Monday, March 24, 2008

Talking Point #6

Tracking: Why Schools Need to Take Another Route
-Jeannie Oakes

Premise:
Education
Tracking
Opportunities
class
experiene
teachers
students
abilities
privalege

Author's Argument:
Oakes argues that students should not be labeled at young ages because it gives certain students more opportunities than others and tracking should not take place in schools.

Evidence:
1. "Students who are placed in high-ability groups have access to far richer schooling experiences than other students." (178)

2."One fact about tracking is unequivocal: tracking leads to substantial differenes in the day-to-day learning experiences students have at school." (178)

3."Students who are placed in high-ability groups have access to far riched schooling experiences than other students." (178)

4. "Students who need more time to learn appear to get less; those who have the most difficulty learning seem to have fewer of the best teachers." (179)

Comments:
First of all I want to say it was really easy to read this - it got to the point quickly. I do not know exactly how I feel on the subject of tracking. I understand where Oakes is coming from when she says that tracking gives certain kids more opportunities than others. I do not agree with that aspect of it at all. I don't think it's fair that privaleged students are getting more attention and opportunities than less privaleged students. The other side of me thinks it is easier for kids to learn when they are with students who are on the same academic level as them. They feel less self conscious and are able to turn to other students with their problems. Students with higher abilities will not be set back by others who are less advanced than them. Students with higher abilities and students with less abilities should both have teachers with high enthusiasm and have the same opportunities. The only difference between them should be that one class may need to spend a little more time on a subject than the other class. I agree with Jeannie Oakes that tracking gives more opportunities to some students than other students but I feel that if they changed the way they pursued it in classrooms than it would be more successful.

1 comment:

Dr. Lesley Bogad said...

You do a great job talking out the issues here... Did our discussion add to your confusion or help clarify your thoughts?

LB :)