Ambiguously Gendered Revenge of "What is the Hivemind?"

[Jdvn1]

Because after a bit of beating around the bush, you basically came out and said that you thought my high school wouldn't compare well to schools from other countries, despite comparing well to other US schools, even though anecdotal evidence trumps the universal statistics when I am discussing an anecdote.

... Oh, right. You compared your school to other US schools, and then you're now relating it to other countries. Gotcha.

Top 1% of schools are probably like top 50% of foreign schools, so I'm just being too general, probably.

You didn't answer my first question, though.

 

[Jdvn1]

No, its the other teachers who are NCLB-focused, so they spit on the people who are doing better than they and giving suggestions...

Well, if your school is doing well in the NCLB tests, then... see, most teachers' unions are against NCLB because it changes how teachers teach, many say negatively. So most teachers' unions would also be against NCLB. Since your school is doing well with NCLB tests, you'd be seen as dissenters in the eyes of the union.

That's what I was thinking, at least. Maryland is NCLB-focused? I didn't think so, but maybe I'm getting my states mixed up.

 

[Rystil Arden]

... Oh, right. You compared your school to other US schools, and then you're now relating it to other countries. Gotcha.

Top 1% of schools are probably like top 50% of foreign schools, so I'm just being too general, probably.

You didn't answer my first question, though.

You're the one who brought in the other countries, not me.

As to the 1% -> 50% thing, our course quality topped (for instance) the schools that are supposed to be the best two high schools in all of Madrid, from talking extensively to students who went there. So ya, you probably were being too general here. As to the first question, I haven't asked anyone else from my school to do a comparison to people from other countries, but since they took the same courses that I did, I would guess that they would also compare favourably.

 

[Rystil Arden]

Well, if your school is doing well in the NCLB tests, then... see, most teachers' unions are against NCLB because it changes how teachers teach, many say negatively. So most teachers' unions would also be against NCLB. Since your school is doing well with NCLB tests, you'd be seen as dissenters in the eyes of the union.

That's what I was thinking, at least. Maryland is NCLB-focused? I didn't think so, but maybe I'm getting my states mixed up.

Yes, the administration of MD schools is becoming more NCLB-focused. In fact, my mom and other parents and teachers from our school have been arguing against the state-and-county-assessments for NCLB, and how they are scored and displayed...

 

[Jdvn1]

You're the one who brought in the other countries, not me.

As to the 1% -> 50% thing, our course quality topped (for instance) the schools that are supposed to be the best two high schools in all of Madrid, from talking extensively to students who went there. So ya, you probably were being too general here. As to the first question, I haven't asked anyone else from my school to do a comparison to people from other countries, but since they took the same courses that I did, I would guess that they would also compare favourably.

Well, your school might be in the top .1% -- I used the 1% as a statistic; I didn't refer to your school directly there.

I asked about other students because I know that you're very intelligent and that you go to a difficult college -- you're probably not typical of a high school student even in your school.

 

[Jdvn1]

Yes, the administration of MD schools is becoming more NCLB-focused. In fact, my mom and other parents and teachers from our school have been arguing against the state-and-county-assessments for NCLB, and how they are scored and displayed...

You may be relieved to know, then, that a number of states are trying to overthrow NCLB, saying that it's unconstitutional and such. With any luck, they'll get rid of it, but I don't see that happening any time soon.

 

[Rystil Arden]

Well, your school might be in the top .1% -- I used the 1% as a statistic; I didn't refer to your school directly there.

I asked about other students because I know that you're very intelligent and that you go to a difficult college -- you're probably not typical of a high school student even in your school.

Well, your school might be in the top .1% -- I used the 1% as a statistic; I didn't refer to your school directly there.

If that's true, will you finally admit that my high school might have been one of the better public schools in the area then? That was the only point I was trying to make...

I asked about other students because I know that you're very intelligent and that you go to a difficult college -- you're probably not typical of a high school student even in your school.

I'd agree with that. I'm certainly not typical, as back then I could be the best at everything compared to the other students, but my intelligence doesn't matter here. There are foreign students here at MIT who are equally intelligent or smarter than I but have had worse course preparation in their high schools, and there are those who I know are dumber but already know the material becuase their high school was better (TJ students, often); how well the school teaches should be mostly independent of me.

 

[Rystil Arden]

You may be relieved to know, then, that a number of states are trying to overthrow NCLB, saying that it's unconstitutional and such. With any luck, they'll get rid of it, but I don't see that happening any time soon.

Oh I know that. And at the local level, my mom and some other people are in a group that is trying to at the very least make a small dent on the way that NCLB is implemented, figuring that they can at least do something even if they can't get rid of it completely...

 

[Jdvn1]

If that's true, will you finally admit that my high school might have been one of the better public schools in the area then? That was the only point I was trying to make...

I never contended that your school wasn't one of the better public schools in the area, just that the statement is significant. You're comparing your school to peanuts?

I'd agree with that. I'm certainly not typical, as back then I could be the best at everything compared to the other students, but my intelligence doesn't matter here. There are foreign students here at MIT who are equally intelligent or smarter than I but have had worse course preparation in their high schools, and there are those who I know are dumber but already know the material becuase their high school was better (TJ students, often); how well the school teaches should be mostly independent of me.

But didn't you use yourself in your examples?

My high school taught the material to me better than those of the students from other countries. I came in with a big advantage compared to them. Heck, I even learned more French history and Lit than my cousin in France, and more about Spain than my friends from Spain...

The anecdote seems moot if you're certainly not typical.

 

[Jdvn1]

Oh I know that. And at the local level, my mom and some other people are in a group that is trying to at the very least make a small dent on the way that NCLB is implemented, figuring that they can at least do something even if they can't get rid of it completely...

... like it should be?

I'm hoping the group has some governmental support, at least. If it's entirely local, she's not going to be heard.