Stupid in America

You care so little about the state of education in the US you can't spend the time to watch the video?

There seems to be the crux of the problem right there!

ROFLMAO

 

So OK ... now that you've seen the Video what are you going to do about it?

 

I'd have to agree with much of what I'm seeing in the video. And since I remember very much what I experienced in Virginia's Public Schools in the 1960's, I would agree that the schools today, aren't what they used to be. Bad schools SHOULD be shut down and/or reformed.

Money IS part of the answer in some places; but certainly not THE primary answer. And going after unions themselves, isn't the main answer, better defining how unions operate is. Defining (properly) what unions are allowed to negotiate or affect as policy is what is most reasonable. Even so, teacher/school performance needs to be measured and acted upon; especially if they show a trend of 'failure'.

I agree that publicly-funded schools aren't the primary problem, yet how they are operated surely is. I'm a Liberal/Progressive for certain... but considering my experiences in an awesome public school setting (elementary through high school)... I know that public schools can surely work well. I also know that we should improve our schools, where they need improving.

Whatever it is that's standing in the way of kids learning (and today, it is likely not only the schools themselves, but American society's effects in general), needs to be PUSHED out of the way. I can agree that what many Conservatives are promoting is PART of the answer, but Progressives surely need a voice in making things better also.

To the media presentation itself: I think it was well-done... and I would like to see a few other news organizations cover that particular thing VERY frequently. We cannot let-up on making the schools what they should be in America.

Finally, Someone implied that the schools should be judged on a case by case basis, and I think that is true.

 

And you watched the video? It seemed pretty clear that they represented a wide spectrum of schools and pretty much the same problem.

The OP is not advocating anything that I can see...not everything is a campaign. The OP is attempting to inform, which appears to be rather impossible with liberals who refuse to learn.

There IS a problem. Wake up America!

 

People need to "wake up" STOP throwing out the 'labels' (Liberal, Conservative...whatever) thinking that is some real 'answer'. It is clear enough to reasonable folks, that NO SINGLE POLITICAL IDEOLOGY has perfect answers for America. If we do not work together (ultimately), we (America) will fail.

Look... it is clear that our schools need to be improved in many ways. And anyone with good sense should realize no final judgement on all of the existing situation should be based upon ONE single ABC News, John Stossel report.

 

So here's an "intelligent political idea" ... let's reduce education funding so everyone can beach and complain some more about education in America.

Smart ... Really Smart, considering the person you or someone you care about, someday may encounter these students. Hopefully .. not in a time of "your" need.


But one thing is for sure ... we sure have no problem send them off to Die for our Freedoms.




Pardon the interruption

 

Good. Now here is how we will start...with a very simple action.

The education system is liberal world, complete and utterly dominated, K1 to higher education.

The action....admit it was liberal ideology that caused the problem with the education system, as it was under their total control...and we can all move on for a solution.

 

I think vouchers are a bad idea for the USA.

What needs to be done is, is that the entire system must be broken up, in other words: right on the freedom of education must be written into every State Constitution. That way, there is no need for vouchers.

Everyone out to go to the school of her or his choosing.

 

What I also have an issue with, and I'm sure now all of you Americans are going to jump at me, are all the sports programs.

How much do they cost? The coaches? The infrastructure? etc...

If you want to play football, then join a club outside school. If you want to play rugby, do the same. The same for the "Arts" -- if you like being creative than join the Arts Academy or the Music Academy on friday after school, or on wednesday after noon or something.

What is with all this lunch programs? How much money is being wasted on that? What has happened to just bring a packed lunch. Way better. Way healthier. Way more economical.

I know -- most of y'all think I'm one of the biggest "libs" out here. And, in fact, I probably am. I strictly vote Social-Democratic or Environmental. But on so many issues the more Conservatives and the folks on the Left have so much in common. At least in Europe, not so sure if the same thing goes for America.

 

Interesting.

An offered perspective.

Do you think sports programs promote striving for excellence, hard work ethics, competition to succeed at the sporting task...and personal reward for such?

In the context of the above question...Is there a basic theme in the actual education system, (apart from the athletic programs)....modelled to just move children forward minus the strive for excellence, hard work ethics and personal reward for achieving high academically?

I am sure you see what I am driving at. It might very well be the last bastion in the education system, that promotes exactly what we want of our children, our society....and you want it removed?

 

I went to a Royal Athaeneum -- it only offered GSE (General Secundary Education) and one TSE (Technical Secundary Education) course (Tourism). However, at the same time my school was a "Top Sport School". Kim Clijsters was enlisted in our school.

Our education system works with "menus" or as their are known in Belgium itself: studierichtingen (or "study course"). At least 2h/week of PE is compulsary.

In Middle School I followed "Technology-Sports" -- so I had 2h of technology/science more per week and 2h/week of sports during first year of middle school. And in my second year of Middle School I followed "Modern Sciences-Sport" with 2h/week of Economy, 2h/week of Science and 2h/week of Sport.

In high school I switched to Human Sciences-Modern Languages wich resulted in me, having besides the "fixed courses" (PE, history, Math, Biology, Chemistry, Religion/Ethics, etc.), an additional 1h/week of ICT, 2h/week of Behavioral Science, 2h/week of Cultural Science, +1h/week French (total 4h/week), +1h/week Dutch (total 5h/week) and +1h/week of English (total: 4h/week).

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To answer your question.

Most people join a sportsclub in primary school: football, basket, rugby, swimming, volleyball, tennis, judo, etc. The sport clubs works directly with the local government. The sport clubs form clusters and organizations to work with the provincial government and the regional government as well.

Also --

Netherlands: Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport
Flanders: Departement Cultuur, Jeugd, Sport en Media
European countries: ...

A school is a place for an academic education.

For sport, there are sport clubs -- there is a "sport policy" for sure coming from the government. They get subsidies, tax breaks, etc. They need to keep the books, pay the bills, etc.

 

If people have the "right" to edcuation, that effectively makes teachers slaves. I disagree with that type of a system, it sounds tyrannical and dangerous to me.

 

No, no, no.

I'm saying that athletic programs do not have a place in a school. And certainly not in the framework as provided in the States where ultimately the bill is passed on to the local population via property taxes. Just like school districting -- property taxes are entirely an American concept. We don't have any of those, and not any other country in Europe has them either. Maybe Canada does?

It would make more sense to have atlethic programs in e.g. the Belgian framework because the bills must add up.

Anyways, sport is alive and well here. Although I must say the following...

I had the same PE-teacher for 4 years in high school. He had the same name as me: Jan. He liked me, we always had a laugh together, and when I crossed him in school he always nodded. His last words to me where: "Good luck Jan. You'll neve be a real sportsman but I'm sure you'll succeed". I took it as a compliment back then, but when writing it down -- it certainly doesn't look like one. But I bet it had to do because I failed my PE-exam in my senior year. I'm lots of things, but not really flexible. We had to do this gymnastic excercise: flip, flop, flap, boem -- it took like 5minutes to preform the entire thing on the long mat. Are you kidding me? After the first 7 moves I didn't really remembered what had to come next... and if you mixed things up you lost points, etc.

 

First of all: Wow! I didn't realize we were the same age. I always thought you were an old bitter man! !

Secondly, I don't want to come across as arrogant -- but I'm pretty sure that Americans already enjoy the right to education.

Freedom of education means, that you can go to any school you want. Every school is publicly funded, of course there are restrictions.

The possible "cultural war" between Liberals and Christians in my country was solved after a series of massive protests from the late 1800's to the first half of 1900's. The ultimate comprimise is that every school offers 2h/week of religion (Islam, Catholicism, Protestantism, Hinduism, Buddism, etc. -- any type the pupil demands on his/her sheet at the beginning of the school year) or 2/weeh of neutral "Ethics classes". The religious schools offer 2h/week of the religion they are rooted in.

 

Another extensive post revealing that the video was not even viewed.

"You can go to any school you want to" after we watched school authorities literally searching students home to ensure they lived in the district.

Ignorance is bliss.


And reducing the whole complex issue to whether there should be sports programs......I have no words for that, at least not any that won't get me in trouble.

 

I watched like ten seconds then lost interest...... Someone please summerize!!!!!!!!!!

 

"There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all arguments and which cannot fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance - that principle is contempt prior to investigation."

Herbert Spencer

 

You aren't being reasonable. I can see how you 'feel', but that does not translate into you offering any worthwhile commentary. If demonizing "Liberals" were your goal, I'd say you've made a great attempt to do so.

 

And that post has worthwhile commentary how exactly? Other than it comes as close as possible to a personal attack without breaking the rules there is no point.

If demonizing anyone who disagrees with you is your goal......

 

The man is expressing his opinion. I thought that's what this forum was all about??

 

Exactly!! He broke-out, condemning Liberals (as if he could prove anything he said); I simply related my views on his commentary.

 

Johnny, please. People are trying to work towards a solution to the educational system, and the first step towards that has to be in acknowledging the source of the problem.

Me demonizing isn't the issue Johnny. The issue is the education system, how it got that way, in which the issue of "who" brought it there must be addressed for proper and actually effective solution(s).

Your liberal ideology has been in absolute control, at all levels...curriculum to the actual classroom. There has to be accountability Johnny for solutions, and I don't care that it is going to hurt liberals feelings. It's about the kids who are going through that system, who become adults in our society.

It is massively important Johnny, perhaps the biggest single impact issue of western societies.