Comments | semper_augustus: Education

semper_augustus

Education

Jan 02, 2006 22:44

One reason I got the education I have managed to get, both in school and on my own, is that I was shafted. I think all of us who went to public schools were. I don't blame the teachers, far from it. They don't write the K-12 curriculum. I think most of us are aware of a dumbing-down of America. One can see this clearly reflected in most TV ( Read more... )

telos

Comments 8

Being Truly Educated shiningmathstar January 3 2006, 04:27:00 UTC

I found that when I took the Greek and Latin Word Roots course back as an undergraduate, I was truly educated and could decipher the meanings of words far easier than before. My favorite vocabulary word in the entire universe is "mellifluous," by the way. :)

America has become more "dumbed-down" because of the people who enter into this country from others. The head educators want to reach out to as broad an audience as before without favoring some over others. However, this created chaos in my classroom this past fall when some of my students could not even add without the aid of a calculator. 79 + 1 = 80, but some could not do this amazingly.

The more "dumbed-down" we get, the less truly educated the students are and hence the less they are able to think for themselves.

Be sure to remember... jump_street1980 January 3 2006, 08:54:45 UTC

That in the last 50 years, we have become much more "left" wing, despite how it may seem. Particularly in our school systems. In this "democratic" society, we have had to be sure that everyone receives an "equal" education. Which means, rather than giving each child the same education, regardless whether or not they were up to the challenge, and seeing whether they were mentally able to handle it, (like most countries do) then allowing them to be placed according to their skill level ( ... )

Re: Be sure to remember... semper_augustus January 3 2006, 15:54:27 UTC

From C.S. Lewis's Screwtape Proposes a ToastDemocracy is the word with which you must lead them by ( ... )

Re: Be sure to remember... oftheeast January 3 2006, 19:58:52 UTC

Well I find it laughable that one can be taught how to teach as thoguh it were carpentry. Now be sue that they have worksheets , oh and do be aware that some of your kids are not auditory learners. You know what I get distressed by; the bad history taught to me by people who were presented to me as knowing that field but in reality being terribly parochial and about as academic as my left shoe. Or better yet state schools churning out education majors by the thousands who have been so busy learning what Skinner thought and why Gilligan was right about women that they don't actally learn the material they are teaching ( ... )

Re: Be sure to remember... jump_street1980 January 7 2006, 14:54:34 UTC

So, from my reply, am I to understand that you believe those who take the time to take courses, in order to understand the field in which they wish to pursue to be "parochial" and "in-academic?"
I have never stated that an undergrad degree, or even a masters, should not be achieved. On the contrary, as a matter of fact. However, I feel if one is going to teach, one should teach a subject matter that one knows.
I have a bachelors in English, with a double concentration in Creative Writing and British/American Lit. This does not mean I do not wish to pursue a masters. However, I do not feel that with my 10 years of babysitting experience, I am fully qualified to just be handed a classroom of 30 kids and have the principal say, "Here. Follow the scripted curriculum. Oh, and if you have to discipline them, tough. Because you aren't really allowed to do that anymore."
In the last semester, I have learned alternative methods of discipline, methodology of teaching - reading in particular. How we learn to speak and read, as well as educational ( ... )

Thread 5

PS... jump_street1980 January 3 2006, 09:03:03 UTC

LOL...I didn't actually talk about your "classical" education.
Um, that was something that Western civilization decided upon. Because remember, history is determined by the winners. And the only reason we here in the West study it is because Rome conquered. And then the British decided that "Hey, we wanna be just like those guys!" Cuz lord knows, Britain had to conquer the world from about the 16th C. on. So, you shouldn't say it's a "classical" education you wanted to learn. You SHOULD say it's that "British Imperialist" education you wanted to learn, as they still do, 500 years later. But, because our country, being a foundling and all...and being run by former imperialists, needed a system...what did we do? Modeled what we knew.
So, that's why we have the system we do.
Of course, the last 50 years we have had the whole, "space age" thing going on. So, yeah. That whole math and science thing...it should be expected ( ... )

Re: PS... semper_augustus January 12 2006, 17:16:39 UTC

...because no one studied the Classics before the British Empire?