lol or maybe we should start the rant thread?
You know in looking at the other almost all of them are like that, we are the chattiest group aren't we?
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lol or maybe we should start the rant thread?
You know in looking at the other almost all of them are like that, we are the chattiest group aren't we?
^ WINNING!
I think of this sub-forum more like a party. You wander around and see what different groups of people are talking about, with only a vague idea that the conversation started with some tangentially-related subject. Or, it veers off in completely different directions, and people add their own conversation to whatever topic is currently being discussed, without major regard for what exactly started the whole thing in the first place.
I think of this sub-forum more like a party. You wander around and see what different groups of people are talking about, with only a vague idea that the conversation started with some tangentially-related subject. Or, it veers off in completely different directions, and people add their own conversation to whatever topic is currently being discussed, without major regard for what exactly started the whole thing in the first place.
Yes, in another 50 years the written language as we know (or knew) it will be gone.
See we were just wasting our time in English class, it really doesn't matter that I cant spell!
50 years ago someone could have said the same thing and would be right.
Languages are living things (or they disappear)
"I don't mind not waking up with a prodigy between my legs, just so long as, god help me, I never wake up with THE prodigy between my legs!"
That is not likely to happen, as I am happily married and have THE Prodigy right here with me.
Yikes... what has happened to me in this forum... I NEVER posted like that before I started spending time in here.
That is not likely to happen, as I am happily married and have THE Prodigy right here with me.
Yikes... what has happened to me in this forum... I NEVER posted like that before I started spending time in here.
I was thinking something similar, but with an economic twist. I believe that the modern implementation of public schools in this country was largely funded and pushed not just for social engineering as in programming the students, but rather to keep them out of the workforce. To this end high standards and performance were not needed, and the system we have now reflects this history. It's arguable as to whether the "benefits" the smaller work force allowed the industrialists are seen in today's post industrial economy, but the industrial era goals have quite literally been institutionalized and are hard to overcome.
I think that the performance of non-US schools is telling. They looked at our educational rhetoric as we developed public education and took it at it's word. Differing economic environments didn't have the same focus on the workforce so they actually developed more effective education systems even while basing them on our own in some ways.
I agree with the first part, but not the second. I don't think that education being seen as an entitlement is actually backwards from the way I see the problem. I see substandard education as being compulsory as being the problem. That society, industry and politicians feel, and in fact are, entitled to our children. Even though I'm reversing entitlement for compulsion, I think it does breed exactly what you describe in the first half. Participation not performance from the individuals. I think this quantifiable in performance of marginalized students. The more marginalized (minority, low socioeconomic status etc) the student, the more the student and their support structure sees school as something that "they" make you show up for and less as the opportunity that it can be, even with it's flaws. This attitude can manifest in as a positive perspective for the student/family sometimes. Every end of grade award ceremony I've attended has given awards for perfect attendance. The majority of the kids getting these awards are minority or lower socio-economic students, and the majority of them aren't getting awards for academic achievement.
The biggest problem i see in reforming public schools though is that most people involved are earnest. They really believe in what they were taught, in the system that indoctrinated them, in the school system that employed and trained them. The majority of them aren't bad or lazy, just working within a framework that wasn't setup to do what they think it should, and they can't look outside the box to realize this.
I think that varies from school to school and even town to town.
I have two boys, ages 17 and 13. My oldest is autistic, so I've seen (and made sure) my local schools bending over backwards to provide him with what is needed for him to be successful. I'm not try to brag but he has gone from being 3years behind developmentally at the start of kindergarten to being in honors and IB classes in high school.
Public education has not failed my child, but it easily could have if my husband and I were less involved. I think that is the real issue.
My sister is a teacher, and a parent. Parental involvement is huge in education, at least in the US. Unfortunately, too many people have the "my kid's not getting good grades -- must be the teacher/school/principal's fault" attitude.
Frick, I hope this isn't what you thought I meant, I have a few high respect for teachers.
Edit: meant to say very not few. Just another case of my brain working slower then the rest of me.
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I love the way they talk, the quick-witted banter. The oh-so-polite insults. You are right though, things have changed a lot in just the past 10 years.
Yeah, parent involvement is huge. My daughter goes to a school that was at the bottom of the district 10 years ago. But the parents decided not to flee, and now you have to fight to volunteer for anything and the school is one of the most desirable and better testing in the district.
Brag on crbrown, it's good to hear, sounds like it's been a long road that you've navigated well. Kudos.
Brag on crbrown, it's good to hear, sounds like it's been a long road that you've navigated well. Kudos.
OMG you must be kidding! Now that's just wrong. I use that more than I use algebra.
Each time I read Analog's "I don't mind not waking up with a prodigy between my legs, just so long as, god help me, I never wake up with THE prodigy between my legs!" I just can't stop laughing.
LOL, I'm sorry, sort of.
LOL, I'm sorry, sort of.
No; I was just adding to the conversation. It's all good.
^ Man I love algebra. It gets a bad rap. I use it all the time in business.
I noticed the thread title has been revised.
This is actually pretty cool. An open, intelligent conversation about education. See, we aren't so scary afterall.
Winning, maybe?
I took algebra in high school but I really don't remember it much, I think it was one of those use it or lose it things.
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