So my 3rd period IB Chemistry teacher has me thinking about schools. Since as far as I can remember, all schooling has been is memorize a bunch of information, and then show the teacher that I remembered it every week or so. Within a year or so after the class is finished, I can hardly remember anything from the class. Once in a while, he goes on about how we aren't nearly as educated as we could be, and it's not even our own faults. So many kids that got all A's and B's in high school end up dropping out of college because their teacher have lowered standards dramatically, without them knowing it. The USA loses pretty much every international intelegence competition. Thoughts?
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Hey, I'm a pro-amateur smash player.
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Re: School systems in America.
america is runned by dubya. america voted for dubya.
any other questions.
use small words when you talk **** about me, because you'll be eating them later
Originally posted by Tokzic -
Re: School systems in America.
Ever talked to people in other countries to see what their education's like?
I've never lived in these places, but I've heard stories of 6 year old japanese kids needing to schedule time to play with their friends, or else they won't have time.
My friend in India, when she was 3 or 4, some ridiculously young age, remembers being tested to see if she was smart enough for to be put into a prestigious school.
A student who I knew who went on exchange in highschool to France who didn't like it at all, because all school was for her was classes and studying. There were no extra-curricular activities.
I'm upset also that the school system doesn't seem to do as good a job as it should be doing in North America (I'm canadian), for both the slower and faster learners. But, I'm also very grateful that I wasn't brought up in a rigid, grades-are-everything society. I'm also glad my parents raised me so that I didn't have to be the best, so that I'd be able to get the 'best' career, or one of the top few ones.
Why do you think teachers have lowered standards? Laziness on the part of the teacher? Because parents get pissed at schools when their kids do poorly? Or is it by-product of North American culture?
I've been told, a few years back now I realize, that people with a North American education are thought of very highly by employers across the globe in terms of being able to adapt and work with people.
(and of course, we don't treat other country's education systems with respect. You're an MD? Oh, you got your degree in India? I'm sorry, we don't take degrees from your country; here, you can be the janitor!.)Comment
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Re: School systems in America.
Well, the way I see it, is that in the 50's when there was an uprising of schools, memorizing was key. The reason for this was that there was no internet, you had to go to the library and look everything up. Now that we have access to endless information, we should focus more on how to use it rather than just obtaining it and spitting it out at the teacher. And also yes, if momma's little angel is making a D in math she's going to instantly blame the standards for being too high. We have a great schooling system....... For the 50's when everyone went to work at factories.
As for MDs working as janitors, there must be reasoning. If they can make more money here for their family as a janitor then a doctor, so be it. I've been treated amongst the years by many doctors that aren't born in America.Hey, I'm a pro-amateur smash player.
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Re: School systems in America.
One of the really big issues is that the system hasn't significantly changed in decades. The methods of teaching haven't changed, but the content keeps getting updated because students have to learn more and more. What the system needs is an update of its methods, which is impossible because it's so decentralized.
Now, one of the benefits of our system in general is that kids get a decent amount of choice. In other countries (China is a great example), a student picks an academic path at the beginning of high school which essentially dictates a career path. Here, students have much longer to choose.
The problem with this is that while you're deciding, schools are trying to teach you everything you need for all those career paths. And doing it horribly because reform costs money.
Edit: You know what would be nice? If education was a market. There's plenty of demand for it, which would produce a lot of competition, and the quality of the product would skyrocket as a result.heheComment
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Re: School systems in America.
Asian countries 0wn our asses. End of story.
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Re: School systems in America.
But then we're stuck where we started. The rich get educated. The poor don't. The reason why the U.S. ever became so powerful was because everyone had an equal chance at success.
I agree, we do need an update, but funding for schools is so small as it is that we can hardly keep up with the outdated system we have.
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Re: School systems in America.
No, we didn't.
Bush:
50,456,002 (47.87%)
Gore:
50,999,897 (48.38%)
The ELECTORAL COLLEGE voted him in. Gore won the election.
PS I love our voting system, can't you tell? Looks like the people's vote means a whole lot now.Comment
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Re: School systems in America.
Our was created as a representative government in a time before education was a click or walk to the library away. Our government was created so that the smart people could make decisions for the stupid people if necessary.No, we didn't.
Bush:
50,456,002 (47.87%)
Gore:
50,999,897 (48.38%)
The ELECTORAL COLLEGE voted him in. Gore won the election.
PS I love our voting system, can't you tell? Looks like the people's vote means a whole lot now.
Maybe our current education system doesn't fit with our government system. And maybe, just maybe, T0rajir0u might just maybe be right. However we would loose any chance of competition with other nations. It might just be what would make our society finally click again. Who knows though.
Bush has done more good for the education system than he has harmed it. Just because he hasn't revolutionized it doesn't mean he can be blamed for our society's problems.Comment
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Re: School systems in America.
The people's vote never counted for much. I don't trust the people to make important decisions. The Framers didn't either. That's why the United States is a republic, not a democracy.
The problem with democracy is that it relies on an educated, informed voting populace, which we do not have because voting requirements are too slack.
A proposal no one in power can afford to take seriously:
Require that every citizen take a citizenship test before gaining the right to vote.
It's an absurd idea, and no serious politician could possibly endorse it because it would disenfranchise some particular segment of society. There would be accusations of political motives, and so forth, but the fact remains that this would weed out a lot of people who have no idea about anything and shouldn't have any say in the government.heheComment
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Re: School systems in America.
Many people don't really know why they are voting for who they are. Case in point, the percentage of people now that are all for bush, as opposed to the percent that voted for him.Hey, I'm a pro-amateur smash player.
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Re: School systems in America.
Bush is also a very bipolar man.
But once again we're off topic.Comment
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Re: School systems in America.
I'm well aware of the downsides of the voting process and the means of reform, but he specifically said the majority of people in America voted for George W. Bush, which is not true. In the year 2000, Al Gore was the man voted into office by the people of the United States.Comment
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