Yep, that's right. As the subject line says: Homework is unfair. Not my idea; a Norwegian "researcher" (PhD student at a locall community college) has concluded in this manner, according to a press release, http://www.forskning.no/Artikler/2007/mai/1179914427.87 Title: "Lekser er urettferdig!" My translation: "Homework is unfair!" Ingress: "Lekser er med p=E5 =E5 opprettholde ulikhet i samfunnet. Privilegerte elever tjener p=E5 lekser, andre barn taper. Dette mener forsker Karin Gustavsen Tvetene." My translation: "Homework sustains inequality in society. Priveleged students benefit from [doing] homework, others [fall behind], according to researcher Karin Gustavsen Tvetene." A section heading: "Lekser i strid med skolepolitiske m=E5lsettinger" My translation: "Homework is at odds with political goals for the school" [The bulk of the article consists of re-iterations of these basic stands from various angles, like economy, egalitarism, strees and health.] I have long since suspected that at least the Norwegian educational system was more about ceremonies of handing out diplomas and certicficates to put on the wall; I must admit I had never believed I would see that reality docuemented as pungently as in this article... Rune
Homework is unfair!
Started by ●June 17, 2007
Reply by ●June 17, 20072007-06-17
Hi Rune, Rune Allnor wrote:> Yep, that's right. As the subject line says: Homework is unfair. > > Not my idea; a Norwegian "researcher" (PhD student at a locall > community > college) has concluded in this manner, according to a press release, > > http://www.forskning.no/Artikler/2007/mai/1179914427.87 > > Title: > > "Lekser er urettferdig!" > > My translation: > > "Homework is unfair!" > > Ingress: > > "Lekser er med p� � opprettholde ulikhet i samfunnet. > Privilegerte elever tjener p� lekser, andre barn taper. > Dette mener forsker Karin Gustavsen Tvetene." > > My translation: > > "Homework sustains inequality in society. > Priveleged students benefit from [doing] homework, > others [fall behind], according to researcher > Karin Gustavsen Tvetene." > > A section heading: > > "Lekser i strid med skolepolitiske m�lsettinger" > > My translation: > > "Homework is at odds with political goals for the school" > > [The bulk of the article consists of re-iterations of > these basic stands from various angles, like economy, > egalitarism, strees and health.] > > I have long since suspected that at least the Norwegian > educational system was more about ceremonies of > handing out diplomas and certicficates to put on the > wall; I must admit I had never believed I would see that > reality docuemented as pungently as in this article...I think you might be too quick to jump on this. Homework, as practiced in many schools, does strongly favour those who's home life actually lets them get on with it. I think there is a good case for setting school hours such that it should be reasonably expected that all work can be completed on the premises. Of course, people with the free time and resources can always give themselves an edge by doing additional work. However, I do think a lot of kids miss out because their out of school circumstances more or less prevent them doing what is needed. Steve
Reply by ●June 17, 20072007-06-17
On 17 Jun, 08:23, Steve Underwood <ste...@dis.org> wrote:> Hi Rune,> Rune Allnor wrote: > > Yep, that's right. As the subject line says: Homework is unfair. > > > Not my idea; a Norwegian "researcher" (PhD student at a locall > > community > > college) has concluded in this manner, according to a press release,..> > [The bulk of the article consists of re-iterations of > > these basic stands from various angles, like economy, > > egalitarism, strees and health.] > > > I have long since suspected that at least the Norwegian > > educational system was more about ceremonies of > > handing out diplomas and certicficates to put on the > > wall; I must admit I had never believed I would see that > > reality docuemented as pungently as in this article... > > I think you might be too quick to jump on this. Homework, as practiced > in many schools, does strongly favour those who's home life actually > lets them get on with it.Point taken. Maybe I would have put more emphasis on that aspect if the report had come form some non-Norwegian source. The one word I would use to describe the Norwegian national character -- if such a concept exists -- is "complacency." The then prime minister, Bruntland, presented a slogan a couple of years before the 1994 winter olympics held in Norway. The literal translation is "It is typical Norwegian to be good." As far as can tell, every connotation in English is embedded in the Norwegian version; "saint-like", "excellent", "kind" etc. Another Norwegian character trait is an emphasis on egalitarism. While that is a good thing -- who you are and where you come from should not determine The problem is that people interpret the slogan -- and for all I know that was the intention behind it -- as such properties coming with the citizenship, as opposed to as being results of efforts or being caused by different personalities. This "formal label determines personal capaicity" kind of thing is what really makes me fly through the roof: "Teacher == knowledgable." "Norwegian == good." etc. With this background it is impossible for me to interpret a Norwegian writer on the subject to saying anything else than "student / pupil == good learner." Rune
Reply by ●June 17, 20072007-06-17
On 17 Jun, 10:40, Rune Allnor <all...@tele.ntnu.no> wrote: I've been busy today, and was interrupted a couple of times while I wrote that post. Why not finish what I started:> Another Norwegian character trait is an emphasis on egalitarism. > While that is a good thing -- who you are and where you come > from should not determine ..... any person's *possibilities* for a life or carreer, the Norwegian version is somewhat degenerate: Everybody should be *equal* in all aspects of life. In the Norwegian sproting world, no one win and no one loose. In Norwegian schools, no one are skilled and no one are poor in the subjects. The "average mediocricy" is the ideal of life. With this background it is impossible for me to interpret a Norwegian writer on the subject to saying anything else than "student / pupil == good learner." Rune
Reply by ●June 17, 20072007-06-17
Rune Allnor wrote:> Yep, that's right. As the subject line says: Homework is unfair. > > Not my idea; a Norwegian "researcher" (PhD student at a locall > community > college) has concluded in this manner, according to a press release, > > http://www.forskning.no/Artikler/2007/mai/1179914427.87 > > Title: > > "Lekser er urettferdig!" > > My translation: > > "Homework is unfair!" > > Ingress: > > "Lekser er med p� � opprettholde ulikhet i samfunnet. > Privilegerte elever tjener p� lekser, andre barn taper. > Dette mener forsker Karin Gustavsen Tvetene." > > My translation: > > "Homework sustains inequality in society. > Priveleged students benefit from [doing] homework, > others [fall behind], according to researcher > Karin Gustavsen Tvetene." > > A section heading: > > "Lekser i strid med skolepolitiske m�lsettinger" > > My translation: > > "Homework is at odds with political goals for the school" > > [The bulk of the article consists of re-iterations of > these basic stands from various angles, like economy, > egalitarism, strees and health.] > > I have long since suspected that at least the Norwegian > educational system was more about ceremonies of > handing out diplomas and certicficates to put on the > wall; I must admit I had never believed I would see that > reality docuemented as pungently as in this article... > > Rune >Rune, As I have spent most of Sunday correcting homework I can definitely report that homework is unfair on teachers! Seriously though, I find the main factor giving some students an 'unfair' advantage is their attitude to learning. They gain an 'unfair' advantage over their classmates when they: Arrive and leave class on time. Pay attention in class and take notes. Use the provided computers usefully instead of Net surfing. Buy the prescribed textbooks. Use the prescribed textbooks. Do example problems in class. Do their homework. While I do recognise that for some, their home environment may make it harder for them to do their homework, who says it has to be done, literally, in the home? Most educational establishments have libraries, and then there are the local community libraries. Regards, John
Reply by ●June 17, 20072007-06-17
John Monro wrote: ...> They gain an 'unfair' advantage over their classmates when they: > Arrive and leave class on time. > Pay attention in class and take notes. > Use the provided computers usefully instead of Net surfing. > Buy the prescribed textbooks. > Use the prescribed textbooks. > Do example problems in class. > Do their homework.Well said.> While I do recognise that for some, their home environment may make it > harder for them to do their homework, who says it has to be done, > literally, in the home? Most educational establishments have libraries, > and then there are the local community libraries.Then recognize also that some students have to get home to cook and tend to siblings, and get some of their homework done while waiting for the pot to boil and after the others are asleep. Let's see if I can extend the list: Homework is unfair. Exams are unfair. Grades are unfair. Course credit is unfair. Diplomas are unfair. That should level things! Jerry -- Engineering is the art of making what you want from things you can get. ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
Reply by ●June 17, 20072007-06-17
On 17 Jun, 14:59, Jerry Avins <j...@ieee.org> wrote:> John Monro wrote: > > ... > > > They gain an 'unfair' advantage over their classmates when they: > > Arrive and leave class on time. > > Pay attention in class and take notes. > > Use the provided computers usefully instead of Net surfing. > > Buy the prescribed textbooks. > > Use the prescribed textbooks. > > Do example problems in class. > > Do their homework. > > Well said. > > > While I do recognise that for some, their home environment may make it > > harder for them to do their homework, who says it has to be done, > > literally, in the home? Most educational establishments have libraries, > > and then there are the local community libraries. > > Then recognize also that some students have to get home to cook and tend > to siblings, and get some of their homework done while waiting for the > pot to boil and after the others are asleep. > > Let's see if I can extend the list: > > Homework is unfair. > Exams are unfair. > Grades are unfair. > Course credit is unfair. > Diplomas are unfair. > > That should level things!Even more so, it very succinctly summarizes the stand on education of the political party (Socialist Left) which holds the post Secretary on Education in the current Norwegian Government. Rune
Reply by ●June 17, 20072007-06-17
On Sun, 17 Jun 2007 08:59:04 -0400, Jerry Avins <jya@ieee.org> wrote:>John Monro wrote: > > ... > >> They gain an 'unfair' advantage over their classmates when they: >> Arrive and leave class on time. >> Pay attention in class and take notes. >> Use the provided computers usefully instead of Net surfing. >> Buy the prescribed textbooks. >> Use the prescribed textbooks. >> Do example problems in class. >> Do their homework. > >Well said.I agree. Nicely stated John. (snipped)> >Let's see if I can extend the list: > >Homework is unfair. >Exams are unfair. >Grades are unfair. >Course credit is unfair. >Diplomas are unfair. > >That should level things! > >JerryHow about adding: "Life is unfair". Jerry, you reminded me of a recent statement by the most famous woman in America, Paris Hilton (as she was led out of a Court Room), "It's not fair!!" See Ya', [-Rick-]
Reply by ●June 17, 20072007-06-17
On Sat, 16 Jun 2007 23:09:43 -0700, Rune Allnor <allnor@tele.ntnu.no> wrote:>Yep, that's right. As the subject line says: Homework is unfair. > >Not my idea; a Norwegian "researcher" (PhD student at a locall >community >college) has concluded in this manner, according to a press release, > >http://www.forskning.no/Artikler/2007/mai/1179914427.87 > >Title: > > "Lekser er urettferdig!" > >My translation: > > "Homework is unfair!" >(snipped) Hi Rune, For years I've been watching the United States and great Britain commit cultural suicide. Now it's the Norwegians too! I'm sorry to hear that Rune. See Ya', [-Rick-]
Reply by ●June 17, 20072007-06-17
Rick Lyons wrote:> On Sun, 17 Jun 2007 08:59:04 -0400, Jerry Avins <jya@ieee.org> wrote: > >> John Monro wrote: >> >> ... >> >>> They gain an 'unfair' advantage over their classmates when they: >>> Arrive and leave class on time. >>> Pay attention in class and take notes. >>> Use the provided computers usefully instead of Net surfing. >>> Buy the prescribed textbooks. >>> Use the prescribed textbooks. >>> Do example problems in class. >>> Do their homework. >> Well said. > > I agree. Nicely stated John. > > (snipped) >> Let's see if I can extend the list: >> >> Homework is unfair. >> Exams are unfair. >> Grades are unfair. >> Course credit is unfair. >> Diplomas are unfair. >> >> That should level things! >> >> Jerry > > How about adding: "Life is unfair". > > Jerry, you reminded me of a recent > statement by the most famous woman in > America, Paris Hilton (as she was led > out of a Court Room), > > "It's not fair!!"Credit where due. The first time she was led away, she was allowed a hug from her mother. When she was sent back, she wasn't. That's what the "no fair" was about. Jerry -- Engineering is the art of making what you want from things you can get. ¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯
