This picture of a rural Chinese classroom reminded me of a lesson I learned a long long time ago in college.
We were at chapel and everyone broke into a chorus from the hymnbook. I was a new Christian at the time and didn't know the words.
Everyone sang loud and heartily...I felt alone.
The guy next to me said, "Sing along, Bill."
"I don't know the words."
"Then sing mashed potatoes and watermelons."
"Huh!?"
"Yea, if you sing mashed potatoes and watermelons, it will look like you know the words."
He was right. I could sing along and, indeed, it did look like I was in sync with everyone else.
When all the kids are reading together, nobody is reading, or at least the teacher has no way of knowing who is doing well and who isn't.
Repeat after me...waste of time.
When everybody in a room is saying the same thing, one can't know who truly is in dissent.
General Patton said, "If everyone is thinking alike, then somebody isn't thinking."
I guess I have many points I want to make...one being, kids/people can learn in a group, but they need to practice and be tested individually.
Have you ever had to read in chorus? How did you feel?
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