Hey Joe:
I often turn to the dictionary for standard definitions. Although I was
taught that the dictionary was the source for "the definition" of words, I
think this group is well aware that is no longer the case. Talk about fraud!
I currently subscribe to the interpretation that the history of the world
demonstrates that the world is consists of changing, and hopefully, evolving
interpretations. Not too, too long ago, the general interpretation was that
the world was flat, and everyone organized and planned their sailing trips
accordingly (they stayed away from the edge).
Merriam-websters defines diploma as:
1 plural also di·plo·ma·ta /-m&-t&/ : an official or state document :
CHARTER
2 : a writing usually under seal conferring some honor or privilege
3 : a document bearing record of graduation from or of a degree conferred by
an educational institution
Not too helpful, aye?
So, who are we? Can we be really be free from our past interpretations? Can
we really live free in the moment, spontaneous, care free and live forever?
In my opinion, no. However, is this not the general, and pervasive
interpretation that adolescents live in (and many adults, I still find
myself acting in accordance with these values)?
Thus, information is open to interpretation ("Facts are simple and facts
straight, facts continue to change their shape". The Talking Heads). You
define what your diploma means, and let your children define what it means,
and then learn how to articulate it others in the world. There will be some
people who will have automatic, historical opinions about your diploma
versus the traditional model, and judge you un-fairly, and close
opportunities. It's happened to me, and it is something I have had to just
learn to accept, and move on.
IMO, there is no right way, but there are ways consistent and coherent with
the past (yuk!), and so from there, we innovate, and make it better.
Go Sud Val!!
Mark
----- Original Message -----
From: Joe Jackson <shoeless@jazztbone.com>
To: <discuss-sudbury-model@sudval.org>
Sent: Sunday, December 16, 2001 9:28 AM
Subject: RE: DSM: David Rovner's and Bruce Smith's recent posts on the
Diploma
>
>
> > If a Sudbury school wishes to enter into the process of
> > awarding some of their alumni with diplomas, it can do that.
> > If the school does this in such a way as to avoid actually
> > passing the judgement that offering a diploma implies to the
> > outside community, this seems to me a kind of fraud
>
> This is about the seventeen-millionth I have heard a diploma offered
> without giving the student a test called a "fraud", however it is
> interesting to note that I have not heard once where and how the speaker
> came under the impression that the use of the word "diploma" legally
> means there was an external evaluation given.
>
> I'm looking for information, but I feel like all I'm getting is people's
> general impressions.
>
> The following statement I made 6 days ago:
>
> > It has been mentioned that there is an expectation when a
> > person sees a diploma that the diploma was awarded as a
> > result of tests. I will not argue that there are those who
> > would make this assumption. There are also those who assume
> > the word "school" automatically indicates bells and report
> > cards. I question the idea that we should let the
> > assumptions of some in our society decide for us what the
> > word "diploma" means, much as I question them deciding what
> > the word "school" means.
> >
> > But when our diploma clearly states that for which the
> > diploma was awarded, I hardly think fraud can be alleged.
>
> has not been addressed in a post. So what can be my conclusion when
> folks continue to throw around the word "fraud" other than they simply
> want to label a practice as criminal without discussion and move on. I
> find this frustrating, and I find that I somewhat regret bringing it up.
>
>
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This archive was generated by hypermail 2.0.0 : Wed Mar 27 2002 - 19:39:48 EST