What's wrong with education in America?

Almighty Colin · 06-08-2004

New Gallup poll

Who were we fighting on D Day?
(% who gave the correct answer)

Age 18-29 47%
Age 30-49 62%
Age 50-64 75%

I view World War II as the most important "event" of the 20th century. Today, not even half of 20 year olds can answer the question above. What's going on here?

A few months ago I looked at my sister's American History book and was more impressed than I thought I would be. I wouldn't blame it on the textbooks - if hers is any indication.

My personal experience in high school is that the teachers were dreadful and didn't motivate me. I also taught for a year and discovered that students were easily motivated and interested in learning when I cared enough to make it interesting for them.

Anyone have kids in school now? What're their experiences? What are your experiences with it?

Another interesting thing. I asked my sister some basic world geography questions and she didn't know the answers. Now, she is an excellent student, a 3.8 average but something is going wrong somewhere.

Mike AI · 06-08-2004

Very sad. Liberals must be smiling, they continue to dumb down public schools so students will become "godd little voters" who cannot think for themselves.

TheEnforcer · 06-08-2004

Quote:

Originally posted by Mike AI@Jun 8 2004, 08:11 AM
Very sad. Liberals must be smiling, they continue to dumb down public schools so students will become "godd little voters" who cannot think for themselves.

Take off your tinfoil hat Mike!! :P

Rolo · 06-08-2004

I have no kids, but I can tell that the teachers motivation is very important... Ideal situation would be teachers who are working a job, beside their teaching job - that job should be something where they use what they teach about in the classroom - ex. history teacher working also in a museum etc. Would keep teachers motivation high, because they are not only teaching kids, but also getting input from the outside world.
Maybe to ideal, but that would solve alot of the problems in education imho.

Nickatilynx · 06-08-2004

Treat education as a business.

Test teachers frequently , increase pay and tie pay to performance.

Pay teachers by results.

Dravyk · 06-08-2004

Quote:

Originally posted by Mike AI@Jun 8 2004, 09:11 AM
Very sad. Liberals must be smiling, they continue to dumb down public schools so students will become "godd little voters" who cannot think for themselves.

Yeah, and Conservatives can't even spell the word "good". :P :P :P

Quayle coudln't spell "potato". Dubya can't pronounce "nuclear". Arnold can't even say "California" correctly.

Must be that high-priced Ivy education system!

Buff · 06-08-2004

Public "schools" are POW camps for children and political pawns for bureaucratic warfare with the warring parties being taxpayers, parents, teachers, teachers' unions, bureaucrats on school boards, local elected officials, state elected officials, national elected officials, and "students." The war is being fought on several fronts, including the monetary front, the curriculum front, the racial front, and the religious front. Mercenaries have been called in to help wage the war, specifically the ACLU on one side, religious lawyers on another, the NAACP on another, and concerned watchdog groups on another.

And that's not including the deterioration of the family or the cultural race to the bottom.

Good luck and God Bless,
Buff

SykkBoy · 06-08-2004

Maybe I've lucked out but my kids have both excellent teachers.

My oldest son has special needs in school and I've been met with nothing but support and understanding. I've had to educate his teachers about selective mutism and they've been very receptive.

I have seen a lot high school students who don't seem to give a fuck. Maybe we should start opening special trade high schools instead of more general ones. We have a VoTech school here and I know other communities have them. We need more. I think we need more tech education in schools. From what I've seen the most obsolete teachers appear to be the computer instructors.

sarah_webinc · 06-09-2004

of course, in that poll the age group closer to the actual events had the more correct answers.

That said, even though it was taught in my school the majority of the other kids in my classes wouldn't have been able to tell you the answer. Of course, those of us that did know got shoved in honors history so that we wouldn't make the other kids feel bad

06-08-2004	#1
Almighty Colin Members Want to see your own Advertising Here! Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 8,059	New Gallup poll Who were we fighting on D Day? (% who gave the correct answer) Age 18-29 47% Age 30-49 62% Age 50-64 75% I view World War II as the most important "event" of the 20th century. Today, not even half of 20 year olds can answer the question above. What's going on here? A few months ago I looked at my sister's American History book and was more impressed than I thought I would be. I wouldn't blame it on the textbooks - if hers is any indication. My personal experience in high school is that the teachers were dreadful and didn't motivate me. I also taught for a year and discovered that students were easily motivated and interested in learning when I cared enough to make it interesting for them. Anyone have kids in school now? What're their experiences? What are your experiences with it? Another interesting thing. I asked my sister some basic world geography questions and she didn't know the answers. Now, she is an excellent student, a 3.8 average but something is going wrong somewhere. __________________ Almighty Content. Your one stop for live content. Secret Friends, LATINA Secret Friends , My Cam Friends

06-08-2004	#2
Mike AI Administrator Want to see your own Advertising Here! Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 11,618	Very sad. Liberals must be smiling, they continue to dumb down public schools so students will become "godd little voters" who cannot think for themselves. __________________ Make big money on your Domains! Why wait 40 days to get paid with the other guys? Parked.com pays the most for your traffic, and cuts checks twice a month!

06-08-2004	#4
Rolo Members Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Six Feet Under Posts: 2,150	I have no kids, but I can tell that the teachers motivation is very important... Ideal situation would be teachers who are working a job, beside their teaching job - that job should be something where they use what they teach about in the classroom - ex. history teacher working also in a museum etc. Would keep teachers motivation high, because they are not only teaching kids, but also getting input from the outside world. Maybe to ideal, but that would solve alot of the problems in education imho. __________________ "Chaos is the law of nature, order is the dream of man." ~Henry B. Adams (Historian) 1838-1918

06-08-2004	#7
Buff Members Join Date: Nov 2002 Posts: 1,561	Public "schools" are POW camps for children and political pawns for bureaucratic warfare with the warring parties being taxpayers, parents, teachers, teachers' unions, bureaucrats on school boards, local elected officials, state elected officials, national elected officials, and "students." The war is being fought on several fronts, including the monetary front, the curriculum front, the racial front, and the religious front. Mercenaries have been called in to help wage the war, specifically the ACLU on one side, religious lawyers on another, the NAACP on another, and concerned watchdog groups on another. And that's not including the deterioration of the family or the cultural race to the bottom. Good luck and God Bless, Buff __________________

06-08-2004	#8
SykkBoy Polishing the Chrome on Bishops Motorcycle $100 for every ImLive sign-up Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Hell: Bowels : Level 9 Posts: 4,153	Maybe I've lucked out but my kids have both excellent teachers. My oldest son has special needs in school and I've been met with nothing but support and understanding. I've had to educate his teachers about selective mutism and they've been very receptive. I have seen a lot high school students who don't seem to give a fuck. Maybe we should start opening special trade high schools instead of more general ones. We have a VoTech school here and I know other communities have them. We need more. I think we need more tech education in schools. From what I've seen the most obsolete teachers appear to be the computer instructors. __________________ ADULT PAYMASTER - All Site Access - Paying $70 October 5th! "Love your enemies...just in case your friends turn out to be bastards." - unknown

06-08-2004	#5
Nickatilynx Banned Want to see your own Advertising Here! Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Vancouver Canada Posts: 15,115	Treat education as a business. Test teachers frequently , increase pay and tie pay to performance. Pay teachers by results.

06-09-2004	#9
sarah_webinc Members Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: American In London Posts: 966	of course, in that poll the age group closer to the actual events had the more correct answers. That said, even though it was taught in my school the majority of the other kids in my classes wouldn't have been able to tell you the answer. Of course, those of us that did know got shoved in honors history so that we wouldn't make the other kids feel bad __________________ Special Boards Design Deal: 100 Banners = $799 ! Make 50% commissions promoting our pills! - sarah@webinc.com for details.

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