Sarah Brenay - TC ch. 7

Sarah Brenay - TC ch. 7
Summary: Coyle describes the origin of the KIPP program which offers alternative education to inner-city students. Despite it's humble beginnings, KIPP has gleaned incredible results. Their secret to success lies in their curriculum design. They created a talent hotbed by putting students in a group, taking away their sense of safety by denying them privileges until they are earned, and showed them that only through hard work could the reach the top (college). The students are kind of brainwashed into good behavior and a good work ethic, as the rules require them to change everything about their behavior, from the way they walk and talk to the way they think. KIPP has high expectations, and the students, or "KIPPsters," rise to meet them.
Key Terms:
KIPP
Teach for America
Key Concepts:
There's nothing wrong with the students in inner cities, there's something wrong with the school systems. Those students are clearly able to succeed, if given the chance. Primal cues, constant feedback, give these students the push they need. Students want to be successful, and they want to go to college, they just aren't told often enough that they can.
Making Connections:
I have to say, this is the first chapter where I've sat back and realized that Coyle is not just a researcher, he's also a salesman. I had to remind myself to take what he's saying with a grain of salt. I know that KIPP sounds fantastic in Coyle's analysis, but his is not the only opinion. Anyway. I enjoyed this chapter because I plan on becoming a teacher and it encourages me to know that students want to succeed and they want to be pushed. But I think that this program is insane. I believe that they produce good scholars, but how can they produce innovative thinkers? Grades aren't everything, test scores aren't everything, and politeness sure as hell isn't everything. Are these students being taught to think for themselves, when they can't even control the way they hold their binders? I doubt it. I could be wrong, but I doubt it. KIPP has a lot of great ideas, and a lot of good things going for it, but I agree with all of it.