Re: Fw: Is all-English best?

[QCao009@AOL.COM]

In a message dated 11/22/02 10:51:39 AM Eastern Standard Time,
gkc@LOUISVILLE.EDU writes:

> Valdes is a pure critical pedagogist, a radical leftist (not that there is
> anything wrong with that).   If someone here is unfamiliar with the term
> and wants to
> understand it, read her article.  It is a fine example of that sort of
> reasoning.  It is also, as you have pointed out, a good example of
> qualitative research.   Now, we have extensive criticism of her on this
> list (you excepted)..  Has ARN-L grabbed the center and is now rejecting
> the extremes?  Has it now become anti-qualitative, neo-conservative?
>

George:

Mike Smith, the then Stanford Dean of College of Ed, would drop dead to hear
himself, Kenji or Guadalupe characterized as radical leftist.  And it is
interesting that as we were funded by Carnegie back then to look at standards
for one group of learners, my colleagues from all over the country were
somewhat annoyed at me when I told them that I thought standards dumbed down
the curriculum.

Notice I said the curriculum, and not the students.  I don't think it's
possible to dumb down people.  I have worked long enough to observe that
students learn in most cases despite teachers and prophets.  That's the key
reason why immigrant students, from all races, have succeeded.  When hurdles
are out in front of human beings, they try that much harder.  When
conservatives talk about the "soft bellies of low expectations" , it is
indeed learned helplessness that has set in for them.  Their discourse was
much more insightful and interesting from the outside.  The moment they got
to be in charge and continue to run against the beltway, they started
sounding even dumber than the predecessors they criticized.  Have you ever
noticed the clamor for executive privilege, and how much it sounds like
Clinton's denials?

As far as ARN centering itself, I think ARN is really too diverse a body
politic for any of us, both of us included, to try to pigeonhole or label
this listserv.  I think neo-conservative and anti-qualitative are not
synonymous, and I think you really should pay more attention to a tendency to
resort to easy labeling.

In a foxhole, my friend, we all breathe.  And we all breathe differently.
Until we no longer breathe.


Cao Anh Quan

Founder & President, The SCDJ Group
Vice President, University Seminars International
Chief Information Officer, At Ease
Director, FCAR

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