of your coworker is unrespectable. [1]https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=31482113 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=31482113

spiderice 4y ago

This solution appeals to me, though I'm wondering what the implications are. Like what does a 12 year old who finished the curriculum do for the next 6 years? Early college? Continue to go to public school anyway even though they've mastered everything? I'm not suggesting the solution wouldn't work. Just interesting to think about the new problems that would arise from it. Especially given that public school doubles as "babysitting" for a lot of working parents.

lapcat 4y ago
> Like what does a 12 year old who finished the curriculum do for the next 6 years? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doogie_Howser,_M.D https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doogie_Howser,_M.D.
beej71 4y ago
> Like what does a 12 year old who finished the curriculum do for the next 6 years? Don't have a curriculum that "finishes". Put more material out there, even college-level. Maybe a student gets their PhD by 18, but they're unlikely to get it but 12. And if they do, congratulations. I think the concepts of grade levels and even different school types (elementary, high, college), useful as they are socially, are getting in the way. We should be trying to make it a granular, smooth progression all the way up.
mattmcknight 4y ago
I remember a girl in my area who had a masters before she got her high school diploma. https://www.gmu.edu/news/2017-05/class-2017-masons-youngest-graduate-will-be-just-17-when-she-receives-her-masters https://www.gmu.edu/news/2017-05/class-2017-masons-youngest-...

izzydata 4y ago

They would have to end this concept of no child left behind. Also such a meritocracy system would likely be perceived as racist as the students with more time and financial support become more likely to succeed.

sodality2 4y ago
Race is just a proxied variable in this equation. The root issue is fundamental inequality in family support, which is shown to be influenced by race, age of parents, wealth, location, etc.

annyeonghada 4y ago

I agree with what you say in an ideal world where every teacher is of good quality but given that many teacher are incompetent or actively despise their students[1], how can I trust them that they're evaluating students in a unbiased, just, meritocratic fashion. I've always had top grades but seeing teachers' behavior has never let me trust them. I have respect for the job, I've even passed the exam to become a teacher (!) but it takes a toll on your mental health knowing that the majority of your coworker is unrespectable. [1]https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=31482113 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=31482113