Thoughts Blog

I read an article in the Phi Delta Kappan entitled Keeping Youths in School: An International Perspective . This article examines the vocational training strategies other countries use to help reduce the number of school dropouts. American tends to use vocational training as a way to entice unmotivated students into education. Whereas,other countries have a higher regard for vocational training and nationally respected licenses can be obtained in these programs. Employers trust these programs to prepare workers and the programs themselves are constructed to allow people to train for white-color jobs in their field. With its “college for all” mantra, the United States uses VET (career and technical training in the U.S.) mainly to engage unmotivated students and introduce them to various career options. This strategy makes the United States an outlier. In the more successful countries, VET has little to do with engaging unmotivated students, though that is one robust outcome, nor with

I just finished the book Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother by Amy Chua. As a mother, I found it very insightful. While I think Ms. Chua was into extreme parenting, I do think she has a point about expecting the best of our children to show them how much they can achieve. I recommend every parent read this book. Several of her quotes are worth noting: On Teaching: "What Chinese parents understand is that nothing is fun until your good at it. To get good at anything you have to work, and children on their own never want to work, which is why it its crucial to override thier preference." "I am here to prepare them for the world, not be their friend." (I superimposed these two ideas onto what it means to be a teacher when I was at a recent interview for a teaching position.) "Tenacious practice, practice, practice is crucial for excellence; rote repetion is underrated in America." (I think she has a point. I wonder if that strategy plus memorizat