学会改变[1]_其他_趣味英语-查字典英语网

学会改变[1]

It seems like graders are finally not settling for conformity. Instead they are looking to see how students make their points and make them convincing. But conformity is ingrained in us. Thousands of years of Confucius doctrine is not designed to let us ask questions, but to think along the lines of authority figures. Once we are given the freedom, albeit limited, many are confounded.

Reactions toward this year's topic selections range from "too generic" to "too close to current affairs". Granted, there should be a balance between the general and the specific. And it varies with each student. It'll always favor one group over another. And this year's weighed in favor of urbanites, who enjoy more access than rural kids to news, information and social commentary.

In the end, everything depends on how the essays are graded. I remember a few years ago some really imaginative ones got the lowest score - when I say low, I mean zero! That's far less likely now but a new problem will arise. You can break the mould and set a new standard but pretty soon, that will also become the new formula by which imitators churn out millions of similar essays. Kind of like all the other knock-off product lines.

The problem is not with the material the children are given as much as the way they are allowed to use it. At the end of the day, innovation must be encouraged. That's probably the only foolproof answer.