I remember 1837 very well. John Purdue and I were friends, talking about starting a land grant college in Indiana. I lost track of John for some time. But 25 years later, he got it done. Hell, in those days we still had black bears and cougars in Tippecanoe County in. What a great time to be alive!Hey Pete,
Did he just say his age to 1994 is relatively the same as your age to 1837? Probably right.
A curve perhaps off topic a degree, but some random thoughts...How is that? I guess the good old fashioned "Shanghai technique" is out these days. How has Purdue made it easy to say no? I think it is a fair question.
We know we don't have an HOF coach who cries at the doors of potential recruits. Hard to find those, especially with the prerequisite drama. Aside from that, well, what?
I nominate you for "Smartest GBI Poster of 2016". Congrats! (I guess?)A curve perhaps off topic a degree, but some random thoughts...
I understand the reality of NCAA success and such on recruiting. However, I don’t comprehend the “WHY”? Then again, I don’t understand what lies behind some voters either. Basketball as intended was a physical activity for the cold months in a competition setting. Most would take the field over a single team because historically there rarely is a consensus that the best team won the tourney. Certainly one of the best usually wins it. This translates to other teams that may not be in the upper echelon losing to a team not quite as good as it, since this just doesn’t happen in the last week or so and it is a single event, not a series to average out towards the best team.
The appeal of the NBA (a rare reality for most) is understandable. People usually like what they do well and obviously making a great living doing something they love is desirable for all. That said, does a player with that ambition find more opportunity to “develop” when going to a team that he is just a “brick in the wall” or to a team where he is the whole foundation for that wall and of course this translates somewhat to practice competition as well. However, if the bright lights in the tourney are the opportunity for those desiring the exposure for getting drafted into the NBA, does that minimize the whole year of “being the guy” on a really good team, but perhaps not great? If it is the bright lights of the tourney or an event lasting a couple of weeks, why do NBA scouts try to see all the potential players they can during the season…before those bright lights?
Make no mistake there is a “relationship” between team quality and star power. Course relative to “correlations” I can correlate the number of posts made on this site with the number of pregnancies in spouses of posters on this site…and THAT (due to time ; ) might be more causal than many other correlations people gravitate towards. I question the competitive makeup of a player that wants to go to a loaded team…particularly when many discuss the” effects of those bright light moments” which must overshadow the day in and day out grind during the season. Does that player get as much opportunity to shine when he is just another brick in the wall? That said those teams will obviously be very talented and rarely should be in positions of real competition due to being loaded against other teams lacking in almost all areas. I immediately respect a player everyone wants that doesn’t go to a loaded team with the confidence that he doesn’t need a loaded team to win big…because he truly has that much internal confidence.
Obviously the mindset of the players is much different today, where being close to family is not as important and “other” things than school academics, the environment that surrounds them and proximity lose favor…and why? Is it the empirical data on the probability of making the NBA ignored, the infatuation for those couple of weeks...or what is it? I love the game, but I wouldn’t lose any sleep if all scholarships were pulled across the entire country and teams were actually made up of the student body…but I know most wouldn’t enjoy the purity of the game and the events that surround so much more than dunking the ball or hitting a three. THAT is a huge reason why I really like this Purdue team. They seem like really high character guys, well spoken, and great representatives of the student body. They actually are student athletes in a time where that is just a misspoken word for many other places. Purdue is not perfect and Matt is not perfect, but the leadership adn demands on virtues of importance after basketball are something all Purdue fans should be happy. Certainly "others" have similar demands, but is it really that common across the country? If players today are more concerned about "themselves" than years ago (remember that is an "IF") how did that take place?
As my comp professor would say, "Don't use unnecessary words when creating sentences. Just as you wouldn't build a house using unnecessary walls or a painting with unnecessary lines. Don't create a sentence with unnecessary words, a paragraph with unnecessary sentences or a paper with unnecessary paragraphs".A curve perhaps off topic a degree, but some random thoughts...
I understand the reality of NCAA success and such on recruiting. However, I don’t comprehend the “WHY”? Then again, I don’t understand what lies behind some voters either. Basketball as intended was a physical activity for the cold months in a competition setting. Most would take the field over a single team because historically there rarely is a consensus that the best team won the tourney. Certainly one of the best usually wins it. This translates to other teams that may not be in the upper echelon losing to a team not quite as good as it, since this just doesn’t happen in the last week or so and it is a single event, not a series to average out towards the best team.
The appeal of the NBA (a rare reality for most) is understandable. People usually like what they do well and obviously making a great living doing something they love is desirable for all. That said, does a player with that ambition find more opportunity to “develop” when going to a team that he is just a “brick in the wall” or to a team where he is the whole foundation for that wall and of course this translates somewhat to practice competition as well. However, if the bright lights in the tourney are the opportunity for those desiring the exposure for getting drafted into the NBA, does that minimize the whole year of “being the guy” on a really good team, but perhaps not great? If it is the bright lights of the tourney or an event lasting a couple of weeks, why do NBA scouts try to see all the potential players they can during the season…before those bright lights?
Make no mistake there is a “relationship” between team quality and star power. Course relative to “correlations” I can correlate the number of posts made on this site with the number of pregnancies in spouses of posters on this site…and THAT (due to time ; ) might be more causal than many other correlations people gravitate towards. I question the competitive makeup of a player that wants to go to a loaded team…particularly when many discuss the” effects of those bright light moments” which must overshadow the day in and day out grind during the season. Does that player get as much opportunity to shine when he is just another brick in the wall? That said those teams will obviously be very talented and rarely should be in positions of real competition due to being loaded against other teams lacking in almost all areas. I immediately respect a player everyone wants that doesn’t go to a loaded team with the confidence that he doesn’t need a loaded team to win big…because he truly has that much internal confidence.
Obviously the mindset of the players is much different today, where being close to family is not as important and “other” things than school academics, the environment that surrounds them and proximity lose favor…and why? Is it the empirical data on the probability of making the NBA ignored, the infatuation for those couple of weeks...or what is it? I love the game, but I wouldn’t lose any sleep if all scholarships were pulled across the entire country and teams were actually made up of the student body…but I know most wouldn’t enjoy the purity of the game and the events that surround so much more than dunking the ball or hitting a three. THAT is a huge reason why I really like this Purdue team. They seem like really high character guys, well spoken, and great representatives of the student body. They actually are student athletes in a time where that is just a misspoken word for many other places. Purdue is not perfect and Matt is not perfect, but the leadership adn demands on virtues of importance after basketball are something all Purdue fans should be happy. Certainly "others" have similar demands, but is it really that common across the country? If players today are more concerned about "themselves" than years ago (remember that is an "IF") how did that take place?
That is always a difficult thing for me and has grown over time due to my work with some statistical applications over the years and trying to provide thougths in teh right context. When is enough background needed and when is it not for understanding the intention of the thought said? Qualifying my thoughts no doubt adds words for some and for that I apologize. However, your comp teacher should have known that all walls exist for a reason. That reason may not be apparent to all, but it is there. THIS is a battle for eternity with me...As my comp professor would say, "Don't use unnecessary words when creating sentences. Just as you wouldn't build a house using unnecessary walls or a painting with unnecessary lines. Don't create a sentence with unnecessary words, a paragraph with unnecessary sentences or a paper with unnecessary paragraphs".
Saying more while saying less is preferable.
not even in the ball park as noted by my excessive words typed...I nominate you for "Smartest GBI Poster of 2016". Congrats! (I guess?)
I was jut poking you a little. Your post gave me flashbacks of the rules in Elements of Style and how I would have to hand write each rule I broke 7 times, each time I broke them in an essay. That one in particular stands out due to the word unnecessary appearing 6 times.not even in the ball park as noted by my excessive words typed...
I was jut poking you a little. Your post gave me flashbacks of the rules in Elements of Style and how I would have to hand write each rule I broke 7 times, each time I broke them in an essay. That one in particular stands out due to the word unnecessary appearing 6 times.
You seem to be have issues with today's public school system so I figured you wouldn't mind a little 'what's good for the goose', as they say. No offense intended. But it was a lot of words.
...and I was truthful...it is a battle for me.I was jut poking you a little. Your post gave me flashbacks of the rules in Elements of Style and how I would have to hand write each rule I broke 7 times, each time I broke them in an essay. That one in particular stands out due to the word unnecessary appearing 6 times.
You seem to be have issues with today's public school system so I figured you wouldn't mind a little 'what's good for the goose', as they say. No offense intended. But it was a lot of words.
A curve perhaps off topic a degree, but some random thoughts...
I understand the reality of NCAA success and such on recruiting. However, I don’t comprehend the “WHY”? Then again, I don’t understand what lies behind some voters either. Basketball as intended was a physical activity for the cold months in a competition setting. Most would take the field over a single team because historically there rarely is a consensus that the best team won the tourney. Certainly one of the best usually wins it. This translates to other teams that may not be in the upper echelon losing to a team not quite as good as it, since this just doesn’t happen in the last week or so and it is a single event, not a series to average out towards the best team.
The appeal of the NBA (a rare reality for most) is understandable. People usually like what they do well and obviously making a great living doing something they love is desirable for all. That said, does a player with that ambition find more opportunity to “develop” when going to a team that he is just a “brick in the wall” or to a team where he is the whole foundation for that wall and of course this translates somewhat to practice competition as well. However, if the bright lights in the tourney are the opportunity for those desiring the exposure for getting drafted into the NBA, does that minimize the whole year of “being the guy” on a really good team, but perhaps not great? If it is the bright lights of the tourney or an event lasting a couple of weeks, why do NBA scouts try to see all the potential players they can during the season…before those bright lights?
Make no mistake there is a “relationship” between team quality and star power. Course relative to “correlations” I can correlate the number of posts made on this site with the number of pregnancies in spouses of posters on this site…and THAT (due to time ; ) might be more causal than many other correlations people gravitate towards. I question the competitive makeup of a player that wants to go to a loaded team…particularly when many discuss the” effects of those bright light moments” which must overshadow the day in and day out grind during the season. Does that player get as much opportunity to shine when he is just another brick in the wall? That said those teams will obviously be very talented and rarely should be in positions of real competition due to being loaded against other teams lacking in almost all areas. I immediately respect a player everyone wants that doesn’t go to a loaded team with the confidence that he doesn’t need a loaded team to win big…because he truly has that much internal confidence.
Obviously the mindset of the players is much different today, where being close to family is not as important and “other” things than school academics, the environment that surrounds them and proximity lose favor…and why? Is it the empirical data on the probability of making the NBA ignored, the infatuation for those couple of weeks...or what is it? I love the game, but I wouldn’t lose any sleep if all scholarships were pulled across the entire country and teams were actually made up of the student body…but I know most wouldn’t enjoy the purity of the game and the events that surround so much more than dunking the ball or hitting a three. THAT is a huge reason why I really like this Purdue team. They seem like really high character guys, well spoken, and great representatives of the student body. They actually are student athletes in a time where that is just a misspoken word for many other places. Purdue is not perfect and Matt is not perfect, but the leadership adn demands on virtues of importance after basketball are something all Purdue fans should be happy. Certainly "others" have similar demands, but is it really that common across the country? If players today are more concerned about "themselves" than years ago (remember that is an "IF") how did that take place?
I've had a pot of coffee by 10 It is not the first time I've thought of some of this...unfortunately...It is 8:30 in the morning and most including me haven't brushed our teeth yet. And here you go with this stuff that is so philosophical that even a Democratic candidate couldn't match. My hat is off to you, my man.
Right up there with the "world's tallest little person" award.I nominate you for "Smartest GBI Poster of 2016". Congrats! (I guess?)
Well....when they say, with high frequency, no to Painter and no to Crean they must be doing something right. The sad part is only one of the two actually tries hard at it.How is that? I guess the good old fashioned "Shanghai technique" is out these days. How has Purdue made it easy to say no? I think it is a fair question.
We know we don't have an HOF coach who cries at the doors of potential recruits. Hard to find those, especially with the prerequisite drama. Aside from that, well, what?
I "feel" so small and short...Right up there with the "world's tallest little person" award.
A dubious honor, indeed.I nominate you for "Smartest GBI Poster of 2016". Congrats! (I guess?)
I was jut poking you a little. Your post gave me flashbacks of the rules in Elements of Style and how I would have to hand write each rule I broke 7 times, each time I broke them in an essay. That one in particular stands out due to the word unnecessary appearing 6 times.
You seem to be have issues with today's public school system so I figured you wouldn't mind a little 'what's good for the goose', as they say. No offense intended. But it was a lot of words.
are you old enough to remember it? I'm guessing late 70's maybe 1980 or so.
I'm not sure what all you said here as I didn't read it all. I caught the deflection in the last line however which basically makes the rest worthless anyway.I never had time this morning to properly address this and so I will attempt to be "somewhat " concise, but I'm not promising...
My fingers might be raw if I typed all I thought about the government school system. That said, I'm not sure "issues" is the right word, but probably close. I think there are major problems in k-12 education, ed school and licensing of teachers in general. I'm not a fan the of pedagogical practices touted as "best practices" which I tend to think of as the worst practices. Having many teachers, A.D.'s, principals in my family I held one view until maybe 30 years ago. I was on school improvement committee in which Duane Kurpus (husband of Buzz that tutored the IU athletes) not long after A Nation At Risk was released. I witnessed the politics up close and the reluctance to actually do anything relative to pedagogy while always wanting more money.
Not long after that the 1989 NCTM (National Council of Teachers of Mathematics) proposed unlimited use of calculators for elementary children and promoting Discovery Learning. Block scheduling became more popular and group work/grades were the norm. The grad exam and ISTEP were getting attention and the IDOE was reporting contradictory to the results relative to reduced lunches (a grab for more money). I called them on it and after admonishing me for being concerned and a trouble maker, they admitted I was right, but they didn't care because they believed they were right in their proposal even if not supported by data (ANOVA results). Sometime after that in the early 90's (????) I had a website called Indiana Education Online created by Brad J, the man behind the curtain for Mr Hoops along with Bob R. where I gave some background, provide many links on education and reference a few good books on the subject. That site cannot be found as I never kept it up. Then on two occasions right after 911 I had two opportunities (nominated by John E Stone///Education Consumers) to represent parents in a forum held by Lynne Cheney (Dick's wife) in D.C. between the NCTM and Mathematically Correct http://www.mathematicallycorrect.com/ on pedagogical practices due to the raging math wars due to my interest in math and having some background into the child-centered schools. Lynne knows what was going on based upon all I have read from her. I didn't go to either event and eventually became less active. I spent a lot of time trying to make a difference only to realize that most people give lip service to education and yet I thought it was the new civil rights for blacks due to block scheduling and a jail sentence for many in life that never had the proper instruction. Unlike many I gave a damn. Elaine McEwan-Adkins http://www.elainemcewan.com/elaine.htm is a good read and has published a few good books. In one she describe parents and education akin to boarding a plane. The parents walk into the plane, turn to the right and take their seat. Leaving the driving to the teacher who is going someplace different than the parents thought. Most people think the government schools are in a mess, but the school their child attends is fine...chew on that for a while. Believe it or not...I left much out and was VERY concise and consequently vague in many areas. Are you aware that the K-12 texts must meet multicultural approval...even math books? I've referenced before, but this is a good book on the subject Two of the top three I've exchanged emails on various things years ago. Richard is a FB friend of mine with a strong passion on effective teaching. Lastly, when you see school reps say have a new approach in pedagogy, many times it is a retread of a previous failure given a new name. Here is a tome on the subject (hard to believe I was reading this that long ago)
So Proudopete, let's just say I have invested much more time than many and that includes Supts, principals and other teachers into things going on in education. I'm not current as my clock is winding down. I don't put the energy into it like I did, but I still care. Are you aware of the re-centering of the SATs years ago and some of the changes? I'm not current and not as sharp into what is going on and quite frankly a little tired. IMO much of society can be explained by what went on in our government schools. Sorry, as I try to stay away from this topic since it has no end... I have the original study in the early 80s that led to TVAAS http://www.tn.gov/education/topic/tvaas as one of the original people to study this taught me some SAS and statistics in general. Robert McLean with Bill Sanders http://www.stat.purdue.edu/giving/bob_and_marjorie_mclean_scholarship.php and what a great guy Bob was!
I'm too tired to fix the amazon links to The Language Police and Left Back...
This dog is plenty old enough. 1977. My Vikings lost to the Raiders in the Super Bowl, Pontiac supplied what would become my first car, black Trans-Am with gold screaming chicken, to the Smokey and the Bandit movie, and we learned that short people got no reason to live. Harsh, but it is an arguable point.are you old enough to remember it? I'm guessing late 70's maybe 1980 or so.
I'm not sure what all you said here as I didn't read it all. I caught the deflection in the last line however which basically makes the rest worthless anyway.
My point once again was just a jab at your perspective, and related back to a thread where you attempted to educate a younger person who said that all options are right.
I don't think gen phrased it right, but i got the gyst of it. I think he meant that all opinions are right depending on the perspective.
Now from your perspective, writing more is better and from mine writing less is better. I am sure we can both find opinions to support our cases but which one is right will always be an opinion and thus still not answer the question.
I am not an educator. I do know enough about education to know they don't teach that everyone is right. If so there would be no need for a grading system as every student would be right all of the time. Education leans left and has for decades. So I understand the need for some to fight against it. However it is true that my opinion from my perspective can be right even if it is wrong from your opinion as we don't know ehat the other has seen. It's not a black and white world but a mixture of different shades of grey. Science is exact but life is not. Your opinion that education is on the wrong path may be true where you live and may not be true where I live. So as you can see, making a wide ranging definite statement about its direction cannot be true but only opinion. So both of our opinions can be right even when opposite and the only fact involved is until we experience everything, we will never know.
Man that's a lot of words. Once again, you took offense and none was meant. Just a light poke in jest. A closed mind is just that, closed and ceases to learn.
It is prevalent in every aspect of life. A combination of entitlement, no delayed gratification (per the internet or texting ... info immediately available ... replies made immediately), not taking responsibliity for ones' actions, and self-centerdness. Most drivers will agree that drivers today want everyone to drive the way THEY want them to drive. Trophy for every player, frustration if one needs to wait for anything (microwave, credit cards). How are people when they are waiting in line?Certainly "others" have similar demands, but is it really that common across the country? If players today are more concerned about "themselves" than years ago (remember that is an "IF") how did that take place?
Absolutely! Now, when time...review the aspects of a "child-centered" school...past the first three or so grades. Child-centered...self-centered...the self esteem movement starting out east in the 80's and moving for a time west. There exists cause and effect....It is prevalent in every aspect of life. A combination of entitlement, no delayed gratification (per the internet or texting ... info immediately available ... replies made immediately), not taking responsibliity for ones' actions, and self-centerdness. Most drivers will agree that drivers today want everyone to drive the way THEY want them to drive. Trophy for every player, frustration if one needs to wait for anything (microwave, credit cards). How are people when they are waiting in line?
Many educators and psychiatrists feel that narcissim (self-centerdness) and lack of taking responsibility for ones actions are the greatest changes in people over the past 20 years.
also, look at the "flipped classroom." Does not address our conversation, but seems to be a much more successful at teaching students. --- cause and effect? Helicopter parents?Absolutely! Now, when time...review the aspects of a "child-centered" school...past the first three or so grades. Child-centered...self-centered...the self esteem movement starting out east in the 80's and moving for a time west. There exists cause and effect....
Get your 5 minutes of fame on YouTube. The selfie generation. College kids thinking they are entitled to have their grandparents make their college "free" through taxation.Absolutely! Now, when time...review the aspects of a "child-centered" school...past the first three or so grades. Child-centered...self-centered...the self esteem movement starting out east in the 80's and moving for a time west. There exists cause and effect....
Thanks. As I said previously I am not current. At a cursory review I saw some project (right out of 1930s project method?) approaches. William (Heard?) Kilpatrick (Columbia Teachers College) personally taught 35,000 teachers to use the Project Method. It was another example of "Progressivism" in education at time. Application typically shows much less learning. William Kilpatrick was a personal friend of John Dewey who saw education as primarily social change with a secondary goal of academics. The president of Columbia Teachers College said no wider road in the college exist than that between the academics and school of education. Consequently, since ed school never had the experts in the academics, they declared themselves experts in pedagogy...which continues in many areas without an empirically supported view of effectiveness.also, look at the "flipped classroom." Does not address our conversation, but seems to be a much more successful at teaching students. --- cause and effect? Helicopter parents?
MANY college grades received much seat time, rather than learning. Obviously different colleges and majors in colleges have different expectations. There just remains a lot of coursework that allows good grades for parroting back opinionated comments previously spewed by the one in front of the class. There exists a LOT of opportunity for non academic material to receive a lot of air time to help program the youth wanting to believe all that is laid out in front of him or her.Get your 5 minutes of fame on YouTube. The selfie generation. College kids thinking they are entitled to have their grandparents make their college "free" through taxation.
FROM BILL GATES ---MANY college grades received much seat time, rather than learning. Obviously different colleges and majors in colleges have different expectations. There just remains a lot of coursework that allows good grades for parroting back opinionated comments previously spewed by the one in front of the class. There exists a LOT of opportunity for non academic material to receive a lot of air time to help program the youth wanting to believe all that is laid out in front of him or her.
"Everyone on the road going slower than me is an idiot. Everyone going faster than me is a maniac." George CarlinIt is prevalent in every aspect of life. A combination of entitlement, no delayed gratification (per the internet or texting ... info immediately available ... replies made immediately), not taking responsibliity for ones' actions, and self-centerdness. Most drivers will agree that drivers today want everyone to drive the way THEY want them to drive. Trophy for every player, frustration if one needs to wait for anything (microwave, credit cards). How are people when they are waiting in line?
Many educators and psychiatrists feel that narcissim (self-centerdness) and lack of taking responsibility for ones actions are the greatest changes in people over the past 20 years.
Excellent. well written and on target. I will simply throw a couple of terms out there.This is a curious discussion.
I think that education has, at least in my lifetime, been taught by more left leaning members of society. That's just the reality of the types of people who choose to teach. I don't pretend that it doesn't exist. But...
Learning comes from failure. We seldom learn much from success, it isn't the failure that led to a change in process that leads to the success in most cases.
Now at the college level I firmly believe that what one chooses to study can have an effect on the data you shall receive. A computer science major is going to get much less 'opinion' than say a philosophy major. But in either case, a student is going to need a filter to separate the reality from delusion. One would hope that by the time a person reaches that level, they have enough data and experience to possess a reasonably functioning filter. Perspective has a lot to play in this as well, nobody knows everything. So choices along with past experience plays a huge role in the outcome of whether a student in college can be conditioned as some believe.
At the elementary level, the student is much more susceptible to conditioning. But once again even young children don't live in a bubble. They have experiences and an environmnet that form their own opinions and determines the level of filtering they are capable of. Parents do seem to have more of a hands off approach or a trust that the public schools system will give their children what they need and not condition them into robots. It seems the more successful students, those able to filter the data more precisely, come from homes that has at least one parent who remains involved in their child's school and schoolwork. I know having raised four kids over the last 26 years, that liberal bias exists in public schools. Had I not remained vigilant, I would have still had the opportunity to see the signs by simply listening to my children as they shared their own ideas of the world around them. So for me, the responsibility lands squarely on the parents. It is crucial to stay involved and just as crucial to stimulate the child to share ideas and to listen when they do. By doing this, I have been able to esatablish a filtering mechanism in my children that allows them to self police their own education. It doesn't always succeed and it shouldn't be. The child needs the opportunity to make mistakes or they won't learn. They may know something, but until they truly understand it, they haven't truly learned. So a certain level of allowing the student to make the mistake need to exist and I think that this is the basic premise behind a lot of educational philosophies that exist today. The student needs to feel comfortable enough to make a choice, thus the self centered approach, and then the child needs enough rope to learn from choosing the wrong choice, thus the focus on stimulating expression of ones self.
There is no perfect system. I grew up being told by Disney movies that I could Ben whatever I wanted to be and that every story has a happy ending. Although it may be true in some cases, in many others it is nowhere near reality. No matter how hard I try to be a prince, I will never reach that dream.
So for me, the change that we see today has less to do with the approach used by educators and more to do with the environment parents allow their children to live in. Does some blame lie with the system? Of course it does. Yet we still see many children thrive in the system and then continue to do so in life. We can't all be successful. But if we don't at least allow the idea that we all can be, then we are basically telling all children that they will fail and will lose the ones without a functioning filter that tells them that this idea is BS.
I really don't get the marxist/socialist remarks a single I think that is hyperbole. Are some educators socialists? Sure I suppose some are satanists a well and some who are conservative. I don't see a trend in schools to teach socialism as a conditioning method at all. It is just one of many ideologies that students are exposed to in an attempt to allow them to be well rounded individuals with a wider capacity of filtering out falsehoods by having the knowledge of as many different aspects of things that exist in the world they live in. I was taught about the Nazis in school and I never wanted to be a Nazi.
Finally, my children were fortunate enough to have some years of education in a private school setting. This allowed them to experience both public and private education growing up. It was an attempt on my behalf to expose them to a more diverse range of what exists, which I feel allows them more data to make their decisions with. It also allowed me as the parent, to direct them in the conditioning I felt was important and that was based on my faith. I don't want public schools teaching religion, but if I pay a school to do so, I am comfortable with it as I have a choice as to what religion they learn and I always have the chance to listen to my kids when they speak to see if my money is being spent wisely.
Man that's a lot of words again.
I agree with everything you said. I might also add that what some see as over kill in including all students exists as a direct result of the exclusion of several groups in past decades. Is it overkill by the system? Perhaps for some, yet for some it isn't. I once again fall back on ones perspective as to what is real and what isn't.Excellent. well written and on target. I will simply throw a couple of terms out there.
1. MORE THAN ANYTHING - Anti-intellectualism is the best way to be cool and popular. How many kids are sent to expensive sports camps and have special trainers? How many are sent to expensive academic camps and have special tutors? Where's the emphasis. Do the QB and cheerleader win Queen and King? What to the NHS President and Valedictorian win during their school days?
2. Most (not many, most) parents are not as involved as you have been and yes, most do rely on the schools to teach things parents should be teaching, but aren't.
3. Teaching to the test is the way to get high test scores which is the way to get more money .... don't think, just regurgitate. This crushes the thought-process and reduces the ability to filter and make personal choices. Creative thinking is not a good thing when it comes to test scores.
4. The meager resources that are provided to schools these days are stretched into areas that were not there 40 years ago. Unfunded mandates that do not address education of most of the students.
FROM BILL GATES ---
The data comes from the book Academically Adrift, which raises some fundamental and surprising questions about the quality of U.S. undergraduate education. The authors, Richard Arum and Josipa Roksa, are sociologists who analyzed results from essay tests and surveys given to more than 2,000 students at the beginning of their freshman year and the end of their sophomore year. Between 2005 and 2007, data was collected from 24 four-year institutions, including state universities and liberal-arts colleges.
Two key findings have received a lot of attention:
About 45 percent of the students showed no improvement in critical thinking, complex reasoning or written communication during their first two years in college. (On more recent tests, the students didn’t show much improvement in their junior or senior years, either.)
Students said most of their courses required surprisingly little effort. They reported studying only slightly more than 12 hours per week on average. Few of their courses required 40 pages or more of reading per week or writing as much as 20 pages over the course of a semester.
FROM: http://www.forbes.com/sites/meghancasserly/2012/12/10/the-10-skills-that-will-get-you-a-job-in-2013/Sadly, one of the tougher things I've grappled with is the realization that "higher level" thinking just isn't in the DNA of some. That is not to say those people are lesser human beings, because they are not. Many add a tremendous value to humanity. It is just that "thinking" is something that doesn't happen as easy and often as preferred for some. Perhaps it could for more if interested and perhaps it couldn't? My whole working life has been primarily around college graduates and I must say the dots I must connect for them is depressing (truthfully, they are not Purdue grads). That said, their lack of thought could just be lack of effort for the relevant background needed to have an informed opinion. One of the fallacies, propagated in the government schools is that all opinions are of value and that simply isn't true. It has been said and for good reason that opinions are like a$$holes in that everyone has one. The highest goal for teachers is to "teach critical thinking"...and typically attempted through the Socratic Method. Critical thinking happens through "Constructivism" where constructing a new understanding based upon previous understanding leads to higher thinking. The problem is many teaching don't understand the importance of data in the relative domain necessary for understanding PRIOR to being able to construct an "informed" opinion. Consequently, many take the uniformed and informed opinions equally like a preference to Coke or Pepsi. None of this is to imply that some people can't think in any situation either. However, if higher level thought occurs, it must be due to previous understandings of relevant knowledge in the appropriate domain. Many people without the innate aptitude can be better thinkers than those with the innate aptitude by gathering more truthful knowledge through effort...but that only comes by understanding the need for knowledge. Any information I have has been through effort, not due to a gifted aptitude like my college buddy that retired at 40 and tested out of roughly two years of chemical engineering before hitting campus. I'm sure I'm like most...
I toyed with being a teacher due to limitations in coaching on three occasions. Couldn't take the pay cut, nor the meaningless coursework. starting salaries are low. A lot here I can agree with and not surprised in elementary education background. Gotsta go for a few. Anytime someone wants to turn this into basketball, I'm game. I do NOT want to bore those that have no interest...I agree with everything you said. I might also add that what some see as over kill in including all students exists as a direct result of the exclusion of several groups in past decades. Is it overkill by the system? Perhaps for some, yet for some it isn't. I once again fall back on ones perspective as to what is real and what isn't.
You point about fiscal responsibility is spot on. I have an IU degree in elementary education. I have never been an educator as I just wanted a degree and had no idea what I wanted to do and because it didn't pay enough for me. I became an auto worker instead and made a goodnight living. Reality is teachers are paid way too little and the responsibilities parents put on them has only increased. So we actually get what we pay for and it seem more liberals are willing to do the hard work for less pay than conservatives. It isn't what it is but we still have the opportunity to be the main influence in our children's lives whether that be a good thing or a bad thing.
But rejoice. Basketball is just days away and we can all hopefully unite behind this seemingly very talented team.
I think we are close to complete agreement, which is no surprise as we are both from the same town. What I don't agree with is that everyone's opinion doesn't count. For me it does if only to establish a baseline from which the person is coming from. It's hard to correct a faulty opinion if I think is unknown. Once again I will add that perspective has a lot to do with whether an opinion is right or wrong as well. For people who grew up in a middle to upper class school system, inclusion of certain groups such may seem unnecessary. This is the premise behind things such as affirmative action in the workplace. For me, a middle class white male, it seemed unfair to be placed towards the back of the line in the hiring process. But for a minority or a female during the mid 80's, it absolutely seemed necessary to break through the barriers that existed at the time. Perspective changes the validity of these types of opinions and is no different in public schools where finding is scarce and relies upon compliance.Sadly, one of the tougher things I've grappled with is the realization that "higher level" thinking just isn't in the DNA of some. That is not to say those people are lesser human beings, because they are not. Many add a tremendous value to humanity. It is just that "thinking" is something that doesn't happen as easy and often as preferred for some. Perhaps it could for more if interested and perhaps it couldn't? My whole working life has been primarily around college graduates and I must say the dots I must connect for them is depressing (truthfully, they are not Purdue grads). That said, their lack of thought could just be lack of effort for the relevant background needed to have an informed opinion. One of the fallacies, propagated in the government schools is that all opinions are of value and that simply isn't true. It has been said and for good reason that opinions are like a$$holes in that everyone has one. The highest goal for teachers is to "teach critical thinking"...and typically attempted through the Socratic Method. Critical thinking happens through "Constructivism" where constructing a new understanding based upon previous understanding leads to higher thinking. The problem is many teaching don't understand the importance of data in the relative domain necessary for understanding PRIOR to being able to construct an "informed" opinion. Consequently, many take the uniformed and informed opinions equally like a preference to Coke or Pepsi. None of this is to imply that some people can't think in any situation either. However, if higher level thought occurs, it must be due to previous understandings of relevant knowledge in the appropriate domain. Many people without the innate aptitude can be better thinkers than those with the innate aptitude by gathering more truthful knowledge through effort...but that only comes by understanding the need for knowledge. Any information I have has been through effort, not due to a gifted aptitude like my college buddy that retired at 40 and tested out of roughly two years of chemical engineering before hitting campus. I'm sure I'm like most...