First, I want to thank you, metmom, for doing such a great job posting such interesting education articles. I really appreciate it.
My comment is this. We are currently ooking for an independent secondary school for my older son. As we were being guided around one school, the admissions officer noted this upsetting anecdote: the students from private schools are accustomed to having their teachers as part of a “team,” supporting the students from academics to athletics, and they often do well as such boarding schools. But the students from public schools are much more skeptical and find it hard to connect with private school teachers. I find that disturbing; these public students are missing out on so much.
And the tendency not appear smart is fairly prevalent in all schools. But by dumbing down their work, students are sabatoging their future.
My son is eager to join the “geek squad” at one school, a moniker accepted by those very students who excel at robotics, aeronautics and electronics. I hope they are being trained to become the excellent engineers of our future.