Misconception #59: The reason some students don't keep up with the pace is because they are slow learners

The schools target the lowest common denominator. This is clearly reflected in the pace they try to set. They want to ensure that all students are capable of grasping the material they are provided.


Despite the slow pace that the schools set, some students still struggle. This is consistently due to inefficiencies and the inability to accommodate individual needs. If the schools maximized their ability to address individual needs, even the mentally retarded should be able to keep up with the pace being set by the teaching profession.

The ideal pace for learning is highly variable. If the schools meet the needs of their students, they will consistently exceed the current standards. Some students are slower, and all students have needs that deviate from rigid lesson plans. Capabilities regarding pace are insufficient to cause failure in modern schools, but the rate someone can learn combined with inefficiencies can slow an individual below the rate that his or her teachers are pursuing. Of course, I should probably provide a quick reminder that a failing grade does not always reflect the ability to learn the lessons required by a teacher.

The idea that the pace is too much for some students can cause other problems. Again, the schools target the pace at a level attainable by all. If they are concerned that they are going too fast for the slowest students, they are likely to slow down. If they slow down for the slowest students, they slow down for all students. I would much rather see teachers start to acknowledge individualism than for them to force their brightest students to go at a pace that is slower than ideal for the weakest students.