Throughout my schooling, the Tyler rationale has always been prevalent. I believe to have seen the Tyler rationale used mostly in my junior high/high school grades. Instead of being Michael, I was referred to as student 802 with a grade level of below average. Therefore, I was grouped with other students who the school board believed were “below average students”. Then in high school, they grouped all the supposed “university” bound students in one class. The so-called “traits” people in another and the “find a minimum wage job” people in those other classes. Without even being able to demonstrate any sort of knowledge. Just based on those junior high marks alone. The school has already determined what schooling I will be taught and where my life will take me after high school and into the real world.
The Tyler rationale does have some major limitations, however. It sets limits for students learning. If you were to struggle with the Plan A method that the teacher teaches, well then your mark will reflect that knowledge that you can comprehend from that class material. It also makes it very difficult for students to improve their performance unless the teacher decides to move away from traditional styles of learning and branch out to fit the needs of other students in the classroom environment.
The benefit of the Tyler rationale is that it creates simple order within students. Based on test scores alone you know what students understand about the concepts and information being presented in the classroom and the students who don’t. It provides a framework for teachers to follow as they act as guidelines to help instruct the class in a particular way
This was really well written, there are a lot of people that probably have the same memories that you have. Middle Schools and High schools have very set expectations for students, if you don’t fit into that mold they assume there isn’t a place for you. How do you think educators could make sure no one is labeled as “Headed to University” or “Destined for a minimum wage job”? Is there a solution to this very common issue?
Hi Alexis,
I believe that an educator’s roles are to provide the curriculum to the students in the best way to fit each student’s needs. Each teacher should have the best intentions with the students regardless of what they chose to do with their life after high school. At the end of the day, educators can only do so much with each student, as there are lots of external factors for every student that are beyond the teacher’s control. Not every student likes school as much as others. I’m also a fan of getting rid of those advanced placement classes because, in the real world, you might be working with individuals who don’t have an intellectual ability similar to yours. So why would we segregate those so-called “smarter” students in high schools then?
Those are just my thoughts though 🙂 Appreciate the response and those questions.
Michael
I really enjoyed week 5’s discussion of the Tyler Rationale It was so amazing how everyone could relate their own schooling experience to the Tyler Rationale.
I enjoyed reading the high-school grouping system. However, I found it quite discriminating to those who were left out of this grouping system.