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From: jablow@brahms.BERKELEY.EDU (Eric Robert Jablow)
Newsgroups: net.singles
Subject: Re: Universities, and high school education
Message-ID: <12426@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU>
Date: Sun, 16-Mar-86 04:35:41 EST
Article-I.D.: ucbvax.12426
Posted: Sun Mar 16 04:35:41 1986
Date-Received: Mon, 17-Mar-86 04:33:58 EST
References: <162@pyuxc.UUCP> <588@hoptoad.uucp> <1119@burl.UUCP> <14792@onfcanim.UUCP> <2220@jhunix.UUCP>
Sender: usenet@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU
Reply-To: jablow@brahms.UUCP (Eric Robert Jablow)
Organization: Mathematical Sciences Research Institute
Lines: 55
Keywords: SMPY, Johns Hopkins, gifted, educational philosophy

***Line Eater--See you dentist today***

First of all, SMPY is not defunct.  The Johns Hopkins programs for
gifted chidren are a going concern.  I was affiliated with SMPY, though
I did not go to Hopkins.  Now, the non-math programs at Hopkins are
still extant, but they are of lower quality, I think.  They also get
stranger children.

Now, skipping grades is not for everyone.  I skipped 6 grades total,
and it has hurt me in some ways.  (As I have posted earlier,) I have
trouble involving myself in outside society, I don't know very well how
to meet people, and I am often lonely.  However, had I gone to regular
Junior High School I would have gone mad.  I would not have survived
it.  That was quite clear.  It was a hard choice, very trying on my
family.  I think we made the right decision.

On the other hand, my parents never pushed me.  They gave me
opportunities, and they stood up for me against the obstructive
principal of my public school, but they never forced me to do any more
than my regular homework.  Whatever else I studied I did on my own, and
not under their orders.  I was lucky.  My parents, when they were
extremely disturbed by my problems, took me to see the chairman of the
Brooklyn College math dept.  He thought we were cranks at first, but he
was convinced of our good faith.  Then another professor came in and
agreed to tutor me.  This is what kept me interested in life.

I do not think that skipping is the best solution for most people, but
while the school system remains as decrepit as it is, it may be the
only solution for some.  Certainly it has drawbacks, as in my case.  I
would prefer that American society decide that schools should fulfill
these two basic purposes:

1.  To educate people so that they can read, write, do arithmetic,
think logically, and so they have the historical background so they can
affect the society around them.

2.  To instill in people a love of learning and a love of craftmanship
and a sense of honor so that they will want to find some interesting
purpose for their lives.

I think that with these basic attitudes our school system can work for
the benefit of all of its students, and not neglect almost all of them
(gifted, average, disaffected, and handicapped alike).

All hail Jan Kemp!  Down with Vince Dooley!

			Respectfully,
			Eric Robert Jablow
			MSRI
			ucbvax!brahms!jablow

	I may be a screwy little wabbit, but at least I'm not
	going to Alcatraz!

				--E. Fudd--