Does Illiteracy = Indoctrination

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

[cinives]

True, very true, but I was especially concerned with the ability to read and comprehend. Hopefully, if you get a kid reading well, they'll actually enjoy reading and do it frequently, which will include a good deal of history.

[eleni121]

Scory's thesis is right and you are wrong in atacking the poster personally. Don't jump to conclusions based on your own prejudices.

[TheOracleAtLilac]

prejudice has nothing to do w/ it.

Through all of my education - elem thru grad degree - not 1 mention of deism.

[Riverman94610]

Half of the kids currently in academic classes are absolutely lost.You should see the grades for Algebra and Geometry-both required now-at the schools in my district.Most classes are failing kids at a %75 rate.
Back when I was in school,the kids with lesser abilities took General Math or Business Math and the college prep kids took advanced math.Now with EVERYONE taking classes all the way up to Intermediate Algebra in 11th Grade,the charade has reached the point of absurdity.
The truth was that back in the day there WAS tracking,often by race.I know many black adults now who had the talents to take advanced classes but were shunted into dead end curriculums.What is occuring now is the opposite extreme,forcing ALL kids to take college prep in order to compensate for the discrimination of the past.
Its become a huge joke.Problem is,the kids aren't laughing.In fact,they are downright angry.

[eleni121]

He is talking about the past...not your lifetime.

[TheOracleAtLilac]

let him speak for himself...

& just how would he/you know re: public institutions in the distant past?
or is your knowledge base confined to 2 glorious years at Bob Jones or Oral Roberts U ?

[CottonBall]

Another Reason to Homeschool Ping!

How are you going to homeschool college courses and hand out a university degree?

[CottonBall]

One-room school houses (in the 1800's) supplied a far superior education without the billions that has been spent on an educational system that produces illiteracy.

I have to agree with that. It is amazing how much less we are getting for soooooo much more money.

[CottonBall]

Ask the California State system - 65% of their incoming freshmen are taking remedial courses in english, math, or both.

That is insane. Why were those kids accepted? They need to go to a community college first if they really want an education. And I do believe you, seeing what's going on in the local high schools. But do you have a source? I have a document I keep with sources and statistics, in case I need to produce them.

[CottonBall]

If you can't do arithmetic without a calculator, you can't be successful at higher math, and logic will be unreachable.

Too true. I was disgusted when I taught Advanced Math and Calculus at a supposed college prep private school last year. The students couldn't add fractions witout getting out their calculators! So, I had to say that they wouldn't be using calculators any more during the year (making me VERY unpopular, but effective).

[SoftballMominVA]

If you are active with her and she is in a good school system, she may end up like my daughter, who is getting an excellent education in her public school (she is a rising high school junior).

I would agree that you should check into what she is reading at school, but also check to see what she is reading at home--not for PC or indoctrination, but to make sure it is quality literature. Even 1st grade literature should still have characters that show development, a plot, a conflict and a resolution. Think Frog and Toad, Little Bear and the Cam Jansen series--all good books for your little one. Steer her away from Goosebumps -- they are like sugar -- addictive and non-filling. She will encounter them eventually as all the little ones are crazy for them, but if she is used to good literature, she will lose interest pretty quickly.

Good luck to her!

[CottonBall]

You have to learn that the professionals are more interested in their jobs than in the long-term welfare of your kid before you wake up.

This is true. and not necessarily just public schools. I taught at a private school that was very expensive for our area, painted glowing images of how successful their students were, and were only interested in the tuition money the parents could fork out. See post #50 for how bad it was. Kids coming in from public schools were far ahead of our kids (the private middle schools here are also more interested in money than in academics or discipline). Cavet emptor!

[SoftballMominVA]

I spent 4 glorious years at BJU--what do you have against Bob Jones University?

Remember, they may have some quirks, but not a penny of your tax dollars go to support anything there, unlike the indoctrination that goes on at your typical state university.

[CaptainCanada]

With my PhD, I can open a Canadian online Pharmacy and sell imitation rolexes.

So you're the guy...
Please remove my name from your email list pronto!! Thanks :)

If you hadn't been google searching for Viagra, we would never have gotten your IP address...

[CottonBall]

Now with EVERYONE taking classes all the way up to Intermediate Algebra in 11th Grade,the charade has reached the point of absurdity.

And not only are the lower-level kids frustrated in those classes, the upper-level kids are not being challenged enough because the teacher has such a wide variety of abilites, she/he can't possibly teach them all.

[TheOracleAtLilac]

correct me if I'm wrong - BJU : pay your fee, collect your degree

[SoftballMominVA]

Nope, guess again. BJ grads do very well on the national exit exams for accountants, nurses, teachers and do quite well in post-grad study.

I received an excellent education there-- of course that was helped by the fact that attendance at classes is required, not optional, unless you are admitted into the hospital. Overall it is a very rigorous with no grade inflation.

[SoftballMominVA]

I don't know a thing about Oral Roberts University

[longtermmemmory]

If you want TRUE competition for universities, make student loans dischargable in bankrupcy based on the new means test.

if a degree actually creates earning value then universities will not have much to worry about.

[TheOracleAtLilac]

well, the times musta changed (possibly in response to the reputation I heard in the 60's)