Does Illiteracy = Indoctrination

Accuracy in Academia ^ | August 14, 2006 | Malcolm A. Kline

[Tired of Taxes]

Thought you'd appreciate a line on this site, "Top Jobs for the Future".

(snip)

Home delivery has been on the rise and will continue to be driven by the need to save time.... This trend should continue until someone invents a Star Trek - like teleportation system or replicator system.

(/snip)

[Riverman94610]

What they usually do with their anger is take it out on each other which only accelerates the chaos already ubiquitous in inner city schools.
I propose some sort of restructuring of the system where kids would go to school in the morning for academics and then work at various companies and institutions as interns in the afternoon in order to get actual real life job training.
There is a school called Met West here in Oakland that has that sort of regimen.It seems very successful so far and needs to be emulated throughout the district.

[an amused spectator]

They would immediately identify the government as the dispenser of rights.

That gets an "OMIGOD! Nail On The Head!". I didn't carry my thinking that far, but I smell the bouquet of truth...

"Well, I mean, dint the government write the Constitution? I wasn't paying attention in class that day."

[wintertime]

All of it was painful to me, especially listening to the whining, but it proved to me that there's no substitute for the basics.

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I went through the same thing with 3 kids. The whining was indeed painful. Thankfully, I had my husband's 100% support and also that of my brothers and my parents. All these adults stood as solid witnesses that this boring and tedious task needed to be mastered.

The kids are adults now. All 3 of they finished college level Calculus III by the age of 15 and all the college required general courses by age 15 as well. As adults they thank me.

We have grand children now and the whole process will start again in raising up this newest generation.

[wintertime]

I propose some sort of restructuring of the system

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

I propose boarding schools, especially for these fatherless inner city boys.

Think about it. NY, NJ, Washington D.C., report spending $13,000 a year. It is actually more. That is merely the money actually reaching the school.

That money could go a long way to providing modest boarding schools for these boys. I am thinking of the many summer camps that, with vouchers, could become all-year schools. Yes, the most elite of the elite boarding schools are more than this, but the country club facilities found in these exclusive schools aren't the least bit necessary. A golf course, saunas, and hot tubs aren't adding to anyone's education.

My children attended a modest Episcopal summer camp on the shores of Rehoboth Bay in Delaware. With modest additions this camp could be a boarding school.

Which is better? Is it better for these overgrown boys to be roaming the inner city streets of Philadelphia, or learning and growing in the controlled and disciplined environment on the shores of the Rehoboth Bay? I expect that the mother's of these boys would welcome voucher that could pay for the later.

[cinives]

I don't know. We used to think computer networking was a job for professionals - now you can buy the parts at Home Depot and the average person plugs together their home network.

My opinion is we will start to see more and more modular components for all types of wiring and plumbing that people "snap" together. The advent of PVC pipe means you can install your own dishwasher and hot water heaters and the like without having to learn to sweat copper joints. IOW you can start to employ plumbers at lower wages because the job is a "no-brainer".

The trend is only accelerating. I'll bet in 20 years you won't believe what's being outsourced or available "out-of-the-box".

[cinives]

Raymond and Dorothy Moore identified that formula over 30 years ago - and it is used today very successfully by quite a few homeschoolers. Look up their book - The Successful Homeschool Family Handbook.

I think it's great - we use it. The kid does schoolwork all morning and then works at the barn all afternoon.

[Riverman94610]

There actually IS such a boarding school concept in existence back East.Can't remember exactly where but it is very successful since it removes kids from the dysfunctions of the hood and even the abuses within the family home.

[Riverman94610]

I'm all in favor of the homeschool CONCEPT.Problem is that in this undereducated society,relatively few parents are qualified to teach subjects at the higher levels of math and science in particular.
The advantage of home schooling is that these kids don't have to endure the bullying,absorb the garbage mass media culture and can get some peace and calmness in their learning day.Can't do that in public schools or even a lot of private schools where peer impressions and even basic physical survival supercede learning goals.

[cinives]

You miss the point about homeschooling. It is not that PARENTS are teachers - it is that parents DIRECT the education of their kids.

So, homeschoolers are unparalleled in their search of and use of all types of resources for their kids.

For example, there are all types of co-ops that form for various classes. Mine went to one for biology - taught by a lab researcher who worked at Astra Zeneca. She took a Chem class and lab with a professor of chemical engineering.

You can find the resources you need as you need them. That's the beauty of homeschooling.

[Tired of Taxes]

All good points. I think you're right - that's where the trend is going - at least I hope.

Until then, we have a very outdated plumbing system in our home (and don't get me started about the electrical circuitry), and we're not handy (bookworms and computer people here), so I know that our family personally will be keeping plumbers and carpenters etc. in business for a long, long time. :-(

[Tired of Taxes]

I propose some sort of restructuring of the system where kids would go to school in the morning for academics and then work at various companies and institutions as interns in the afternoon in order to get actual real life job training.

Excellent idea! I always favored internships... you learn so much more than sitting in a classroom. Though I'd say their academics can be handled more efficiently at home... if needed via virtual schooling.

[Tired of Taxes]

Problem is that in this undereducated society,relatively few parents are qualified to teach subjects at the higher levels of math and science in particular.

Even with higher level education, most of us forget what we learned if we're not putting it into practice day after day. But this is not a problem because, by the teen years, the parent isn't really teaching. Teens are really learning independently with the parent assisting.

I was in an experimental high school class that fostered "independent learning" in math. The teacher sat in the room available to answer any questions. But we worked on our own.

[Riverman94610]

Schools should also never let a student graduate from high school with out:
Being able to balance a checkbook
Know how to change a flat and do an oil change on a car
Be able to swim
Be able to fix a leaky faucet
Complete a successful job interview.

[Tired of Taxes]

I'd go with requiring students to learn more about investing their money. Banking, stocks, real estate... I'm homeschooling my own, and my 10yo will be starting with Economics this year. It's an important topic. (I can't wait to learn more on that topic myself!)

When we read about American students not doing as well on math tests as students in other countries, the tests are testing for "real life math". Our students are made to focus on math, like algebra and calculus, that they may never even use.

I think of all the useless information I myself learned in high school when they could've given us the tools to become financially independent.

[cinives]

well, computer networks are like plumbing ... speaking as a network engineer here:)

I may not be able to fix my washing machine (machinery and mechanical engineering elude me) but I can install a new outlet.

[Riverman94610]

I should have included classes in stocks and investing.I had an aunt who tried to get me involved but I was so scared of the woman that I couldn't focus.
I just wish she had told me,"NEVER invest in a company called Worldcom"
Woulda had an extra ten grand in my portfolio!