Not That Kind Of Diversity
Variations in human ability continue to frustrate those who would perfect us:
You see, if a problem can’t be solved, the next-best thing is to hide it:
The genius of the “equity-focussed” policies, also being advanced in California and elsewhere, is that they are likely to have negative consequences for both ends of the ability spectrum. The cognitively untalented will be spared the normal incentives to master at least the basics, even the basics of behaviour, while the gifted will be denied access to advanced material more suited to their abilities, resulting in boredom and demoralisation.
Again, hiding that bothersome unevenness in effort and ability.
Readers will note that the retreat from clear metrics into euphemism and pernicious fuzzwords – chief among which, “equity” – not only makes it difficult to determine pupils’ academic progress and actual competence, but also has a secondary effect of making it more difficult to identify the shortcomings of progressive educators and administrators. A coincidence, I’m sure.
The pernicious woo named “equity” – which roughly translates as equality of outcome regardless of inputs – has of course been mentioned here before.
If the examples linked above aren’t sufficiently striking, I do have more.
Consider this an open thread. Share ye links and bicker.
I am typing a slowly as I can! And it still will not let me edit that I teach!
I shall now slink off in shame, give myself a low grade, and weep bitterly into my soup.
It’s a wpDiscuz bug. Update with fix expected shortly.
As Eliot goes, I found Silas Marner to be rather engaging. Not a lot of physical action but the main character is a man falsely accused who goes on to build an ultimately productive life. Though I read it as an adult so maybe a different perspective. An older male coworker was rather puzzled as to why I was reading something he had thought quite boring. So anyway, Moby Dick…
C. S. Lewis, letter, Nov. 23, 1958:
I might guess from the source that his perception might have leaned toward the more elite (heh) schools of the time where the students were mostly the spoiled children of privilege and wealth. Those going to school on the G.I. Bill or attending similar strata universities were more fundamentally grounded as such an education was far more costly, relatively speaking. By the 60’s those problems had likely eaten into your state schools, land grant schools, etc.