Problems in Education Project

Today, as we begin our brainstorming on the many problems in American Education, I'd like to present to you an example area of study:

Problem in Education, example: Tracking.

The following is from Allyn & Bacon's Social Problems Supersite: Statement: America’s schools serve as "sorting machines" by categorizing students on the basis of their intellectual abilities and test scores.  Go to the following website to read about how tracking in middle schools works against poorer children - http://www.psu.edu/ur/2000/schooltracking.html.    What do the experts say? “Tracking is defined as the process whereby students are divided into categories so that they can be assigned in homogeneous groups to various kinds of classes. Essentially, it results in an academic hierarchy within schools of fast, average, and slow learners.  There are three principal reasons why schools use tracking:  1.) the argument that students learn best in homogeneous groups;  2.) some psychologists maintain that slow learners are more likely to develop good self-concepts and a positive outlook on school if they are grouped together; and  3.) educators argue that tracking makes teaching easier and classes more manageable.  Hundreds of studies have been conducted on the effects of ability grouping and tracking on student learning. The results differ in certain specifics, but one conclusion emerges clearly: No group of students has been found to benefit from being in a homogeneous group.  Not only does tracking seem to provide little benefit to students, but also many studies indicate that it often has a negative impact on the learning of average and especially slow students.”    What do you think? Note down your answers to the following questions and discuss them with peers in class. What is the rationale for tracking? What are the consequences of tracking? Where do you stand? Now you’ve had a chance hear other people’s views, take the Online Poll.