Education & Learning

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Stuff that happened vs. Fairy tales

Epignosis wrote: 3. Zero tolerance for bullsh*t in high school.  I mean this.  You go to school and dick around?  You are wasting taxpayers' money.  You are robbing other students of a valuable eduction.  You are not cute.  No detention, no suspensions, no writing sentences 100 times.  You get two warnings, and after that, you are out.  See you at McDonald's.

I realize you don't want teachers to have to tolerate people causing trouble, but this is simply a horrible idea.I want stricter discipline, too. In my high school, it was that teachers who had cool subjects (theater, journalism) had the ability in the structure of the class to let the students do their own thing and reward their independence with a good grade if they did it well, and then they were considered cool. It's tougher for other teachers who don't have that freedom. Maybe this will be a deterrent to a lot of kids acting up, but here are some assured unintended consequences:

1) Rates of high school dropouts will skyrocket. Some kids won't obey, and you're just egging them on to quit school or be "fired" from it. Kids often don't know what's good for them, and graduating high school is 100% necessary. Times are not like they used to be.

2) You will turn school into a soulless institution. Some kids way get one or two warnings without catching themselves when they show human emotions in your robot school. Then they'll come to school worried every single day that they'll do something wrong and get fired from school. And you thought bullying was stressful.

The point is students need to graduate high school in modern society. We should increase discipline up to, but never including expulsion for all but the most serious offenders.

Epignosis wrote: 7. Here are basic classes students should be required to take and pass: -Algebra -Geometry -English (Grammar and Language) -Literature -Science (a general class on the scientific method, basic physics, biology, and chemistry) -US History -World History -Civics (this should go in depth with the Constitution, US government, law, taxes, and all things pertaining to citizenship in the US) -Life Skills (basic class dealing with avoiding/managing debt, how to balance a checkbook, how to budget, how to get a job, what to do if unemployed, how to do a basic tax return) -Physical Education (gym) -Health (nutrition, first aid, learning about and preventing disease including STDs, etc) -Religion (Islam, Judaism, Christianity with an emphasis on the Bible, Hinduism, Buddhism, etc) That's 12 requirements.  If a school uses a semester schedule (which I support- 4 classes a semester instead of 7 or 8 all year), and students go for four years, that's  32 courses.  That leaves 20 electives students can take to customize an education- foreign languages, art, music, higher level sciences, maths, histories, literature, mechanics, theater, etc).

I would probably put foreign languages in the required section, and for 2-3 years. I would add a course in Critical Thinking, Skepticism, and Philosophical Overview in the required section. Nothing but an overview of philosophy, but with an intense study in critical thinking to balance with all that religion fluff.


Edited by stonebeard - June 12 2010 at 12:20

stonebeard wrote: I would probably put foreign languages in the required section, and for 2-3 years.

I would agree, except the foreign language studies at every school I've ever been too is terrible.  Very few people wind up even close to fluent the way languages are taught here.  I don't know why, but it doesn't work.

I took five years of Spanish (including two years in college).  I have a very rudimentary understanding of the language.  I can speak basic sentences slowly, read and write it to an extent, but I comprehend very little spoken Spanish.


Edited by Epignosis - June 12 2010 at 12:37

New York gives credit for wrong answers.

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/how_do_you_pass_ny_school_tests_tCqFKo40FhcwkO5SoPYWRI

Instead of pushing our youth to success, we broaden the definition of success.

Finnforest wrote: Oh yes I did see this on break earlier today. Yeah, what a shock.  I don't even want to comment.   I'm taking a break from debate threads for a spell while I work on tunes with our new teamies.  I don't know how I'm going to make it through this election cycle though, listening to these BS political ads on tv.....oh man.  I'm switching off before a vessel bursts.

Cheers Jim!

Have a brew.  I am.  The sky won't fall at once.

Finnforest wrote: Well, too late tonight Rob, but this weekend.....the elixir of the Gods will flow

So shall the wrath of my wife if I stare at your signature a moment longer! 

Epignosis wrote: 3. Zero tolerance for bullsh*t in high school.  I mean this.  You go to school and dick around?  You are wasting taxpayers' money.  You are robbing other students of a valuable eduction.  You are not cute.  No detention, no suspensions, no writing sentences 100 times.  You get two warnings, and after that, you are out.  See you at McDonald's.

Edited by DisgruntledPorcupine - July 15 2010 at 21:12

Epignosis wrote: Finnforest wrote: Well, too late tonight Rob, but this weekend.....the elixir of the Gods will flow So shall the wrath of my wife if I stare at your signature a moment longer!

If you want I could stare a little while for you.

Epignosis wrote: A Person wrote: Epignosis wrote: Finnforest wrote: Well, too late tonight Rob, but this weekend.....the elixir of the Gods will flow So shall the wrath of my wife if I stare at your signature a moment longer!  If you want I could stare a little while for you. Piss off, it's still my turn!

Do I get partial credit for at least trying?

A Person wrote: Epignosis wrote: A Person wrote: Epignosis wrote: Finnforest wrote: Well, too late tonight Rob, but this weekend.....the elixir of the Gods will flow So shall the wrath of my wife if I stare at your signature a moment longer!  If you want I could stare a little while for you. Piss off, it's still my turn!  Do I get partial credit for at least trying?

*shrugs shoulders*

Are partial erections possible?