Location: British Columbia
Posted on: 01-12-05 19:27:17
I just want to throw my $0.02 in:
I think MadammeX may have been trying to say that Math isnt the only important part of education. Its important to be well rounded and if a program such as Kumon has the ability to help kids develop self confidence, critical thinking skills, and develop enjoyment of learning then that would be a good enough rationale to use such services.
Math isnt my strongest point, but in my career, I dont need much more than a calculator. Unfortunately or fortunately we are becoming more of a technology dependant society. Why blame just calculators?
When I was in school we were not allowed to use calculators to do simple calculations (I grew up in Canada) 
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~ Morning rain
Quote:
Orginally posted by morning_rain
I just want to throw my $0.02 in:
I think MadammeX may have been trying to say that Math isnt the only important part of education. Its important to be well rounded and if a program such as Kumon has the ability to help kids develop self confidence, critical thinking skills, and develop enjoyment of learning then that would be a good enough rationale to use such services.
Math isnt my strongest point, but in my career, I dont need much more than a calculator. Unfortunately or fortunately we are becoming more of a technology dependant society. Why blame just calculators?
When I was in school we were not allowed to use calculators to do simple calculations (I grew up in Canada)
MR,
It is good to be well rounded, but well rounded people only do a task well - they do not innovate and help the society to progress. For that to happen, society needs specialists.
Imagine what would be life like if we only had family physicians and no heart specialist, or orthopaedician, or pediatrist, or opthomolgist etc. etc. And mind you all these family physicians are well educated elites of society........not someone who became a doctor simply by going to the nearest classroom rather than any other room.
By the way, I personally do NOT think that the Mad..... guy had been trying to say what you have written about well roundedness. That way, no one part of education is the only important part of education.
Chandresh
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Chandresh
Advice is free – lessons I charge for!!
Location: British Columbia
Posted on: 01-12-05 19:54:45
Quote:
Orginally posted by chandresh
MR,
It is good to be well rounded, but well rounded people only do a task well - they do not innovate and help the society to progress. For that to happen, society needs specialists.
Imagine what would be life like if we only had family physicians and no heart specialist, or orthopaedician, or pediatrist, or opthomolgist etc. etc. And mind you all these family physicians are well educated elites of society........not someone who became a doctor simply by going to the nearest classroom rather than any other room.
By the way, I personally do NOT think that the Mad..... guy had been trying to say what you have written about well roundedness. That way, no one part of education is the only important part of education.
Chandresh
Hi,
Ok.. I may have misinterpreted what MadammeX (isnt that a female name) was trying to say. What you have written is interesting.
Every individual and every occupation has a role in society right?
What I understand from your posting is: Specialists are required to help society progress and develop and be innovative in solving unknowns. Humanitarians, social scientists, physical scientists, etc.
Well rounded people as you say \\\\\\\"only\\\\\\\" do a task well. Depending on the goal..that can be interpreted to mean that more value is placed on specialists? One step further: those who have linear or math oriented thought processes? Is there less societal or inherent value in task completion?
Inherently, what do we want for the next generation? Do we want innovators (do we all want to be the one parent..whose child is world famous for curing cancer or aids - though that would of course be a great thing) or is it better to expect we can raise a well rounded.thoughtful caring and humane child?
Interesting topic... I would like to learn more .. Thanks.
MR
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~ Morning rain
Quote:
Orginally posted by chandresh
It is good to be well rounded, but well rounded people only do a task well - they do not innovate and help the society to progress. For that to happen, society needs specialists.
Chandresh
Do you really think what you are saying holds true..........I dont think so/ I can give you plenty of examples which contradict what you say.
My take is that progress/innovation can only come from deviation!!
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"Progress comes from deviation".
On a side note if anybody finds my comments or posts offensive or irritating please ignore it and if that still bothers you; please write to me and I will demonstrate.
I went to a Kumon centre last night. Saw all the homework, etc. I dont find anything great. It appears to me that the kids have no one in the family to guide/help them in Math. So they end up in Kumon. Majority of them were immigrants. Looks like parents have no time or interest in helping their kids.
I spoke to couple of desis/pakistanis who came to drop off their kids. The parents are in their own world. They know somehow Kumon will make their kids learn Math. That's all they want. But no one really tells why they send their kids there. They will put a spin and hide the truth (that their kdis are dumbaxx when it comes to Math).
Huh! so much for educated desis.
DIO
