This is a great idea. - Page 3

Eric5273 · #21 07-10-2008, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CGSTL

When will you wake up to see that the democrat controlled public school system (through the democratic city councils, school boards, NEA) is in the toilet because there is no competition allowed? Private schools turn out smarter, more successful kids these days because they are highly competitive. Democrats DO NOT allow schools to compete academically because it's just not fair

.

We are comparing how the schools were 20-30 years ago compared to how they are now. So in order to figure out the problem, you have to point out a difference between then and now.

The problem with your analysis is that back when our schools were very good, there was no competition either. I'm sure it depends on where you are and the unique problems of each district, but my understanding of the problems with my old school district are actually caused by the existance of private schools.....

My old school district is the "East Ramapo Central School District" in Rockland County NY. Over the years, the population in this school district had gradually become more and more religious Hassidic Jewish. The Hassidic Jews send their kids to private schools. As they have increased their population over the years, they have become more influential in local politics. Since about 10 years ago, they now represent a majority of the population in the district, and thus the majority of the voting block.

Even though they do not send their kids to public school, by law they are entitled to serve on the board of the local school district. So currently 7 of the 10 members of the board of directors of the school district, including the chairman, are Hassidic Jews. And so, they dictate the budget. So of course, because they don't send their kids to the public schools, they would rather lower the budget and have lower taxes. So in the past 10 years, they have cut just about everything you could possibly cut from the budget, including art programs, music programs, all AP classes, sports, class sizes have gone way up, etc. The result is that the quality of the school district has gone to hell. When I graduated high school in 1991, my high school was in the top 1% nationwide in standardized test scores and AP testing. Now they are no longer even in the top 50%.

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Quicksilver · #22 07-10-2008, 05:42 PM

With the part quoted,

The difference between then and now has more to do with what parents are doing in their lives which has an effect on how children perform in school.

We can blame the system, teachers, money or whatever. But from where i sit the problem sits squarely in the lap of parents.

Yeah yeah yeah I've heard all the arguments but those excuses change nothing. If you can't help your kids get thru their education then get someone who can.

Make the sacrifice even if it means no Starbucks, no BMW's, no big screen TV's whatever. Parents brought these children into the world so they need to get off their selfish behinds, stop complaining about what they can't do and get the job done period.

Is it hard? Yes!
Is it fair? No one cares if it's fair. Just do your job.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eric5273

We are comparing how the schools were 20-30 years ago compared to how they are now. So in order to figure out the problem, you have to point out a difference between then and now.

Eric5273 · #23 07-10-2008, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quicksilver

The difference between then and now has more to do with what parents are doing in their lives which has an effect on how children perform in school.

Now the tough question is this: If you were King Quicksilver, master ruler of the United States, what would you do to change this and move things back in the direction they were 20, 30, or even 50 years ago?

Obviously there is something (or many things) that caused soceity to become like this. The question is, what is to blame? Why has this happened in the United States and not in many other countries? And can it be reversed?

JCL · #24 07-10-2008, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quicksilver

With the parted quoted,

The difference between then and now has more to do with what parents are doing in their lives which has an effect on how children perform in school.

We can blame the system, teachers, money or whatever. But from where i sit the problem sits squarely in the lap of parents.

Yeah yeah yeah I've heard all the arguments but those excuses change nothing. If you can't help your kids get thru their education then get someone who can.

Make the sacrifice even if it means no Starbucks, no BMW's, no big screen TV's whatever. Parents brought these children into the world so they need to get off their selfish behinds, stop complaining about what they can't do and get the job done period.

Is it hard? Yes!
Is it fair? No one cares if it's fair. Just do your job.

EXACTLY

And no, I don't know what simple steps will fix it. But it starts with parents taking accountability, and not blaming the government, the school board, the teacher, etc.

Every year my wife and I went to parent-teacher conferences, for both our daughters, all the way through grade 12. New teachers often asked why we were there, since there were no problems (both girls had excellent grades, participated in sports teams and student council, on grad committees, did school-sponsored volunteer work at the hospital, etc) Our response: Figure it out. Maybe there is a connection between parental involvement and your child's success. Many teachers got that.

Side point: Algebra is important, not because kids will use algebra after grad in many cases, but because it teaches them how to think, it promotes mental agility, and so on.

acattaneo · #25 07-10-2008, 08:39 PM

Dont worry kids, you can out source your home work...

soccerjunky · #26 07-10-2008, 10:53 PM

One of the reasons i live where i am is because of my kids elementary school... it is a magnet school with emphasis on Math and Engineering... kids get grades.. if they fail they go back to their regular public school....

http://www.txkisd.net/morriss/projects.asp

Quicksilver · #27 07-11-2008, 01:22 AM

Thanks for asking Eric.

In all fairness any concept, answer, plan, mandate, or dream I could come up with would always be viewed as nothing more than my opinion.

It’s very difficult to even suggest to people that they need to take their moral obligations seriously. Why? Because people will always resist and cry aloud that it's their right to live their lives in a manner that suits them. Never mind if that right deprives their children of their basic needs.

And therein perhaps lies the problem. People are given choices but those choices are mostly based on their own selfish desires to do what they (THINK) is right.

So here we are in an imperfect world filled with imperfect people who need their THINKING adjusted and it’s those same people who refuse to see the need for the adjustment. In fact some of them want this world to continue just as it is full of chaos, dysfunction, and anarchy.

As hard as it may be to believe it is these same people who will fight to the bitter end just so they can have the right to process thought in order to destroy their own lives and the lives of others.

Just take this one simple principal; “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you”. What would happen if people followed the essence of that simple command?

Now if people would only ask themselves, what is it that you would NOT want people to do to you? Now please go and refrain from doing those things to others…. please.

Now if only people would again ask themselves, in what way would you like others to extend goodness to you? Please now…..Go and do that to others.

Given that logical principal you would think people would exclaim “Yes I see” How simple, practical and wise that counsel is and what a better world we would have. But that isn’t going to happen and we know that to be true for at least the reasons I have already stated.

So I’ll bet by now you have figured out that as an imperfect individual I don’t have and answer and no desire to be King. But there a lot of people who know just who can fix all these problems.

And when the call goes out to implement the essence of the golden rule the choice to all will be simple. What they choose to do will be based upon what they THINK.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eric5273

Now the tough question is this: If you were King Quicksilver, master ruler of the United States, what would you do to change this and move things back in the direction they were 20, 30, or even 50 years ago?

Obviously there is something (or many things) that caused soceity to become like this. The question is, what is to blame? Why has this happened in the United States and not in many other countries? And can it be reversed?

carlgo · #28 07-11-2008, 02:33 AM

We had music, PE, sports teams, choirs, full bus service, art, wood shop with real saws, auto shop, dances and complaints about class size and teacher's salaries. We had different levels of classes so kids could find their way.

The country became the first super-power and went to the moon.

Now, schools are supposed to operate like businesses and are to dedicate themselves almost solely to passing tests. They are under political and religious pressure and are forced to operate in a society that doesn't really like to fund schools.

Kind of grim. I am not convinced this change is good.

drex · #29 07-11-2008, 08:21 AM

oh, i don't know.

i did algebra in 7th grade, and AP Calc BC in 11th grade, and didn't have any more math to take in 12th grade in 1988. I was also captain of the state champion math team.

my parents were also clueless about two variable equations, and I went to public school.

go figure.

drex · #30 07-11-2008, 08:25 AM

the following quote coming from you (the master of being right and opinionated because of age and 'experience') is quite ironic, and hysterical.

i'd say your the most guilty of your concept. followed by eric.

look at the black hole calling the kettle a singularity!

ROFLMAO

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quicksilver

Thanks for asking Eric.

In all fairness any concept, answer, plan, mandate, or dream I could come up with would always be viewed as nothing more than my opinion.

It’s very difficult to even suggest to people that they need to take their moral obligations seriously. Why? Because people will always resist and cry aloud that it's their right to live their lives in a manner that suits them. Never mind if that right deprives their children of their basic needs.

And therein perhaps lies the problem. People are given choices but those choices are mostly based on their own selfish desires to do what they (THINK) is right.

So here we are in an imperfect world filled with imperfect people who need their THINKING adjusted and it’s those same people who refuse to see the need for the adjustment. In fact some of them want this world to continue just as it is full of chaos, dysfunction, and anarchy.

As hard as it may be to believe it is these same people who will fight to the bitter end just so they can have the right to process thought in order to destroy their own lives and the lives of others.

Just take this one simple principal; “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you”. What would happen if people followed the essence of that simple command?

Now if people would only ask themselves, what is it that you would NOT want people to do to you? Now please go and refrain from doing those things to others…. please.

Now if only people would again ask themselves, in what way would you like others to extend goodness to you? Please now…..Go and do that to others.

Given that logical principal you would think people would exclaim “Yes I see” How simple, practical and wise that counsel is and what a better world we would have. But that isn’t going to happen and we know that to be true for at least the reasons I have already stated.

So I’ll bet by now you have figured out that as an imperfect individual I don’t have and answer and no desire to be King. But there a lot of people who know just who can fix all these problems.

And when the call goes out to implement the essence of the golden rule the choice to all will be simple. What they choose to do will be based upon what they THINK.

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