Competition Versus Cooperation And Pupil Achievement

Fifth, educational bankruptcy laws exist in selected states, such as in Now Jersey and Kentucky. Thus, if pupils in a school system are not achieving adequately, according to the designated state, bankruptcy of that system may be incurred. The state which has the school system having been declared bankrupt, due to low test scores, may take over here in terms of the hiring/declaring a new superintendent, new principal, and/or new teachers, so that pupils might attain at a move optimal level. More competition among learners then is necessary so that administrators and teachers realize the seriousness of teaching pupils. Perhaps, the competition is felt more so by administrators and teachers so that motivation is there to help pupils achieve at an approved level. Also, each school and school system may feel the competition to outachieve other schools. and school systems. State officials may believe that school personnel are lazy and indifferent and need to be prodded with competition to perform at a higher level.

Politicians, the lay public, and educators who believe in competition to increase pupil achievement in the public schools are strong advocates of the free enterprise system in making comparisons among individuals and groups. Thus, competition brings out the best within the individual in society. A lack of competition breeds laziness and indifference. Weak teachers, schools, and administrators need to be weeded out. School systems that do not produce high test scores from pupils also need to be eliminated or necessary modifications made. High test scores indicate quality pupil achievement whereas low test scores indicate deficient instruction and supervision. The socio-economic level of the pupil and his/her home environment are not relevant factors to consider when motivating pupils to learn. Minorities in society should achieve as well as others. With good teaching, the gaps in pupil achievement, between rich and poor, may be taken care of with quality instruction in the classroom.

The measurement movement believes strongly in obtaining numerical results from pupil achievement. Percentiles, standard deviations, rank order, averages, and percent correct of items responded to on the test, are typical indicators of pupil achievement through testing.

Cooperation in the School Setting

Those politicians, lay people, and educators recommending cooperation to solve problems in teaching and learning believe that in working together, a good school and school system can be developed. Thus, stake holders need to get together to plan and implement excellence in the curriculum, through cooperative endeavors.

First, a school survey may be conducted to ascertain what is wanted in terms of educational objectives for pupils to attain. All involved in education in a school district should respond to and have input into the survey. From the tabulated results, it can be determined which objectives have most worth for pupils to achieve. The results are available to school personnel so that the best may be stressed in education, according to desires of people living within the school district. Cooperation is wanted from respondents to the survey in truly indicating what should be emphasized as objectives of instruction,