Words and Definitions: Education

[xhalestarz]

Word: Appropriate
Defintion: Correct

Word: Conclusion
Defintion: General Overall Idea


My husband is a teacher at a Middle school and these were the words of the last two weeks. Some teacher or librarian posts them in the newsletter, in the school, on the internet, so they can teach the kids.

This drives me nuts.
Do you see why? Or do you care?
While what is appropriate may in fact be correct, correct is not the defination of appropriate. Agh!!! (You don't say, no, "2" is not the "appropriate" answer to the question, what is 1 plus 3)

ANd "the general overall idea" besides being redundant would apply more to the gist or summary of a thing.
A conclusion is the end or close, a result, a deduction, a decision.

Am I being over-sensitive?

Maybe.

But this is a school! These are educated people, teaching kids!!

(If it comes up in his class, my husband gives the kids a better idea of the word meaning, but doesn't know who comes up with this. And he is a first year teacher afraid to rock the boat, but it makes me livid!)

Sorry for the ranting. Just seeing if anyone else felt this way...

[xhalestarz]

Oh and I just noticed on their website this example of the use of the word conclusion:

Conclusion
(General Overall Idea)
What conclusion may be drawn?

Sure. Appriopriate use of the word. Does NOT mean the same thing if you use their defination!


Sorry! I will sink into obscurity now. :D

[Diannecp]

That would frost me too, as a former middle school teacher. I believe in putting the jelly on the bottom shelf to a point, but for Pete's sake, leave the lid on! No, seriously, I think this is an example of the "dumbing down of America." Just teach the bare minimum - offer kids no challenge so they can all feel successful. The problem is we usually only grasp a portion of what is taught, so if only pablum is taught, what's to be grasped?

And I'll get down off my soapbox now too! :rolleyes:

[MsSherry]

Actually, you could say " 2 is not the "appropriate" answer to the question, what is 1 plus 3"-- because, appropriate means suitable (among other definitions - different pronunciation changes the definition) and one of the synonyms of appropriate is indeed "correct". (Yes, I did consult the dictionary and thesarus just to make sure I was right :D )



However, in the interest of teaching children, it would be best to include more in depth definitions of the word depending on the age/reading level of the students concerned.

[xhalestarz]

You're right... I couldn't think of a better example, except that you wouldn't say it. Because, like I said, they can be the same, but it's not an entirely accurate way to teach it. The dictionary offers a great one word def: "fitting".
I guess I should've skipped the example, instead of giving a weak one, in the same spirit of what got me so upset, huh?