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lauranne · 22-25, F
@NortiusMaximus why not both
NortiusMaximus · M
@lauranne Just pay teachers what they're worth. In the UK, a lot of the current bunch aren't worth anything but, well qualified (min. Master's degree) good teachers, should be paid well too.
acpguy · C
@Thevy29 Pay teachers more only if they are qualified to teach the subjects they are to teach and teachers must pass rigorous tests to prove they are qualified. We are actually overpaying socialist nannies far too much to mess up our children and pass them onto higher grades without proof they have learned the subjects.
Ontheroad · M
Downsizing - I firmly believe that much smaller schools are far superior. Neighborhood schools small enough to be more like a big family where all the teachers know and have a family like investment in the children and the children feel as if the teachers care about them.
I firmly believe the school environment is as important as anything else a school can provide.
I firmly believe the school environment is as important as anything else a school can provide.
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ElRengo · 70-79, M
Early one morning, a mother went in to wake up her son. "Wake up, son. It's time to go to school!"
"But why, Mom? I don't want to go."
"Give me two reasons why you don't want to go."
"Well, the kids hate me for one, and the teachers hate me, too!"
"Oh, that's no reason not to go to school. Come on now and get ready."
"Give me two reasons why I should go to school."
"Well, for one, you're 52 years old. And for another, you're the Principal!"!"
"But why, Mom? I don't want to go."
"Give me two reasons why you don't want to go."
"Well, the kids hate me for one, and the teachers hate me, too!"
"Oh, that's no reason not to go to school. Come on now and get ready."
"Give me two reasons why I should go to school."
"Well, for one, you're 52 years old. And for another, you're the Principal!"!"
daydeeo · 61-69, M
@dancingtongue We homeschooled our kids. 2 of the 3 are homeschoolong theirs. Ours got plenty of socialization (multiracial) through regular church activities. Which I think is much healthier socislization than the dog-eat-dog jungle which is government schools.
dancingtongue · 80-89, M
@Baremine @daydeeo I will grant you that homeschooling combined with other socialization activities is far better than home schooling per se. In my case, I was bedridden and isolated at home with no interaction with peers during my pre-adolescent years. When I returned to school, I was at least two years ahead academically and woefully behind in socialization skills. Particularly gender ones, as the girls had all grown hips and things and spoke funny. It took me until college to begin to catch up on interacting with male peers, and didn't fully until the Army and the beginning of my career. Women took longer since little was co-ed at the college level in those days.
My issue is that relying on other structured activities -- particularly those structured around religion -- is still limiting interaction at some level around a single belief system. My greatest education came from living in a student housing cooperative during college that welcomed all at a time when housing discrimination was still rampant. You not only had to share living space, you had to work together to fulfill your five hours of work requirement for the lower cost room-and-board.
I understand the concerns about the "jungle which is government schools". We actually put our oldest into a private school for a couple of years because of that jungle. Homeschooling was not an option, as both of us had to work in order to make the mortgage payment and put food on the table and the tuition was cheaper than giving up the second income. Oldest fell into a bad crowd and drugs in that private school, never graduated. We opted to become involved in improving the "government school" on nights and weekends. Youngest was totally public schooled right through college. As my grandkids have been. The public schooled ones have had much easier and more successful life patterns than the eldest, although he has turned his life around and done well as well. The road was just harder.
My issue is that relying on other structured activities -- particularly those structured around religion -- is still limiting interaction at some level around a single belief system. My greatest education came from living in a student housing cooperative during college that welcomed all at a time when housing discrimination was still rampant. You not only had to share living space, you had to work together to fulfill your five hours of work requirement for the lower cost room-and-board.
I understand the concerns about the "jungle which is government schools". We actually put our oldest into a private school for a couple of years because of that jungle. Homeschooling was not an option, as both of us had to work in order to make the mortgage payment and put food on the table and the tuition was cheaper than giving up the second income. Oldest fell into a bad crowd and drugs in that private school, never graduated. We opted to become involved in improving the "government school" on nights and weekends. Youngest was totally public schooled right through college. As my grandkids have been. The public schooled ones have had much easier and more successful life patterns than the eldest, although he has turned his life around and done well as well. The road was just harder.
TheSirfurryanimalWales · 61-69, M
NortiusMaximus · M
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GoldnJulz · 46-50, F
@Magicianzini
And of course, you would never conceive for someone else is might be later.
Also, you do realize I'm only matching - ok, I'll be fair - we're only matching behavior. According to your age ID you're 50 yrs old. Why did you never grow up? What prevented it?
Ah sheet, I can't even enjoy a selfie of you taking barbs on this site, and I've got to get some sleep, myself
Imagine that! Not everyone is in your time zone - or your mind.
Have a superb night. I've got lab early in the morning. You've got .. dried toast. 50 - and you tell ME to grow up. The irony JFC haha.
But thanks for the comedy. It was funny.
Ok well then I’ll match your behavior. If we’re lucky you won’t make it near 50. And when I do turn 50 I’ll send you a card with a picture of me eating avocado 🥑 toast with ground up Benzos (not barbs on top)
And then you can put your hands on yourself and make baby sauce because it’s obvious that you’re not going to procreate with a screenname like @Magicianzini. Do you idolize Chris Angel or David Blaine ?? Did David Copperfield deny your paternity claim? Florida huh? explains a lot!!!
And of course, you would never conceive for someone else is might be later.
Also, you do realize I'm only matching - ok, I'll be fair - we're only matching behavior. According to your age ID you're 50 yrs old. Why did you never grow up? What prevented it?
Ah sheet, I can't even enjoy a selfie of you taking barbs on this site, and I've got to get some sleep, myself
Imagine that! Not everyone is in your time zone - or your mind.
Have a superb night. I've got lab early in the morning. You've got .. dried toast. 50 - and you tell ME to grow up. The irony JFC haha.
But thanks for the comedy. It was funny.
Ok well then I’ll match your behavior. If we’re lucky you won’t make it near 50. And when I do turn 50 I’ll send you a card with a picture of me eating avocado 🥑 toast with ground up Benzos (not barbs on top)
And then you can put your hands on yourself and make baby sauce because it’s obvious that you’re not going to procreate with a screenname like @Magicianzini. Do you idolize Chris Angel or David Blaine ?? Did David Copperfield deny your paternity claim? Florida huh? explains a lot!!!
ArishMell · 70-79, M
@Magicianzini Does anyone know why it's so bad? Those two "sums" are not even "maths", just basic arithmetic, and the inability to read more than a few lines of text is appalling.
There are somewhat similar concerns in the UK, with its different schools system, too. Here, we have reports of young children entering Infants' School with very poor social skills (for their age) and some not even properly toilet-trained; and at the other end, too many teenagers leaving school barely literate.
The teachers do what they can; so probably do most of the administrators who may be struggling with reducing budgets and perhaps cock-eyed policies from government departments; yet these don't explain to me why such low standards by so many pupils.
Some blame can be attached to lazy or inept parents (the immature toilet training, bad table manners, and the like); a few children genuinely find learning difficult; but is actually, are we seeing these:
- A widespread desire among children themselves not to bother to learn?
- A widespread belief among teenagers that there is no point learning anything?
- A common myth that there is no need to be able to comprehend, analyse, question, anything?
Chidlren are innately curious and inquisitive, so is something happening for so many of them to lose that instinct? Even to reject it? Normal children in normal families, I mean, not the minority suffering from parents or schools deliberately replacing their natural curiosity and the need for a broad mind, with blind acceptance of unquestioned dogma. Though I think some strains of antisocial-media have a similar aim.
(I should add I am not a parent but have nephews and neices now themselves parents; and none of them and their offspring have ever had such problems. I did though once puzzle one nephew with this exchange:
Him: "You don't need learn maths because it's all in the calculator".
Me: "It's only a calculator. If you don't know the maths how do you know what to ask it to calculate?" )
There are somewhat similar concerns in the UK, with its different schools system, too. Here, we have reports of young children entering Infants' School with very poor social skills (for their age) and some not even properly toilet-trained; and at the other end, too many teenagers leaving school barely literate.
The teachers do what they can; so probably do most of the administrators who may be struggling with reducing budgets and perhaps cock-eyed policies from government departments; yet these don't explain to me why such low standards by so many pupils.
Some blame can be attached to lazy or inept parents (the immature toilet training, bad table manners, and the like); a few children genuinely find learning difficult; but is actually, are we seeing these:
- A widespread desire among children themselves not to bother to learn?
- A widespread belief among teenagers that there is no point learning anything?
- A common myth that there is no need to be able to comprehend, analyse, question, anything?
Chidlren are innately curious and inquisitive, so is something happening for so many of them to lose that instinct? Even to reject it? Normal children in normal families, I mean, not the minority suffering from parents or schools deliberately replacing their natural curiosity and the need for a broad mind, with blind acceptance of unquestioned dogma. Though I think some strains of antisocial-media have a similar aim.
(I should add I am not a parent but have nephews and neices now themselves parents; and none of them and their offspring have ever had such problems. I did though once puzzle one nephew with this exchange:
Him: "You don't need learn maths because it's all in the calculator".
Me: "It's only a calculator. If you don't know the maths how do you know what to ask it to calculate?" )
Magicianzini · M
@GoldnJulz Blah blah still senility messages in my list. JFC please get some mental health assistance.
FloorGenAdm · 51-55, M
NeddyKelly · M
ArishMell · 70-79, M
@NeddyKelly Thankyou.
I don't know if that is a widespread problem anywhere but is one I worry about in Britain with "faith schools" (of any faith) and so-called "home-schooling".
In both cases I blame the parents, who clearly miss the primary aim of education and the intended benefactors. Or they clearly do see it but reject it.
I don't know if that is a widespread problem anywhere but is one I worry about in Britain with "faith schools" (of any faith) and so-called "home-schooling".
In both cases I blame the parents, who clearly miss the primary aim of education and the intended benefactors. Or they clearly do see it but reject it.
dancingtongue · 80-89, M
There is so much, and so many different levels of education, it is hard to single something out. And it all starts with society greater valuing schools and teachers by returning to investing in them as important infrastructure needs that were allowed to deteriorate along with the roads and everything else. That said:
1. Elementary school: more teachers, for smaller classes, better disciplines.
2. High school: return to multiple tracks including vocational & life skills, not just an assumption everyone is going to college.
3. College: basic, minimum L&S requirements of a foreign language, basic history & economics for all, including the science and engineering majors.
1. Elementary school: more teachers, for smaller classes, better disciplines.
2. High school: return to multiple tracks including vocational & life skills, not just an assumption everyone is going to college.
3. College: basic, minimum L&S requirements of a foreign language, basic history & economics for all, including the science and engineering majors.
beermeplease · M
nobodyishome · 31-35, F
@beermeplease i understand nothing
GoFish ·
@nobodyishome he means they stoped grading kids work
Barefooter25 · 46-50, M
@beermeplease That and now schools hand out "participation trophies".
nobodyishome · 31-35, F
DancesWithWolves · 56-60, M
Barefooter25 · 46-50, M
Go back to the basics of reading, writing, arithmetic and civics. Back when I was in school, they also used to teach Phonics. No more of this "woke or DEI" agenda. We're spending billions of dollars on education and yet the US is nowhere near the top when it comes to having smart kids graduating.
chrisCA · M
@Barefooter25 Maybe they should teach the definition of "woke". You don't appear to.
greensnacks · F
Picklebobble2 · 61-69, M
In senior years i would run 'your responsibilities as an adult' classes.
Your requirements and responsibilities under the law.
Money management.
How to try and resolve conflict without responding with 'childlike' thinking.
Voter registration.
Basic politics and economics.
Basic home and vehicle maintenance.
Stuff like that relevant to the adult world.
Your requirements and responsibilities under the law.
Money management.
How to try and resolve conflict without responding with 'childlike' thinking.
Voter registration.
Basic politics and economics.
Basic home and vehicle maintenance.
Stuff like that relevant to the adult world.
Aquaabyss · New
The list is too long
@Aquaabyss go on
LordShadowfire · 46-50, M
•Prioritize a big enough budget that kids are actually getting an education.
•Update the textbooks to something from this decade, which falls under my first point.
•Either remove Christian talking points entirely from public education, or teach about all world religions. Under the US Constitution, there should be no in between.
•More teachers getting higher pay. Again, that falls under my first point.
•Update the sex education program to reflect reality. Anybody who doesn't like that can go hang.
•Require parents who want to homeschool their children to get a teaching degree.
•Emphasize the teaching of practical, real world skills at an early level, rather than useless facts that kids will never use. (Obligatory mention that the mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell.)
•Update the textbooks to something from this decade, which falls under my first point.
•Either remove Christian talking points entirely from public education, or teach about all world religions. Under the US Constitution, there should be no in between.
•More teachers getting higher pay. Again, that falls under my first point.
•Update the sex education program to reflect reality. Anybody who doesn't like that can go hang.
•Require parents who want to homeschool their children to get a teaching degree.
•Emphasize the teaching of practical, real world skills at an early level, rather than useless facts that kids will never use. (Obligatory mention that the mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell.)
swirlie · 31-35, F
I would make it mandatory for all Americans to attend high school until they graduated with a diploma while making political science a mandatory subject for each year during a 4 year curriculum. Maybe then Americans would learn about the consequence of voting while drunk or more importantly, not voting at all during Presidential Elections.
Musicman · 61-69, M
Take the liberalism out of the schools. Bring back the pledge of allegiance. Actually teach kids the truth about history. No more made up stuff. One teacher was teaching in school that the reason Japan attacked Pearl Harbor is because we forced them too by dropping an atomic bomb on them first. That is definitely not true. Our founding fathers were not evil men either.
alongalone · M
Boys shouldn't be ruled over by female teachers throughout grade school
meggie · F
Any bullies are sent on a course to teach them the impact of what they are doing.
@DancingStarGoddess what do you think is the reason
ThreeLittleBirds · F
ArishMell · 70-79, M
In the UK -
Errr, more than one thing. Sorry!
End the so-called "Academy Trusts" (semi-commercial) and restore for all except the genuinely private, "Public Schools"* the original Local Education Authority managed, State system.
Ban single-sex, single-religion and boarding schools. Ban so-called "home schooling", which is as absurd as its self-contradictory term. Education is to help the child become an independant, worthwhile adult, not to massage parental egos.
Nor, in the boarding case, to provide respite-care for parents suffering from having become parents. (The school terms total over three-quarters of the year - a cruelly long separation, especially for younger, Preparatory School children.)
Be much tougher with parents who take their children out of school merely to go on holiday in term time. They are tempted to do this, although it is illegal, because the travel industry jacks air and ferry fares up during the school holidays. It's simple: if you can't afford to take your family for a fortnight abroad, holiday in your own country instead, and in the regular school holidays; whilst at the same time teaching your offspring both money sense and that the Law does apply to them.
Reduce the cost of school uniforms? I don't know how serious a problem this is, or how much it is raised by parents who feel they should not have to pay for anything; but shops should not charge more for uniform than equivalent non-uniform garments. Children's clothes are null-rated for VAT, though, which should help. (I am short enough to take advantage of this myself, for some garments!)
===
*"Public Schools" - Eton, Rugby, Harrow, Gordonstoun, etc. among the leaders - are called thus because they were devised centuries ago to be open to any boys whose parents could afford the fees. Until universall eduaction was introduced in the 19C, the only alternative was teaching at home by peripatetic tutors. They were always expensive, relatively to their times; by adding to the teaching costs the accommodation and profit element, and having no State support. Although unlike the Academy Trusts the true Public Schools are run as charities, not semi-commercial enterprises.
They are still mainly boarding-schools are were originally all single-sex, but some at least do now admit day-pupils and of both sexes.
Unlike the unregulated "faith schools" and legally-questionable "home schooling", the Public Schools, "academies" and remaining LEA schools all teach the normal curricula ending in the same national examinations.
Errr, more than one thing. Sorry!
End the so-called "Academy Trusts" (semi-commercial) and restore for all except the genuinely private, "Public Schools"* the original Local Education Authority managed, State system.
Ban single-sex, single-religion and boarding schools. Ban so-called "home schooling", which is as absurd as its self-contradictory term. Education is to help the child become an independant, worthwhile adult, not to massage parental egos.
Nor, in the boarding case, to provide respite-care for parents suffering from having become parents. (The school terms total over three-quarters of the year - a cruelly long separation, especially for younger, Preparatory School children.)
Be much tougher with parents who take their children out of school merely to go on holiday in term time. They are tempted to do this, although it is illegal, because the travel industry jacks air and ferry fares up during the school holidays. It's simple: if you can't afford to take your family for a fortnight abroad, holiday in your own country instead, and in the regular school holidays; whilst at the same time teaching your offspring both money sense and that the Law does apply to them.
Reduce the cost of school uniforms? I don't know how serious a problem this is, or how much it is raised by parents who feel they should not have to pay for anything; but shops should not charge more for uniform than equivalent non-uniform garments. Children's clothes are null-rated for VAT, though, which should help. (I am short enough to take advantage of this myself, for some garments!)
===
*"Public Schools" - Eton, Rugby, Harrow, Gordonstoun, etc. among the leaders - are called thus because they were devised centuries ago to be open to any boys whose parents could afford the fees. Until universall eduaction was introduced in the 19C, the only alternative was teaching at home by peripatetic tutors. They were always expensive, relatively to their times; by adding to the teaching costs the accommodation and profit element, and having no State support. Although unlike the Academy Trusts the true Public Schools are run as charities, not semi-commercial enterprises.
They are still mainly boarding-schools are were originally all single-sex, but some at least do now admit day-pupils and of both sexes.
Unlike the unregulated "faith schools" and legally-questionable "home schooling", the Public Schools, "academies" and remaining LEA schools all teach the normal curricula ending in the same national examinations.
ArishMell · 70-79, M
@emiliya I do not want everyone else to be like me. Just the opposite, as I rather hope my message would show.
I want education to give children the broadest chance of employment, directly or via higher education (college or university), and broad minds generally so they can decide for themselves their own careers (as far as that's possible), religion or not, politics, social ideas, etc.
I don't really see what point you are trying to make.
I want education to give children the broadest chance of employment, directly or via higher education (college or university), and broad minds generally so they can decide for themselves their own careers (as far as that's possible), religion or not, politics, social ideas, etc.
I don't really see what point you are trying to make.
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4meAndyou · F
I would change the administrators, so that politics and catering to WOKE local politicians was not the FOCUS of the school.
I would boot OUT ALL the teachers who "suggest" to children that they are NOT, in fact, the sex with which they were born.
I would boot OUT the teachers who consistently FAIL to teach their children MATH and READING...whose classrooms move forward grade after grade NOT knowing HOW to succeed in life.
I would ADD Civics to the curricula. However, it must be ACCURATE Civics and ACCURATE history...not the current indoctrination of students to become ignorant little Woke Social Justice Warriors.
AND I would FIRE all teachers who take the day off work and encourage their classes to come WITH them so that they can ALL attend a political protest.
I would boot OUT ALL the teachers who "suggest" to children that they are NOT, in fact, the sex with which they were born.
I would boot OUT the teachers who consistently FAIL to teach their children MATH and READING...whose classrooms move forward grade after grade NOT knowing HOW to succeed in life.
I would ADD Civics to the curricula. However, it must be ACCURATE Civics and ACCURATE history...not the current indoctrination of students to become ignorant little Woke Social Justice Warriors.
AND I would FIRE all teachers who take the day off work and encourage their classes to come WITH them so that they can ALL attend a political protest.
AdmiralPrune · 46-50, M
Bring back corporal punishment.
AdmiralPrune · 46-50, M
@NortiusMaximus Discipline
NortiusMaximus · M
@AdmiralPrune Trying to beat students into submission doesn't really work and you could wind up with a lot more dead teachers.
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acpguy · C
There is not just "one thiing" wrong with our schools.
class · F
Forget about it