3 ms·

Gates' kids are probably exceedingly smart. Giving them freedom is probably a good idea. Giving the average high schooler freedom is definitely /not/ a good ide

by tormeh 12y ago

Gates' kids are probably exceedingly smart. Giving them freedom is probably a good idea. Giving the average high schooler freedom is definitely /not/ a good idea.

deleted 12y ago
[deleted]
walterbell 12y ago
What about the unidentified high school kid who will be the next Gates or Jobs? Let's not repeat La Serrata of Venice. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serrata_del_Maggior_Consiglio http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serrata_del_Maggior_Consiglio http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Council_of_Venice http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Council_of_Venice
- gone35 12y ago
  Perhaps it's already too late --with US inequality having risen up to gilded-age levels, as it has, for over a generation now.
  - walterbell 12y ago
    As long as parents and teachers are free to invest their resources into one vision over another, it's never too late to measure competing visions of measurement.
    - theworst 12y ago
      Assuming we can meaningfully measure competing visions of measurement. The turtles, all the way down, they burn!
pbhjpbhj 12y ago
Aren't we talking about giving the average high-schooler freedom to pursue a broader range of educational opportunities - sure, don't let them choose dope smoking per se as a school subject but letting them choose to engineer a bong shouldn't necessarily be frowned on provided they pursue educational aspects (production skills, design skills, engineering aspects, science aspects, etc.) and their parents sign off on it (negotiation skills right there!). If they want to draw dickbutts then let them, but they have to use blender and do a stop-motion including some entirely virtual elements, or program a laser cutter, or write a paper on what compels adolescents towards such things, the history of dickbutt, interview a famed dickbutt drawer, etc., etc.. Want to shoot hoops in the yard all day, well OK but you have to teach this group of younger kids how to do it; write a paper on the best 3 point scorers in history including what you consider to be the things that made them great, include a review of their career earnings expressed as an expected lifetime per annum gross. You give them freedom to decide the arena and tools to educate themselves but limit them on the details that ensure it's an educational experience. Problem with this - resources, teachers who know enough to support the particular interests of the child.
lobster_johnson 12y ago
And who decides which kids are smart and deserve the Gates-style education? Should schools start segregating kids' education according to measured intelligence levels, perhaps?
- tormeh 12y ago
  Well, you could let their parents decide, as is the norm in many countries. I'm not saying that's good, though. What I'm saying is that even freedom is not a one-size-fits-all.

by tormeh 12y ago

Gates' kids are probably exceedingly smart. Giving them freedom is probably a good idea. Giving the average high schooler freedom is definitely /not/ a good idea.

deleted 12y ago

[deleted]

walterbell 12y ago

What about the unidentified high school kid who will be the next Gates or Jobs? Let's not repeat La Serrata of Venice. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serrata_del_Maggior_Consiglio http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serrata_del_Maggior_Consiglio http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Council_of_Venice http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Council_of_Venice

gone35 12y ago
Perhaps it's already too late --with US inequality having risen up to gilded-age levels, as it has, for over a generation now.
- walterbell 12y ago
  As long as parents and teachers are free to invest their resources into one vision over another, it's never too late to measure competing visions of measurement.
  - theworst 12y ago
    Assuming we can meaningfully measure competing visions of measurement. The turtles, all the way down, they burn!

pbhjpbhj 12y ago

Aren't we talking about giving the average high-schooler freedom to pursue a broader range of educational opportunities - sure, don't let them choose dope smoking per se as a school subject but letting them choose to engineer a bong shouldn't necessarily be frowned on provided they pursue educational aspects (production skills, design skills, engineering aspects, science aspects, etc.) and their parents sign off on it (negotiation skills right there!). If they want to draw dickbutts then let them, but they have to use blender and do a stop-motion including some entirely virtual elements, or program a laser cutter, or write a paper on what compels adolescents towards such things, the history of dickbutt, interview a famed dickbutt drawer, etc., etc.. Want to shoot hoops in the yard all day, well OK but you have to teach this group of younger kids how to do it; write a paper on the best 3 point scorers in history including what you consider to be the things that made them great, include a review of their career earnings expressed as an expected lifetime per annum gross. You give them freedom to decide the arena and tools to educate themselves but limit them on the details that ensure it's an educational experience. Problem with this - resources, teachers who know enough to support the particular interests of the child.

lobster_johnson 12y ago

And who decides which kids are smart and deserve the Gates-style education? Should schools start segregating kids' education according to measured intelligence levels, perhaps?

tormeh 12y ago
Well, you could let their parents decide, as is the norm in many countries. I'm not saying that's good, though. What I'm saying is that even freedom is not a one-size-fits-all.