What school is all about

[Khalil Zakari]

What school is all about
...
Tue, November 3, 2009 5:05:11 AM
From:
Stephen Krashen
...
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Sent to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

What school is all about

Mt. Lebanon High School is establishing a dangerous precedent by
inviting real-world experts into classrooms (Mt. Lebanon wants you in
the classroom," Oct. 29). How will a presentation on water quality by
a real environmental scientist help students prepare for standardized
tests?

Mt. Lebanon administrators should consider the words of educational
authority Dolores Umbridge: " … a theoretical knowledge will be
sufficient to get you through your examinations, which after all, is
what school is all about."

It is rumored that Ms. Umbridge, former Headmistress of Hogswarts
School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, will soon be appointed special
advisor to Education Secretary Arne Duncan.

Stephen Krashen

[Khalil Zakari]

What school is all about
...
Tue, November 3, 2009 5:05:11 AM
From:
Stephen Krashen
...
Add to Contacts
To: [e-mail]

Sent to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

What school is all about

Mt. Lebanon High School is establishing a dangerous precedent by
inviting real-world experts into classrooms (Mt. Lebanon wants you in
the classroom," Oct. 29). How will a presentation on water quality by
a real environmental scientist help students prepare for standardized
tests?

Mt. Lebanon administrators should consider the words of educational
authority Dolores Umbridge: " … a theoretical knowledge will be
sufficient to get you through your examinations, which after all, is
what school is all about."

It is rumored that Ms. Umbridge, former Headmistress of Hogswarts
School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, will soon be appointed special
advisor to Education Secretary Arne Duncan.

Stephen Krashen

Harry Potter
: And how is theory supposed to prepare us for what's out there?

Dolores Umbridge
: There is nothing out there, dear!

Mt. Lebanon wants you in the classroom

Thursday, October 29, 2009

By Kaitlynn Riely, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09302/1009084-55.stm

Drew Haberberger, a physics and chemistry teacher at Mt. Lebanon High
School, envisions a lesson on water quality that includes a classroom
visit from a local environmental scientist, or a lesson on the physics
of music featuring a musician from the Pittsburgh Symphony.

With the launch of the school district's XGen Xperience, community
experts may soon be part of class lessons.

Mt. Lebanon School District will begin advertising next week for XGen
Xperience, a way for students to hear how the knowledge they gain has
real-world application and a way for community members to volunteer
their expertise.

"Our goal is to have this happen in all disciplines," Mr. Haberberger
said.

At a recent high school open house, he said, parents told teachers
that they would be willing to come into the classroom to talk about
their work as it relates to the lessons.

The president of the PTA Council for Mt. Lebanon, Karen Wolowski,
hopes the program will net the involvement of all community members,
not just parents.

She and teaching staff have many ideas for bringing the community to
the classroom, such as: A resident who has overcome a learning
disability, for special education classes; a violinist for a music
class; a novelist for an English class; and a person who has lived in
another country for a foreign language class.

Starting next week, the district Web site will feature a link where
community members can register interests and experience. Teachers will
be able to access the database to contact volunteers for classroom
visits.

Visit the district's site at www.mtlsd.org
.

Read more:
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09302/1009084-55.stm#ixzz0VT1BqoKh



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[Khalil Zakari]

Within the framework of the Standards-based approach to world languages teaching connections are of great profitability. I will be glad to hear a K12 kid reporting on the presentation on water quality by
that real environmental scientist using a Power-point Presentation and data show . Teaching and educating have long been easy bed-fellows.

Skills and knowledge are taught through multiple types of input.. There is no harm, to my view, in invitig gust speakers to have our kids attend presentations of this sort.