KHAN Academy: The future of education?

[MadHound]

45. Well, it shouldn't be the future of education,

But given that this is part of the Gates education juggernaut, which has as its goal the objective to destroy public education and teachers, it could well become the future if we're not careful.

There are several problems with Khan Academy. First of all, it simply doesn't address all the ways a children learns, and you can't do that with videos. Second, self paced learning has been tried in various places at various times, and it has always wound up a disaster. Third, under this model, special needs kids get left behind. Fourth, there is no serious studies that prove whether or not Khan is an effective model. Rather, these glowing reports are from self selected subjects, always a poor way of conducting objective studies about any subject.

What Khan seems to be is another assault on teachers, trying to get rid of as many as possible, and trivialize the rest. Another program, dreamed up by another non-educator, pushed by somebody who is distinctly anti-education. This is but another step along the path to a two tier education system, where the lower, more numerous group of people get enough education to be technically literate, and are able to stock shelves at Wal Mart, while the elite go to private schools and get the type of education that every student deserves.