I began teaching at the James School twenty-two years ago when I was twenty -six. In those days the place was very different. But time changes, and of course education theory changes, too. Methods and materials change. Even the classroom looks different.
Twenty years ago, our classroom was a lot less pleasant. Very old-fashioned. We had fewer window, for example. There were five rows of desks, six desks in a row. Since everything was nailed to the floor, a student sat in the same place all day long. Oh, we had to be very strict. Now students move all over the room. They go to different areas for different subjects, and they write at these movable desks. The students are more mobile, and because they’re more mobile, they’re less restless, and because they’re less restless, they are more attentive. At least that’s the theory. And as a matter of fact, we really don’t have many behavior problems here.
We use a modified open classroom system here at the James. I’ll try to explain what that means. Each student makes a work contract with his teacher. Basically, he agrees to a certain amount of work on a certain project. He hands the work in when he gets it done. He works at his own speed and plans his own time. If he is particularly motivated in one subject—math, for instance—he can explore the subject more thoroughly than the others. But he must also complete his contract in arts or reading or social science. Freedom within a structured system: that’s what we are trying to offer.
1. Now, the author of this passage must be in his .
A. 20’s B. 30’s C. 40’s D. 50’s
2. Now we really do not have many behavior problems in the classroom because
.
A. the students are more mobile and attentive
B. the teachers are more strict
C. the teachers are less strict
D. the students are less attentive and restless
3. The main idea of the third paragraph is about .
A. the characteristic of the modified open classroom system
B. the characteristic of the work contract
C. the freedom of the students
D. the generosity of the teachers
4. In a modified open classroom system, .
A. the student needn’t do any home work
B. the student can get more freedom in their study
C. the subject that the student should learn is decided by the teacher
D. there is not any discipline that the student should obey
5. According to the author, the educational system today is .
A. more strict and attentive
B. more pleasant and efficient
C. is similar to the educational system twenty years age
D. is satisfied by every teacher and student
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