Is it just me, or is there a greater-than-average amount of closed-mindedness here?

[conuly]

She homeschools! She doesn't like the idea of tests and homework! She must be stupid!

I love the assumptions:

There's no way to judge how much a student learned unless you give tests and homework. Well, yeah, I guess they could check class participation and classwork - but how could there possibly be enough time??? Because all my classes, which ran on the "tests and homework" idea, were lecture-based, so this class must ALSO be large and lecture based, and there wouldn't be enough time to do classwork. I've never heard of class discussions, or labwork before!

And:

She withdrew her kids over this! She must not want them to learn! This must make her a bible-thumping fundie!

Aside from the obvious WTF prejudice, I have this to say: Of course, you can't learn unless you have homework and tests! This, despite the studies saying that homework and tests can be detrimental to actual learning. Seriously, think back: which did you learn better, the subject you didn't stress out over but instead liked, or the subject which had lots of tests, which you crammed for? Even if you disagree, which is fair, do you *really* think that there's no other way to learn than by lectures, homework, and tests?

Comments

[tsukikage85.livejournal.com]

Personally, I need grades and homework to get me to actually read the materials, and I'm horrible with hands-on projects, but I know many people who have succeeded in alternative schools that didn't do the whole Battle Royale-style academics.

[conuly]

We're all individuals :)

Philosophically, I think the whole test-homework mentality is insulting to the students. It's a bit like saying "we don't trust you to do the work, so we're going to force you to do it anyway". I understand that schools need SOME way to evaluate progress, and testing is the easiest way, but that doesn't mean I have to like it.

[conuly]

Of course, my view on homework changes depending on the type of homework given. The homework given in public schools tends to be worksheets. Pointless, and insulting. Homework in the form of projects, or reports, or long essays, or research - that's not pointless, that's just being prepared.