Coming from an American background (3rd through half of 6th grade in California, remainder of 6th through 12th in Texas, college outside the public education system)
1. What are your thoughts on standardized testing? Good or bad? Why so?
So I'm a bit biased here (got full scores on both the major American high school-level standardized tests), but I think standardized tests do offer useful data points and add predictive value when it comes to college GPA. However, as Benjamin pointed out, these tests are very easy to game (you "study for the test" instead of "studying for life"). As far as Critical Reading, Writing, and Science go, these tests also tend to measure an arbitrarily-picked set of skills that doesn't correspond very well with what's used in real life- for example, the most brilliant Physics major I know didn't do very well on the Science section, and there are plenty of people who can ace Critical Reading but fail to analyze any text more complex than
To Kill a Mockingbird. So we've got this great opportunity to extract meaningful, quantitive data (and I think the "quantitative" part is important because it allows us to maintain some degree of accountability when it comes to selecting people based on merit) but we're squandering it by measuring arbitrary skills.
I think the ideal course of action here would be to study strong experts in these fields- Mathematicians, authors and literary analysts, scientists, etc.- and attempt to find common skills that have high predictive value when it comes to doing well in their fields. Then to construct a more logic/reasoning/analysis-based test that doesn't give up as often and just test your ability to follow rules (as in the grammar section). The LSAT (for law schools- tests reasoning skills) and MCAT (for medical schools) might be good models to follow here.
Honestly, I'd give this issue high importance because a failure to provide a useful quantitative data point (beyond GPA, which has its own faults) means that qualitative (and subjective) data points get more weight, resulting in less accountability with regard to merit-based selection systems.
2. What are your thoughts on special needs education? Good or bad? Why so?
I don't have enough experience with how special needs education works- although the former faculty sponsor of my high school's GSA taught special needs and made me realize how talented special needs instructors are- but I think in general it's a good idea to treat public education as a positive right. One of the people I know who's good at having conversations about tech is special needs, so I don't think that the right to education should be taken away from special needs students if that's what the question is asking.
3. Do you feel Sexual education is an important class? Do you feel it should be improved, stay the same or be removed?
I think it should be improved and abstinence-only curricula eliminated. This is a social project, and we need to leverage it to actually prevent teen pregnancies/STDs and to actually give useful information.
4. Do you think we should teach more general subjects? A "prepare you for life" class, basically.
It'd be useful to offer this course as an elective, but if it's made mandatory, it would be a massive waste of time for most people and keep them from learning subjects that actually interest them. It's also very likely to end up as one of those joke classes taught by coaches who want extra pay for not teaching anything. As long as it's not mandatory, sure, it's going to help some people.
5. Do you think the maths classes are important, and if so, important for what? Are they good,bad? Do they need improvement et al?
Yes. Read Lockhart's lament-
https://www.maa.org/external_archive/devlin/LockhartsLament.pdf. Math is being completely mistaught because it's being presented as a useful tool instead of an actual field with lots of interesting and elegant parts. A field that beautiful (and one responsible for a lot of what we enjoy in the first world today) shouldn't be turned into two whole months of learning how simple/compound/continuously compounded interest works and classes that are basically lessons in how to use a calculator without understanding what's going on.
6. What are your thoughts on the current state of Social studies classes? Do you think they are doing a good job?
My AP history classes went pretty well in high school. Then again, all of my teachers had a PhD in their field.
7. What are your thoughts on language classes? Good or bad ? Need improvement?
They need improvement in most cases.
8. Do you think evolution theory should be taught in schools? If so, what about creationism? What other theories?
Evolution is a theory and a fact. Creationism isn't even a hypothesis. I don't think ideas that defy scientific consensus, especially religious ones (First Amendment, y'all!) should be peddled by the public education system. It's an education system, not an indoctrination system. You can brainwash your kids at church.
9. Do you think the social environment in public school is great? Do you find it lacking? Should it exist at all?
It was okay at my school. I mean, I wasn't popular or anything but as long as there aren't gangs or anything I'm cool with it.
10. What are your thoughts on the extracurricular activities? Such as art, chorus, orchestra, JROTC, Sports, or Shop class. Do some need to leave? Do others need improvement?
Outside sports and the arts, they need more emphasis and support. Pursuing your own passions is a big part of education.
11. What are some classes you'd like to see?
High school intro CS courses that better mirror what's available for college undergrads.
12. What are your thoughts on integrating technology into education? Are the 2 distinct? What are your tips to do this correctly?
All I'm saying is don't buy 300 fucking iPads when you have no idea how you're going to use them. Freaking PTA's and principals, always trying to make themselves look fancy.
13. What about PDA Public Displays of Affection in school? How have you felt about this? Do you really care at all either way? (This is a simple question, because simple questions are nice)
As long as they don't interfere with other people or get in the way of students being able to pay attention, I don't care. I don't think there's much we can do about it anyway.
Edited 8/31/2015 05:29:13
