The normal curve is a distribution most appropriate to chance and random activity. Education is a purposeful activity and we seek to have students learn what we would teach. Therefore, if we are effective, the distribution of grades will be anything but a normal curve. In fact, a normal curve is evidence of our failure to teach.
Interpretation
The quote suggests that education should not conform to a normal distribution of grades, as that implies ineffective teaching.
Benjamin Bloom argues that education is a deliberate and intentional process aimed at fostering learning among students. If grades follow a normal distribution, it demonstrates a failure in educational effectiveness, as this would mean that many students are not reaching their potential. Effective teaching should result in diverse outcomes, reflecting the varying levels of understanding and mastery among students, rather than the predictable bell curve associated with chance.
In practice
During a teacher conference, to discuss evaluation methods.
Education must be increasingly concerned about the fullest development of all children and youth, and it will be the responsibility of the schools to seek learning conditions which will enable each individual to reach the highest level of learning possible.
Writing practice brings us back to the uniqueness of our own minds and an acceptance of it. We all have wild dreams, fantasies, and ordinary thoughts. Let us to feel the texture of them and not be afraid of them.Writing is still the wildest thing I know.
Real knowledge, like every thing else of the highest value, is not to be obtained so easily. It must be worked for, — studied for, — thought for, — and more than all, it must be prayed for.
Each culture has some knowledge. That's why I studied with Saj Dev, an Indian flute player. That's why I studied Stockhausen's music. The pygmies' music of the rain forest is very rich music. So the knowledge is out there. And I also believe one should seek knowledge from the cradle to the grave. With that kind of inquisitiveness, one discovers things that were unknown before.
He who opens a school door, closes a prison.
There are five Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John and the Christian. Most people will never read the first four.
Learn the Arabic language; it will sharpen your wisdom.
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