Education In America

[heyRomanticA__x]

Read this (http://www.caltax.org/member/digest/jan2005/1.2005.Barrett-FixingAmericasEducationalSystem.03. htm) and tell me what you think of America's Education System. In your opinion, did you go to a good highschool/college? Did they prepare you for life out side of the school system? How would you rate your education compared to that of others? Did the knowledge they give you stick with you outside of school? Were you able to take the things you learned and use them in the job market?

Alright, how do you feel about education in America? Would you rate us as poor, fair or excellent? Do you feel something is lacking from our school systems? What would you do to improve our school systems?

This is my attempt to get an active discussion going on about the education system in America.

[ClapClapSnap]

you know what? i'm completely gonna comment on this, but i'm leaving work, and going out for awhile. i shaall return though dear

[noodledancer]

i have to study, so i'm going to do part 1 right now & do the rest later.

i think i've had an excellent education thus far, but i realize that my experience isn't representative because i was fortunate to grow up somewhere that has quality public schools. i'm not sure how well school has prepared me for life... i haven't entered the work force yet. besides, i think that resposibility lies primarily with parents.

[sleepygrlgreen]

to answer all the questions you asked, no. i wish we had stronger science and math programs...or just stronger programs in general. high school doesn't prepare you for anything passed high school. during those four years, you become accustomed to listening to everybody and doing what you're told to do and once you enter the "real world" you're absolutely lost because you don't know how to think for yourself. the classes are a different story as well. you can more or less throw everything you learned in high school into the trash because it really won't give you that much of an advantage once you hit college. high school is really a waste of time, in my opinion, but i suppose it varies in each individual.

[aminorthreat55]

My high school and college were/are great, but then again I live in an upper middle class area with an amazing school system.

[Shatter590]

One observation I make is that today a college education is roughly the equivalent of a high school education maybe 50 years ago. With all the tough talk of raising the standards. I still find it sad that you can graduate high school without needing to speak english.

I was fortunate at some level. I was in honors classes at what was once a well regarded public high school in NYC. (The school is no longer, it feel from grace 2 years after I had left.) I went on to public college, which also was rather well regarded, and still is, where I was also an honor student.

Do I feel that school prepared me for life? No. My education seemed to prepare me for my further educational pursuits, and little more. I developed strong reading and writing skills, strong analytical skills, decent statistical skills, and a basic background is sciences. I majored in a "social science", which is one of the reasons that my verbal skills are strong, and probably the only reason my analytical skills are what they are. And much of what I did learn beyond the scope of basic academia I received due my own volition and via internships.

I believe that the US educational system is in dire need of overhaul. There is a large dichotomy between the classes, and that will only lead to a further stratification down the line. Education is largely unfair: living in NYC I saw early on how our public schools were given less money than those in suburban areas but told we needed to outperform those students. This lead to half the school excelling while half the school dropped out or was left back. Those of us fortunate enough to make it into the honors classes were able to breathe somewhat easier, we had better teachers and better materials, but for the rest of the school, it was an attempt to acquire what one could at the expense of those around you. While that proverbial fight for survival would lend skills to prospering in the world beyond school, it did nothing to change the inadequate nature of the education they were receiving.

That does not mean that it is hopeless. Whereas the primary and secondary school systems are often hit or miss, higher education seems to be going on the right track, at least in terms of educational quality. While it is true that cost cutting is leading to a decline in permanent faculty, that has not deterred many students from attaining higher goals. Attending a public university, in my case and those of my friends, gave us a new appreciation for academics, and due to the fact we were not part of a "party" system found in many private colleges, and we had more time to focus on skills. The environment, as well, led to us networking and gaining a stronger foothold for life after college.

I think more focus should be spent on the lower levels of schools, and while it sounds trite, there needs to be stronger equality. School systems cannot be allowed to shove aside struggling students in favor of higher achievers to increase their testing margins. And less emphasis must be made on testing in general, as it distracts from the acquisition of skills in favor of "teaching the tests." These are a few ideas. Does anyone have any more?

[Alien5]

You cant be intelligent if you're JUST good at stuff they teach you at school seeing as its all irrelevent bull that is just designed to be an excuse for the government to contain children in a disguised prison and to waste hours of their lives by attempting to fill their minds with useless shit and to diminish their character. The government talk about 'human rights' as if they know the meaning. They are actually taking away childrens human rights by forcing them to waste their precious, short lives in classrooms where as they could be out at this time actually doing something creative with their lives. I probably learn more useful knowledge outside of school in one day than I learn in a month of school. People who think they can judge intelligence by school grades are very sad, dilluded and narrow minded. The whole government system is fucked up but the school system just illustrates this fact perfectly. It actually makes you sad to think that they have the right to waste our lives.

[Rebs]

Read Savage Inequalities by Jonathan Kozol. It will show you a whole different perspective.

[osunfg]

You cant be intelligent if you're JUST good at stuff they teach you at school seeing as its all irrelevent bull that is just designed to be an excuse for the government to contain children in a disguised prison and to waste hours of their lives by attempting to fill their minds with useless shit and to diminish their character. The government talk about 'human rights' as if they know the meaning. They are actually taking away childrens human rights by forcing them to waste their precious, short lives in classrooms where as they could be out at this time actually doing something creative with their lives. I probably learn more useful knowledge outside of school in one day than I learn in a month of school. People who think they can judge intelligence by school grades are very sad, dilluded and narrow minded. The whole government system is fucked up but the school system just illustrates this fact perfectly. It actually makes you sad to think that they have the right to waste our lives.
You have a very poor outlook on education. Yes, a system may have faults, but even a perfect education system is only as good as one makes it. I dont mean to sound judgemental, but it sounds like you have a very naive view on educational material. Like many others, it seems as though you are looking for immediate application of the knowledge acquired in various classes. This also leads to dissatiscation in learning what you do not "want" to learn. However, there is an extreme importance in learning anything and everything you can. Just by having an overall knowledge of the world and its various studies slowly sculpts how one views the world. You may disagree and say you cannot, but that is how knowledge affects you. It leaks into your thoughts, actions, and choices, even if you are not aware. And if you actually catch this change, it really makes you acknowledge the rewards of a good education. While taking my statistical analysis course, I didn't even realize that I had began viewing the world in terms of means, deviations, and regressions.
So before you criticize education, just remember it is only as beneficial as you make it out to be, not how "the government" makes it out to be.

[ClapClapSnap]

You have a very poor outlook on education. Yes, a system may have faults, but even a perfect education system is only as good as one makes it. I dont mean to sound judgemental, but it sounds like you have a very naive view on educational material. Like many others, it seems as though you are looking for immediate application of the knowledge acquired in various classes. This also leads to dissatiscation in learning what you do not "want" to learn. However, there is an extreme importance in learning anything and everything you can. Just by having an overall knowledge of the world and its various studies slowly sculpts how one views the world. You may disagree and say you cannot, but that is how knowledge affects you. It leaks into your thoughts, actions, and choices, even if you are not aware. And if you actually catch this change, it really makes you acknowledge the rewards of a good education. While taking my statistical analysis course, I didn't even realize that I had began viewing the world in terms of means, deviations, and regressions.
So before you criticize education, just remember it is only as beneficial as you make it out to be, not how "the government" makes it out to be.

wow, that was very well-said.

[osunfg]

wow, that was very well-said.
thank you =)

[aminorthreat55]

You cant be intelligent if you're JUST good at stuff they teach you at school seeing as its all irrelevent bull that is just designed to be an excuse for the government to contain children in a disguised prison and to waste hours of their lives by attempting to fill their minds with useless shit and to diminish their character. The government talk about 'human rights' as if they know the meaning. They are actually taking away childrens human rights by forcing them to waste their precious, short lives in classrooms where as they could be out at this time actually doing something creative with their lives. I probably learn more useful knowledge outside of school in one day than I learn in a month of school. People who think they can judge intelligence by school grades are very sad, dilluded and narrow minded. The whole government system is fucked up but the school system just illustrates this fact perfectly. It actually makes you sad to think that they have the right to waste our lives.
I hate to just flat out say you're wrong, but you're wrong.

[Rebs]

You cant be intelligent if you're JUST good at stuff they teach you at school seeing as its all irrelevent bull that is just designed to be an excuse for the government to contain children in a disguised prison and to waste hours of their lives by attempting to fill their minds with useless shit and to diminish their character. The government talk about 'human rights' as if they know the meaning. They are actually taking away childrens human rights by forcing them to waste their precious, short lives in classrooms where as they could be out at this time actually doing something creative with their lives. I probably learn more useful knowledge outside of school in one day than I learn in a month of school. People who think they can judge intelligence by school grades are very sad, dilluded and narrow minded. The whole government system is fucked up but the school system just illustrates this fact perfectly. It actually makes you sad to think that they have the right to waste our lives.
You couldn't be more incorrect.

[Shatter590]

Originally Posted by Alien5
You cant be intelligent if you're JUST good at stuff they teach you at school seeing as its all irrelevent bull that is just designed to be an excuse for the government to contain children in a disguised prison and to waste hours of their lives by attempting to fill their minds with useless shit and to diminish their character. The government talk about 'human rights' as if they know the meaning. They are actually taking away childrens human rights by forcing them to waste their precious, short lives in classrooms where as they could be out at this time actually doing something creative with their lives. I probably learn more useful knowledge outside of school in one day than I learn in a month of school. People who think they can judge intelligence by school grades are very sad, dilluded and narrow minded. The whole government system is fucked up but the school system just illustrates this fact perfectly. It actually makes you sad to think that they have the right to waste our lives.

That POV is the same one proposed by Ivan Illich, and more recently by Bill Gates.

[brandnewwurryou]

jason tate can suck my balls where can i find brand news demos

[exxxoduss]

You cant be intelligent if you're JUST good at stuff they teach you at school seeing as its all irrelevent bull that is just designed to be an excuse for the government to contain children in a disguised prison and to waste hours of their lives by attempting to fill their minds with useless shit and to diminish their character. The government talk about 'human rights' as if they know the meaning. They are actually taking away childrens human rights by forcing them to waste their precious, short lives in classrooms where as they could be out at this time actually doing something creative with their lives. I probably learn more useful knowledge outside of school in one day than I learn in a month of school. People who think they can judge intelligence by school grades are very sad, dilluded and narrow minded. The whole government system is fucked up but the school system just illustrates this fact perfectly. It actually makes you sad to think that they have the right to waste our lives.

yeah i do believe your wrong. the government really plays no big part on the education you get. your education lies on you. so yes i believe what you put into school is what you get out of school. but i don't think that grades can really support how much a person is getting out of school.

[Cal Smith]

I've been looking at High Schools to teach at this August. Being my first year I want a high school with lower poverty, mid size classes, and a high attendance ratio. There's great website that has every school in Texas and explains race break down, attendance rate, poverty, and class size for every single school.

Sadly, the best schools have around 96% whites. So most likely for my first year that's where I'm gonna apply. A lot of black dominated schools were not as bad as I thought they might be, but the worst were the high hispanic schools.

[noodledancer]

i think alien5 exemplifies what's wrong with american education. viewing education as something that is done to you to waste your timeis merely an attmpt to excuse your own shortcomings. much of education is about developing the skills needed to learn & reason, which will serve you for the rest of your life. it's important that a school system is able to engage its students, but when their charges think education isn't important, it's a struggle. my dad is in his fifth year as a high school math teacher, & he's told me stories of students saying things like, 'my parents don't know any of this stuff, & they're doing fine' or 'my mom/dad doesn't think this is important.' (keep in mind this is coming from kids whose families are barely getting by, or are re-taking algebra I again, or who will probably never graduate because they're failng pretty much everything) these kinds of attitudes are a huge obstacle to education because all the best facilites, curricula, & staff in the world doesn't mean much unless the students want to learn.

[LeftWideOpen]

the fact of the matter is that education is shaped to benefit the "greater good" of society. they don't teach you how to live a good life or things of that nature because it's a capitalist society, and it's considered useless as far as the government is concerned. furthermore, not everyone is getting the same kind of education. i find it crazy that one kid can get his high school courses taught by people who are of the highest education while others get nothing but 23 year olds straight out of college who don't even hold a degree in the field they are teaching to the kids.

the education system in america is severely flawed and it's only getting worse w/ the insistence on emphasizing math and science and the widening gap between social classes. we need major reform and a reassessment of our priorities in what's being emphasized in the classroom.