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| Author |
Message |
rcurl
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Academic Games
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Feb 6 06:52 UTC 1994 |
Our daughter participates in the after (middle) school program called
Academic Games. We supported her doing so, but finally went to the tail of
of a day of Academic Games held for all middle school participants at
Clague School. The kids had been at it for 9 (nine) hours, and had
an hour to go when we got there. It was astonishing. The ongoing game
was "identify this president": a coach read clues, starting with rather
arcane ones, to the better known. The kids were happily fractious, and
all those that were right, really celebrated (shouts, high fives, etc).
I didn't realize that there was this much enthusiasm for intellectual
matters among so many kids. Then I realized - that there are probably
ca. 2000 middle school kids in Ann Arbor - and about 40 were there
participating. 2%?
So, what is this Item about? To make your own observations on the
Academic Games program, or to report your own experiences with it.
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| 5 responses total. |
kami
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response 1 of 5:
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Feb 7 17:16 UTC 1994 |
I'm glad that 2% are being so well served. They will grow to be our leaders.
Now, what of the other 80 to 90% that are being underserved and underchallenged
and the rest who are being warehoused, carried and ignored...
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rcurl
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response 2 of 5:
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Feb 8 05:04 UTC 1994 |
Our daughter learned OnSet at AG, and tried to teach me, over the
weekend. A kid's game of mathematical set theory! She skunked me hollow.
(But she doesn't win *every* time at mancala or Set, anymore!)
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hawkeye
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response 3 of 5:
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Feb 8 16:26 UTC 1994 |
RE: #1. Oh, please, let's not drag out that old, tired arguement. There
*should* be exceptional programs for exceptional students.
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kami
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response 4 of 5:
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Feb 8 17:56 UTC 1994 |
I don't know ANYONE who is not in some way "exceptional", much less deserving
of tailored attention. Yes, it's labour intensive/expensive, but we start
from the ideal in order to reach the real (not the minimum).
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rcurl
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response 5 of 5:
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Feb 8 20:27 UTC 1994 |
Academic Games is a 100% voluntary, after school program, though
conducted at the school. Therefore one cannot say that it is an "exceptional
program(s) for exceptional students". I am sure that there are
unexceptional kids participating in AG, and probably many more exceptional
kids *not* participating, for very superficial reasons, among which
are momentary likes and dislikes of the kids, and parental encouragement.
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