what do you guys think about the educational system as it is today do you think that people are learning valuable information? or corporate pharmaceutical militant bullshit.

not saying that education is useless...

you learn enough to function like a robot in society. The system sucks dick if you wanna learn you gotta seek the knowledge that is what life is about.

This post has been edited by Mandelasdiscple: Jul 28 2008, 09:51 PM

depends on which country.

school is similar the world over in some ways. elementary level, high school level, university level, etc. seems to be a common theme.

my public high school was decent international school. one of three in the city. now it is a warzone.

there is much to be desired when it comes to public education. as far as private school goes... hated it. extreme elitism among students, favoritism shown by teachers, forced religion, my parents wasted their money. by grade 8 i demanded to be placed in the public educational system.

university is only helpful if you belong there.

from my point of view the entire book on education needs to be rewritten.

It all depends on what you describe as education...If you are referring to school administered education then I personally believe it's just preparation to serve the elites in the long run...I mean, how much of what you learn in school do you or will you actually use? The only important subjects are math and whichever language you may speak...Some would argue that history is important as if you do not know about the past you are doomed to repeat it...However, we seem to repeat past mistakes regardless as it's human nature to have to make the same mistake two, three or four times before we finally realize it's wrong...

There's a nice quote I like to refer to when asked this question...

"Just because you know a million facts, does not mean you are educated..."

imo an education system is gonna reflect how government wants you to serve them.

It is a foregone conclusion that the educational system in the U.S., in general, is substandard at best. By middleschool the students can tell you everything you ever wanted to know about m&m and brittany spears, and instead of choosing their highschool electives, they are choosing which gang to run with and what crimes they can get away with the most. Again, this is a generalization. I agree with the poster who wrote that math and language are the most important subjects and I would add to that a thorough education in general science to prepare them for a specific/specialized science in college. Most highschool, *chuckle*, "graduates" can't even spell or write decently to save their lives.

I counfounded a teenaged cashier at a movie theater the other night when I bought $8.50 in snacks. I gave her a $10 and she punched it in and the drawer opened. Then as she was reading the computer screen I dug out 50 cents and handed it to her. She looked like a deer caught in headlights and these were her words NO LIE: "But... I already typed in ten dollars." WOW I actually had to talk her through subtracting $8.50 from $10.50 to get $2.00 in change.

The Admiral

the gang and crime thing might be pushing it a bit but it is bad. I disagree with a large focus on higher level math such as calculus or trig because if a high school student has no intent to move in that direction than those classes are not much use. I personally think that a good understanding of social studies and history is the most important thing a school could give. That being said reading, writing, and science are also very important.

vedic math. i think it is much more appealing... i hate algebra,lol.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZKOPKIHsrc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9nXhnj7jNqk

just a side note.

This post has been edited by vyrtigo: Jul 29 2008, 08:53 PM

Loved the second part to this...Hilarious, I don't know what I would have done if I were in your shoes...I probably wouldn't have been so nice about it...Something along the lines of "And you got this job how?.." would come to mind.

... and thats why they hand you popcorn and not your prescriptions...

college isn't for everyone. when i graduated high school i remember a speech something to the tune of: a certain percentage will go on to college, some will go into military service, and others will go straight into the work force. they didn't bother mentioning the number that would be parents before any of that stuff happens, or how many would die on the streets or land in prison. touchy subject i guess. lets pretend like everyone has a bright future!

college isn't for everyone. many people that have no business in college end up there wasting everyone's time, money, and oppertunity... and so many that desrve to be there never make it or won't until they are 40. many people aren't ready for college when that comes, but they go anyway.

eductation doesn't determine intellectual capacity. knowledge may dissolve ignorance, but there is no cure for stupidity. its terminal. (still holding out hope for natural selection.)

i think the educational system should be less regimented and suited more towards a student's natural aptitudes. in the US there are very few elective classes but all sorts of required classes that serve little purpose. it seems a bit bass ackwards.

of course if you really want to know something you must want to learn. kids don't give a shit about what happens 10-20 years down the line. and why should they? they are kids. kids should be able to be kids. they shouldn't have to worry about college, or that level of education until that time comes. neither should they have to worry about who may or may not be packing heat at school.

people complain about having religion forced down their throat... and church is only on sunday. school is mon-fri!
the educational system has become america's babysitter.

there must be a better way.

i would like to add that the school system focuses way to much on the the left side of the brain and by the time a child graduates high school he/she is incapable of even using the right side of the brain.

Literacy and numeracy should be the focus. Having been to school is no indication that someone is either literate or numerate. I think there is a lack of emphasis at school about how the system works with regard to finances and taxes and so on. Interestingly, when a science story comes on the news, there is absolutely no presumption of knowledge and they will even explain something as elementary as the three types of particle that make up an atom. If a financial or economic story is on the news, there is a large presumption of knowledge on the part of the viewer, even though the stuff that they are talking about is not part of the national curriculum. Social studies and history classes are more about indoctrination than about education.

Isn't that where the ability to free-think and make your own choices come from? No one wants a critical thinker now a days...All they want is someone to take what they say as truth or the only choice possible.

It's interesting really, the way they are able to take free-thought and creativeness right out of the equation. I guess drones are better than freedom fighters....

focusing solely on the left brain trains a person to conform. The right brain is the dominant side for imagination and intuition.

Anyone who really cares about your children and they're education needs to visit or buy this book, The Deliberate Dumbing Down Of America. http://www.deliberatedumbingdown.com/

you should put that in the recommended books thread:)

as far as education goes. i think that equal attention should be paid not only to mental development. but social, and self development.
i also think that what is taught in school, should always be shown how it can be applicable in the real world. and how it can improve your quality of life, and society.

i also think that activities that promote left and right brain function should be paid much more attention. such as playing a musical instrument, or singing, or poetry, yoga, anything that unites the mind the body and self. self expression, communication, painting, building, writing articles, keeping a journal, etc.

I think that from twelfth grade education and on, education should be more focused on a particular skill, a way that the individual can contribute to society, this should be encouraged.

i also think that it would be better that if you were in a high position, such as a doctor, lawyer, judge, policeman, politician, etc. it should be mandatory for you to write a self thesis, proving that you know your true purpose in life, you know yourself, you have a concept of universal sympathy, truth, and justice, and you are not susceptible to common evils, and undergo psychological screening, if this were stricly enforced, i think alot of the corruption would dissappear. (and then placed under a lie detector test just kidding)

just my quick thoughts.

This post has been edited by vyrtigo: Aug 2 2008, 11:15 AM