Honestly, do you think people today are less informed and less educated than they were 200 years ago when many NEVER went to school, many couldn't read, there was not any national media to give out stories. Everything was word of mouth and you know how word of mouth stories go.

I don't think they're less informed. I think they're ill-informed. They believe the most preposterous stuff. If you doubt it, just check your junk email.

Honestly, do you think people today are less informed and less educated than they were 200 years ago when many NEVER went to school, many couldn't read, there was not any national media to give out stories. Everything was word of mouth and you know how word of mouth stories go.

 

 

They also weren't as heavily bombarded with things that are telling them to think inwardly and of themselves as opposed to each other. We are more educated, but I can't say we are any wiser or smarter. It seems to me that we lack more common sense than we used to. Bear in mind that I am of the generation from the 80's on so I have grown up with this and acknowledge it.

 

The people are innundated with entertainment and care little for the important events and news in the world. People get agitated over "Dancing with the stars" or "Survivor" being interrupted for important newsbreaks.

 

There is more news out there but there is also more flak and sensationalism that largely serves to prevent the indifferent and mainstream majority of the country from understanding the world around them outside of their little bubble.

Honestly, do you think people today are less informed and less educated than they were 200 years ago when many NEVER went to school, many couldn't read, there was not any national media to give out stories. Everything was word of mouth and you know how word of mouth stories go.

 

We may have more knowledge...but I question whether we have more wisdom.

I've thought long and hard about this one, and I keep coming back to the stale, stalled, and visonless state of public education in this country.

 

Sorry, LBBC.

 

This country is either going to decide for itself that when it comes to learning, all people are not created equally, or it is going to die. I feel very strongly about that. I think we need a vision to shift kids into differing tracks, based upon their respective strengths and weaknesses, at an earlier age, rather than this 'one size fits all' attitude with regard to our citizenry. I think the country moves along at breakneck pace once we do that, but I doubt it will happen because the concept itself is somehwat un-American.

I've thought long and hard about this one, and I keep coming back to the stale, stalled, and visonless state of public education in this country.

 

Sorry, LBBC.

 

This country is either going to decide for itself that when it comes to learning, all people are not created equally, or it is going to die. I feel very strongly about that. I think we need a vision to shift kids into differing tracks, based upon their respective strengths and weaknesses, at an earlier age, rather than this 'one size fits all' attitude with regard to our citizenry. I think the country moves along at breakneck pace once we do that, but I doubt it will happen because the concept itself is somehwat un-American.

Great post...

I've thought long and hard about this one, and I keep coming back to the stale, stalled, and visonless state of public education in this country.

 

Sorry, LBBC.

 

This country is either going to decide for itself that when it comes to learning, all people are not created equally, or it is going to die. I feel very strongly about that. I think we need a vision to shift kids into differing tracks, based upon their respective strengths and weaknesses, at an earlier age, rather than this 'one size fits all' attitude with regard to our citizenry. I think the country moves along at breakneck pace once we do that, but I doubt it will happen because the concept itself is somehwat un-American.

 

 

Not every child grows up to be an astronaut or brilliant scientist.

Not every child grows up to be an astronaut or brilliant scientist.

 

Unless I'm missing something, I think that's the point. We need to identify people's/children's strength and focus more of their education on that, rather than trying to force people to take the same cirriculum (sp?) across the board for most of their life.

 

 

In any case, great point Hearsay...whether I got it right or not.

Poverty

Education in Elementary and High Schools

Affordable Health Care

Unless I'm missing something, I think that's the point. We need to identify people's/children's strength and focus more of their education on that, rather than trying to force people to take the same cirriculum (sp?) across the board for most of their life.

 

 

In any case, great point Hearsay...whether I got it right or not.

 

 

I was agreeing. :thumb:

I've thought long and hard about this one, and I keep coming back to the stale, stalled, and visonless state of public education in this country.

 

Sorry, LBBC.

 

This country is either going to decide for itself that when it comes to learning, all people are not created equally, or it is going to die. I feel very strongly about that. I think we need a vision to shift kids into differing tracks, based upon their respective strengths and weaknesses, at an earlier age, rather than this 'one size fits all' attitude with regard to our citizenry. I think the country moves along at breakneck pace once we do that, but I doubt it will happen because the concept itself is somehwat un-American.

 

I taught school for 8 years and couldn't agree with you more!

What you complain of is not in the hands of educators but rather politicians seeking votes and consistently changing the landscape of schools after they are elected into office upon their promises/plans to fix education which leads back to Dad's post #9.

I've thought long and hard about this one, and I keep coming back to the stale, stalled, and visonless state of public education in this country.

 

Sorry, LBBC.

 

This country is either going to decide for itself that when it comes to learning, all people are not created equally, or it is going to die. I feel very strongly about that. I think we need a vision to shift kids into differing tracks, based upon their respective strengths and weaknesses, at an earlier age, rather than this 'one size fits all' attitude with regard to our citizenry. I think the country moves along at breakneck pace once we do that, but I doubt it will happen because the concept itself is somehwat un-American.

 

 

As a teacher, I totally agree. The worst thing that I see in public education today is the idea of "narrowing the gap". This means that there shouldn't be a gap between the performance of different groups of kids, which is great in theory for most categories. Want to know the easiest way to narrow the gap? Bring your high achieving students down! Take away what you are giving the higher achieving students and they don't do as well, so their scores/performance falls. I'll never forget the first teachers meeting that I sat in which this was the suggested plan. I cried.

 

All students deserve a quality education. However, not all students need the same education. Until we realize that we are going to take from the advanced students and frustrate the lower ability students by forcing them to do work that they can't and don't need, while depriving them of what they do need.

 

I agree entirely with Hearsay. As a result, we weaken ourselves as a nation.

As a teacher, I totally agree. The worst thing that I see in public education today is the idea of "narrowing the gap". This means that there shouldn't be a gap between the performance of different groups of kids, which is great in theory for most categories. Want to know the easiest way to narrow the gap? Bring your high achieving students down! Take away what you are giving the higher achieving students and they don't do as well, so their scores/performance falls. I'll never forget the first teachers meeting that I sat in which this was the suggested plan. I cried.

 

All students deserve a quality education. However, not all students need the same education. Until we realize that we are going to take from the advanced students and frustrate the lower ability students by forcing them to do work that they can't and don't need, while depriving them of what they do need.

 

I agree entirely with Hearsay. As a result, we weaken ourselves as a nation.

 

Do you feel that this is what TEACHERS ARE WANTING TO DO or what is PUT ONTO TEACHERS by those in Frankfort?

The education issue reminded me of this analogy. Most of you have probably heard it, but if you haven't, it hits the nail squarely on the head!

 

No Child Left Behind - Football Version

 

The football version of what is going on in education right now. (If you're not an educator, this may not make a lot of sense to you. But send it to your friends who are in education. They will love it!)

For all educators in and out of the education system:

 

1. All teams must make the state playoffs and all MUST win the championship. If a team does not win the championship, they will be on probation until they are the champions, and coaches will be held accountable. If after two years they have not won the championship their footballs and equipment will be taken away

UNTIL they do win the championship.

 

2. All kids will be expected to have the same football skills at the same time, even if they do not have the same conditions or opportunities to practice on their own. NO exceptions will be made for lack of interest in football, a desire to perform athletically, or genetic abilities or disabilities of themselves or their parents. ALL KIDS WILL PLAY FOOTBALL AT A PROFICIENT LEVEL!

 

3. Talented players will be asked to workout on their own, without instruction. This is because the coaches will be using all their instructional time with the athletes who aren't interested in football, have limited athletic ability or whose parents don't like football.

 

4. Games will be played year round, but statistics will only be kept in the 4th, 8th, and 11th game. This will create a New Age of S ports where every school is expected to have the same level of talent and all teams will reach the same minimum goals. If no child gets ahead, then no child gets left behind. If parents do not like this new law, they are encouraged to vote for vouchers and support private schools that can screen out the non-athletes and prevent their children from having to go to school with bad football players

I am not sure I see the relevance to that post and at least the schools in KY. There are still AP classes. There are still Physics and Chemistry that not every student takes. There are still higher level math classes that the kids will never actually use but are encouraged to take.

 

Not every student is taking those classes and not every class that challenges the top kids is dumbed down.

 

I don't see the accuracy of the post.

 

I do see it sells a viewpoint that some who want to believe that, will eagerly grab ahold of and sell as accurate. But I see nothing there that is accurate.

 

Even in the CATS testing, you have a distinguished and proficient scores. We are not trying to get everyone to distinguished, that will only be reached by the best. But there is a push to get all students to at least be proficient in writing.

 

Are you guys saying it is WRONG for a school to have a goal that every student is proficient at writing?