Subject: Indus International School - Bangalore, India

Posted by Sharon Villines on 2/16/2010
In Reply To:Indus International School - Bangalore, India Posted by Niall Palfreyman on 2/16/2010

Message:

Is there any objective measure of this? Teachers have been complaining of declining student ability since there were teachers. I wonder if this is only that a teacher becomes more able as the years go by making the students seem less able.

Paul Newman once said that as he got older, he had less respect for acting because it was so easy. It couldn't be worth much. I've forgotten which wise drama sage pointed out the error in his thinking.

Since in order to keep the standard average as 100, the Stanford-Binet intelligence tests have been adjusted upward about 20 points since their debut, it would seem that by at least this one measure students are getting more able. Regardless of the relevance of the Stanford- Binet and whether it measures innate intelligence or education, it still measures ability using a standardized method.

I taught at Empire State College, which offers independent study, individualized degree programs, and evaluation of life experience for college credit. Obviously attractive for adult students. I started teaching there at age 32 and most of my students were older than I was, some by decades. The average age was 38. I had admiration for older students in their 50s for their accomplishments but frustration with their lack awareness of history and politics and lack of interest in philosophical questions. The younger students seemed to be more "like college students" and interested in new ideas.

By the time I was in my 50s, the older students seemed like the only ones who were not a struggle. They welcomed philosophical discussions that were related to their experience (called real life) and were grounded and dependable. The young ones changed their minds every week, rarely turned in a paper on time, and were frustratingly hard- headed with no experience to justify their their opinions.

So I wonder if the same is true of all students-- it's the teacher who changes.

Sharon

Follow Ups:

Indus International School - Bangalore, India - Niall Palfreyman 2/22/2010 
Indus International School - Bangalore, India - Sarah Boyar 3/4/2010
Indus International School - Bangalore, India - Michael Skelly 3/4/2010