Education & Learning

Goodie!!!!

Topic for another thread "Why do teenagers like horror films?"

Peter wrote: I could write a LOT on this topic, but don't really have the energy (or inclination to do so here).   I'll just say that I'm a big believer in education, overall. It has been good for me, and I try to make it good for others (I believe I often succeed).   As for "are kids getting a good education," that depends on the specific country, culture, school, teachers, curriculum and kids. Maybe so -- maybe not.

Edited by The Quiet One - August 02 2010 at 16:06

Equality 7-2521 wrote: You're making a big logical jump from kids liking horror movies to that trivializing violence.

harmonium.ro wrote: I like reality and I like horror films too

Ok but you understand my point? Death, killings, violence have become habitual...and well, as it is in a movie this help them trivialize the issue of violence

Edited by shivareemoon - August 02 2010 at 15:50

I like reality and I like horror films too  

I think they're encouraged not to by teachers. Go tell an English department that resolving computer network issues is like reading John Donne and watch the incredulous spluttering commence.

Not to mention that if you can work your way through a Shakespeare play, parse the language, understand it, absorb it, you have a great ability to use that in the real world.  As then you can understand a SQL stored procedure (just a language), and eventually make a decent living, if yer so inclined.  It's all just language that follows rules and it's very easy to see where the rules are faulty.  Not saying this would work for everyone, but it worked for me, a competent English Major who has been gainfully employed in high-tech for something like 25 years, in spite of it all.  Purely educationally speaking, I have no business doing what I do for a living.  On a broader scale, parsing a John Donne poem just ain't that different from solving why some networking thing isn't working.  May not work for everyone, I dunno. 

NecronCommander wrote: Rob, you would have been the damn coolest teacher I would have ever had. I can't speak much about the public school system, since I have been fortunate to be in private schools all the way up to my current year (freshman in college.) However, your previous posts make me a tad worried.  The things you did for you class and your students were brilliant, and they certainly agree with all of the statements you've made about your views on the education system (which I almost completely agree with as well), but I worry that it would be very easy to see those methods in the wrong light.  I can see parents misinterpreting your techniques as tomfoolery or an "immature" approach to teaching. Just my 2 cents.  But then again, I'm still a student myself and have a very limited view of the educational system in the United States.

I can appreciate you feelings here.  Trust me...I had a couple of minor run-ins with the administration. 

I think it's all about context, really.

These students needed to live what they learned.  And learn how to live.

If they died in a stunt or gang fight (and believe me, a couple of them did), then learning Shakespeare would do nothing for them!

HOWEVER...

Shakespeare happened to be one of the authors my boys loved the most.  Julius Caesar was their favorite.  It was all about trust, honor, and revenge- things that are similar to gang life.  It also taught them how dangerous it was.

Believe me, the curriculum was rigorous, but relevant.  Jeopardy was more than a game, and they deserved it after working hard all week.


Edited by Epignosis - July 15 2010 at 22:18