As I prepare to go teach my class tomorrow I just keep wondering how this country's educational system slid so far so fast.
The joke is that college is the new high school. Maybe, but the college I'm teaching at is the new middle school.
This is not an isolated case. I got through high school knowing less than my brothers, who probably knew less than my parents. I'll bet that I couldn't handle the workload of college in the 1970s. I'm sure the work I did in the early 80s was easier and I'm even more sure that by comparison to today's kids I did the work of an Ivy Leaguer.
I know that there are plenty of smart kids out there. My nephews are smarter at 16 than I was at 26. But for the most part, the quality of our education, the quality of our workforce sucks.
I just want to know what happened. I have a pretty good idea. Seems to me that the public schools probably started to go downhill in the 1980s. I'm sure 12 years of Republican administrations didn't help matters. And the trouble is that once the shit starts to go bad, there is no bringing it back.
It's the same in the workplace. So many people do things half ass. I'm guilty too. I do just enough to get by. It's what a lot of people do now and it explains a lot about this country and how we've lost our way.
I don't think a candidate can bring that back. I don't know what can except the repercussions of doing things halfway. I know this. Half measures avail us nothing.
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"Half measures avail us nothing."
-The Rambler
It was different then. You know WE never had expensive shoes, back then either. I never had my own TV or a phone. The closest you came to an electronic game was 'Operation'. Nintendo came later. Reality TV? The Worlds Funniest Videos. We had NOTHING...so maybe all that fresh air from playing outside, and avoiding all this crap on TV kept us from overload. Things are so much faster these days, yeah they can type fast and know how to operate all this new technology...but the kids who are slow intellectually have techno-savvy...most. They must be fooling everyone into passing them, 'til they get to college.
Something I have been pondering for a few weeks. I know there are several personality tests out there, but I am referring to the one which identifies 4 basic personality types (Cholergic, Melancholic, Sanguine, Phlegmatic) each with their own strengths and weaknesses, 2 of which are predominant in our personalities and influence our productivity in the workplace. The personality type, which is labeled 'Phlegmatic', tends to be somewhat laid back, detached, and satisfied with mediocrity, not really driven to exceed the status quo. I am not saying this type of person ought to be banned or discouraged from teaching, though perhaps they could find some other meaningful work...uh...just kidding.
It's even worse when you have ADD/PMS on top of a naturally lazy streak.
(speaking from experience).
yeah. oops too long. Yaaaaawn...
It's doubly strange since today's students are a lot more mature and tech-smart than we were. By the time they're 18 they've seen it all. They have a machine (computer) that, if you type it in Google, will literally get you midget porn in no time. What I worry about is not the content of porn but its accesibility. And that accesibility (I know - spelling) quickly becomes boredom. It's like the Onion article wrote. "Nation demands another orifice to stare at."
Boredom, the end and means by which a child continues to access less 'boring' and increasingly depraved images, inevitably settling for isolated gratification, lacking in genuine intimacy and leading to...more boredom.
Block all porn access for children so they don't all wind up hopelessly bored.
Nope. What happened was that the gods in office decided that the schools were going to remedy every single social problem. So, when you become a socail work agency, it is much more difficult to teach content. Parents are lacking in job-skills? Let the school teach them too...., neglect/abuse at home? school can deal with it. Need a babysitter between 3-midnight? The underpaid/abused teachers should raise your kids. It's ridiculous. We are so busy parenting that there is no time for teaching actual subject areas. Write your congress-ass. Trust me, I know
Are these extravagant promises?
We Think Not.
Re-Totted is absolutely right.
The burden of parenting has fallen on an shoulders of the overworked teachers and counselors in our educational system.
If a child is not provided with ongoing daily guidance by parents, he will look to SOME other adult or role model, good or bad. Thank God for teachers/counselors. I know it's frustrating but the most important thing a child needs is love. Hope and faith. OK..and a hero to emulate. Encouragement. If he fails, he needs to know that it's not that end and that he can change his habits. Actual everyday Parenting really ought to be the norm not some kind of idealistic vision. Shame that kids who are the most vulnerable get lost in our dysfunctional rat race. Lose themselves.
If I were in a position to do so, I would hang encouraging posters ALL Over the walls of these places. Have the kids do them( it's been done... Oh.) and provide a gym membership and professional counseling for the teachers and counselors.
And speakers. This one guy STEVE FITZHUGH is the BEST. He spoke at over 200 schools last year.
You get a good speaker to come in and invite the parents. Serve Refreshments. Rice Crispy treats.
Every single parented home will have a visit from a specially trained inspector, who will bring new books for the children.
And every 2 income household will have a Nanny/Manny reading to your children and making Rice Crispy treats and candle lit dinners when you come home. Foot massages across the board!
April 12, 2008 11:58 AM
Yes, Re-Tot is right, that is definitely part of it. And we all suffer in the end. Our muggers won't even be able to use commas.
it's a sad punk-tuation
I believe someone smarter than I said it best when he stated, "Defining Deviancy Down."
Of course The Rambler himself once said, "The issue is not, Why Johnny Can't Read, but Why is Johnny Passing?"
Promote a culture of low expectations i.e. everyone is equal and a winner and you get the predictable results.
Flunk them Rambler. Flunk Johnny. Flunk all of them. Flunk them with big, red Fs. Flunk them and take a stand.
And then get yourself a good lawyer.
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