Disturbing Era in Public Schools
03-27-2014, 01:43 PM
#41
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someone posted a couple of samples from her community college writing course:
here's her blog: Where do I even start? | As a Linguist...
“Meaning, make more higher fines. More police alert of who's littering and who's not. Make a bill about it. If not people are just going to keep on doing it. They need to take more action about this trash and littering. They meaning the law, president, police, the house of Rep, the 3 branches, all the above need to take more action and be more serious. If not people will not care nor pay attention and just keep throwing trash and littering everywhere. Something really has to be done soon that is my opinion.”
I saved the best for last. This came from an essay a student wrote for me in an Eng 101 class several years ago. We were practicing categorization essays, so this student chose to write about types of pets and why people choose them. I had to save this essay. It cracks me up. I can't remember if I actually failed it or just asked him to revise it so I could at least give it a passing grade - not because of the grammar, which was fine, but because it was just so...so...well, judge for yourself.
The opening sentence: "Dogs,cats, and owls are three of the most common animals in the animal kingdom today."
Thesis statement: "Pets can behave differently according to how their owners train them, the time of day that they can be allowed to go outside, and the different kinds of foods that they consume every day."
My favorite paragraph: "All three of these common animals have different times of day that they are available to step outside. Dogs are animals that are able to step outside roughly anytime of the day, or in the night. The reasons that they can step outside for exercise is to play with their owners, let their owners take daily and recommended walks with them, and to just play around with themselves. Cats are animals that are roughly the same as dogs, but are probably split in some types of cats that like to step out in the day and who like to step out in the nighttime. Most of the cat family certainly likes to come out in the daytime, but there are some members who like to come out into the nighttime. Black cats, stray street cats and probably jaguars are the most likely of cats that dare the most to come out into the night life. Owls are a completely different story. Owls are the most common of animals to come out only into the nighttime of the world. In the daytime, owls have very bad eyesight and do not even have a clue as to where they are going. They are also the most common of animals for getting the most exercise in the nighttime than any other animal."
Jaguars. Kills me, every time.
It's organized, it's developed, it's grammatical, but...WTF?
The opening sentence: "Dogs,cats, and owls are three of the most common animals in the animal kingdom today."
Thesis statement: "Pets can behave differently according to how their owners train them, the time of day that they can be allowed to go outside, and the different kinds of foods that they consume every day."
My favorite paragraph: "All three of these common animals have different times of day that they are available to step outside. Dogs are animals that are able to step outside roughly anytime of the day, or in the night. The reasons that they can step outside for exercise is to play with their owners, let their owners take daily and recommended walks with them, and to just play around with themselves. Cats are animals that are roughly the same as dogs, but are probably split in some types of cats that like to step out in the day and who like to step out in the nighttime. Most of the cat family certainly likes to come out in the daytime, but there are some members who like to come out into the nighttime. Black cats, stray street cats and probably jaguars are the most likely of cats that dare the most to come out into the night life. Owls are a completely different story. Owls are the most common of animals to come out only into the nighttime of the world. In the daytime, owls have very bad eyesight and do not even have a clue as to where they are going. They are also the most common of animals for getting the most exercise in the nighttime than any other animal."
Jaguars. Kills me, every time.
It's organized, it's developed, it's grammatical, but...WTF?
Last edited by Braineack; 03-28-2014 at 08:43 AM.
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03-27-2014, 02:55 PM
#46
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So I skipped the first line of Brain's post and just read the quote about the cats/dogs/owls.
Pretty weird ****. I figured this must have been written by someone between the age of 8-10.
Then, I scroll up and read the bit saying this was written by a college student...
Pretty weird ****. I figured this must have been written by someone between the age of 8-10.
Then, I scroll up and read the bit saying this was written by a college student...
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03-27-2014, 03:16 PM
#47
This is the only forum I have ever really continually gone to. I'm signed up for A LOT of forums but who knew that me randomly buying a crappy $1400 1990 Miata would have brought me here.
I don't post a ton but I read a lot here. I actually almost post a lot but on a regular basis just cancel it after I type it out. There are a lot of like minded people on here and although a lot of us argue on occasion it is truly trivial. When Joe described his schooling I wasn't surprised to see other say they had a similar experience. I also had the same. I failed some seriously easy classes and had to go to night school with some "cool kids" (yes we had smoke breaks...lol).
Tons of people are taught that if they go to school they can get paid more or get a better job and that is the case to some extent. I've been taught from an early age though that if you work hard and put serious effort into anything that you will succeed and I've seen it time after time.
I've never applied for a Job I was qualified for and I've never been unemployed without choice. I do get that people have trouble getting jobs but I do believe that it is not because there aren't jobs out there for them but because they don't know how to get them. It probably has something to do with schooling and its mindset of teaching you to follow a path instead of creating your own.
I made my own curriculum and when it was time to follow a different one I failed. Although the school didn't intend on this it was an early life lesson with real repercussions. I had to pay with time and money. My parents made me pay for my classes and I had to sit around and waste my nights with a bunch of pregnant teens and juveniles.
The educational system in general across the states is a pretty big failure. In Arizona there have been charter schools popping up left and right. From the discussions I've had with administration seems like it's a step in the right direction. Ultimately though I do agree the parents really are the foundation of this shitty system and kids will mostly follow by example.
I was told by a coworker about his problems with his 14 year old daughter. How he found these videos on his daughters phone. They were conversations his 14 year old daughter was having with his ex-wife about drugs. "Mom don't get mad but I wanted to let you know I tried weed." Mom proceeds to say it's ok I did it all the time when I was your age. She then proceeds to tell her she wants to try lsd and they start having a pow wow about her moms past and bonding over these stories. Meanwhile the daughter has skipped a consecutive 6 days of school to go hang out and do drugs. Co-worker finds out via principal a month later. After he finds these videos does a timeline and realizes his ex-wife is basically condoning this behavior. BTW they are having these discussion in front of a 5 year old sitting right next to them.
I kind of feel like a bad apple spoils the bunch. How many good parents hard work is destroyed by that one parent that is the "cool" parent. Anyway I'm done ranting haha.
I don't post a ton but I read a lot here. I actually almost post a lot but on a regular basis just cancel it after I type it out. There are a lot of like minded people on here and although a lot of us argue on occasion it is truly trivial. When Joe described his schooling I wasn't surprised to see other say they had a similar experience. I also had the same. I failed some seriously easy classes and had to go to night school with some "cool kids" (yes we had smoke breaks...lol).
Tons of people are taught that if they go to school they can get paid more or get a better job and that is the case to some extent. I've been taught from an early age though that if you work hard and put serious effort into anything that you will succeed and I've seen it time after time.
I've never applied for a Job I was qualified for and I've never been unemployed without choice. I do get that people have trouble getting jobs but I do believe that it is not because there aren't jobs out there for them but because they don't know how to get them. It probably has something to do with schooling and its mindset of teaching you to follow a path instead of creating your own.
I made my own curriculum and when it was time to follow a different one I failed. Although the school didn't intend on this it was an early life lesson with real repercussions. I had to pay with time and money. My parents made me pay for my classes and I had to sit around and waste my nights with a bunch of pregnant teens and juveniles.
The educational system in general across the states is a pretty big failure. In Arizona there have been charter schools popping up left and right. From the discussions I've had with administration seems like it's a step in the right direction. Ultimately though I do agree the parents really are the foundation of this shitty system and kids will mostly follow by example.
I was told by a coworker about his problems with his 14 year old daughter. How he found these videos on his daughters phone. They were conversations his 14 year old daughter was having with his ex-wife about drugs. "Mom don't get mad but I wanted to let you know I tried weed." Mom proceeds to say it's ok I did it all the time when I was your age. She then proceeds to tell her she wants to try lsd and they start having a pow wow about her moms past and bonding over these stories. Meanwhile the daughter has skipped a consecutive 6 days of school to go hang out and do drugs. Co-worker finds out via principal a month later. After he finds these videos does a timeline and realizes his ex-wife is basically condoning this behavior. BTW they are having these discussion in front of a 5 year old sitting right next to them.
I kind of feel like a bad apple spoils the bunch. How many good parents hard work is destroyed by that one parent that is the "cool" parent. Anyway I'm done ranting haha.
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03-27-2014, 03:50 PM
#49
Anwyays, I think I'm gonna give public school a shot. We've looked at private, montessori, charter, etc... and I find things I don't like with all of them. I think as long as the school has their discipline procedures working and the occasional ******** kid is being dealt with, I can supplement/correct anything I see missing from the education itself at home... which is something parents should do even if their kids are going to a $20k/yr private school.
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03-30-2014, 01:57 PM
#55
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Daughter says the teachers care whether she does her work and care whether she understands the material. In public school last year one of the teachers said they weren't going to explain the concept to her again. She would need to figure it out herself.
The foster parents really didn't care, either. If no one cares if you understand and no one cares if you do your work, what then? She was in 7th grade but her comprehension was around 2nd grade. The school was giving her passing grades even though she had no clue. We did her homework with her every night, hired tutors, and sought language comprehension therapy in an attempt to gain some ground. She's made dramatic improvements with just a little additional attention. The school had systems in place to do some of the same things but they fought us not to help her. We hired a lawyer and even got a court order but they fought us still. That's why we went to the private school. It was the best choice we could have made.
The foster parents really didn't care, either. If no one cares if you understand and no one cares if you do your work, what then? She was in 7th grade but her comprehension was around 2nd grade. The school was giving her passing grades even though she had no clue. We did her homework with her every night, hired tutors, and sought language comprehension therapy in an attempt to gain some ground. She's made dramatic improvements with just a little additional attention. The school had systems in place to do some of the same things but they fought us not to help her. We hired a lawyer and even got a court order but they fought us still. That's why we went to the private school. It was the best choice we could have made.
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03-30-2014, 03:22 PM
#56
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I'm another person who never developed study habits because high school was a ******* joke. I'm in CC as an engineering major and calculus is starting to hurt (just starting multivariable, 3d, etc) simply because I do not study effectively, or at all really.. I put no time into any of my classes and I don't blame anyone but myself, but it would've been nice if study habits were encouraged in high school.
I struggle to study effectively, study groups help though.
I'm confident that I can get through an engineering degree otherwise, especially once I get the studying thing down.
I struggle to study effectively, study groups help though.
I'm confident that I can get through an engineering degree otherwise, especially once I get the studying thing down.
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03-30-2014, 04:31 PM
#57
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How about we stop worrying about the plight of k-12 education, and look at what the whole point of that system is; puking out adults with few actual skills, who will pay an exorbitant amount to receive a college degree in, uh, something.
Our country doesn't do anything anymore. Our workforce sits at a desk all day sending emails, or doesn't have jobs at all. We've removed the value of work in society, and promised every kid there are two options for their future. Go to college, make 100k a year. Don't go, work at mcdonalds.
Our country doesn't do anything anymore. Our workforce sits at a desk all day sending emails, or doesn't have jobs at all. We've removed the value of work in society, and promised every kid there are two options for their future. Go to college, make 100k a year. Don't go, work at mcdonalds.
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03-30-2014, 05:05 PM
#58
Wrong. The US currently possesses (and produces an equal amount) ~22% of the world's manufacturing capacity. We've never gone below the manufacturing capacity we had in the 70s.
Not only that, but it's been both expanded and utilization of that capacity has been steadily increasing since Bush left office. Proof: US Capacity Utilization: Manufacturing
The problem with it, however, is that manufacturers automate more and more, eliminating unskilled and low-skilled labor jobs, but creating a much smaller amount of high-skill jobs.
And this isn't isolated to just the US: Why would Chinese plants invest in automation technology as well with as cheap as the labor is over there? (Hint: It has nothing to do with the "expense" of the workforce, unions, or anything else.)
No.
Biggest no **** point of the year. The unskilled and low-skilled jobs that previously made up our economy are being eliminated due to automation and offshoring. High-skill jobs are now under threat to things such as H1-Bs and outsourcing.
Move to increase H1B visas | ZDNet
House panel approves bill increasing H-1B limits | PCWorld
//Remember, H1-Bs ONLY take a job from an American and give it to a foreigner in the US, and it's high-skilled jobs worst of all. I'll leave it up to the reader to figure out who is bartering immigration reform in trade for massive increases of H1-Bs.
Not only that, but it's been both expanded and utilization of that capacity has been steadily increasing since Bush left office. Proof: US Capacity Utilization: Manufacturing
The problem with it, however, is that manufacturers automate more and more, eliminating unskilled and low-skilled labor jobs, but creating a much smaller amount of high-skill jobs.
And this isn't isolated to just the US: Why would Chinese plants invest in automation technology as well with as cheap as the labor is over there? (Hint: It has nothing to do with the "expense" of the workforce, unions, or anything else.)
Our workforce sits at a desk all day sending emails, or doesn't have jobs at all. We've removed the value of work in society, and promised every kid there are two options for their future.
Go to college, make 100k a year. Don't go, work at mcdonalds.
Move to increase H1B visas | ZDNet
House panel approves bill increasing H-1B limits | PCWorld
//Remember, H1-Bs ONLY take a job from an American and give it to a foreigner in the US, and it's high-skilled jobs worst of all. I'll leave it up to the reader to figure out who is bartering immigration reform in trade for massive increases of H1-Bs.
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03-31-2014, 10:01 AM
#59
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I found the solution:
White Privilege Conference - Conference Schedule
White Privilege Conference - Conference Schedule
A taxpayer-supported conference that trains teachers of public schools and universities how to "dismantle" the "white privilege" and "white supremacy" in American schools being held in Wisconsin refused to allow a reporter to attend its sessions, claiming that the conference was a "private function."
The White Privilege Conference, held from March 25 to 29 in Madison, Wisconsin, is a conference geared toward educating the state's teachers on how to destroy all that white power coursing through the school system.
In its explanation of its goals, the White Privilege Conference website says, "WPC is a conference that examines challenging concepts of privilege and oppression and offers solutions and team building strategies to work toward a more equitable world."
The White Privilege Conference, held from March 25 to 29 in Madison, Wisconsin, is a conference geared toward educating the state's teachers on how to destroy all that white power coursing through the school system.
In its explanation of its goals, the White Privilege Conference website says, "WPC is a conference that examines challenging concepts of privilege and oppression and offers solutions and team building strategies to work toward a more equitable world."
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03-31-2014, 10:04 AM
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$1 Trillion Student Loan Debt Widens US Wealth Gap - ABC News
Every month that Gregory Zbylut pays $1,300 toward his law school loans is another month of not qualifying for a decent mortgage.
Every payment toward their student loans is $900 Dr. Nida Degesys and her husband aren't putting in their retirement savings account.
They believe they'll eventually climb from debt and begin using their earnings to build assets rather than fill holes. But, like the roughly 37 million others in the U.S. saddled with $1 trillion in student debt, they may never catch up with wealthy peers who began life after college free from the burden.
The disparity, experts say, is contributing to the widening of the gap between rich and everyone else in the country.
"If you graduate with a B.A. or doctorate and you get the same job at the same place, you make the same amount of money," said William Elliott III, director of the Assets and Education Initiative at the University of Kansas. "But that money will actually mean less to you in the sense of accumulating assets in the long term."
Every payment toward their student loans is $900 Dr. Nida Degesys and her husband aren't putting in their retirement savings account.
They believe they'll eventually climb from debt and begin using their earnings to build assets rather than fill holes. But, like the roughly 37 million others in the U.S. saddled with $1 trillion in student debt, they may never catch up with wealthy peers who began life after college free from the burden.
The disparity, experts say, is contributing to the widening of the gap between rich and everyone else in the country.
"If you graduate with a B.A. or doctorate and you get the same job at the same place, you make the same amount of money," said William Elliott III, director of the Assets and Education Initiative at the University of Kansas. "But that money will actually mean less to you in the sense of accumulating assets in the long term."
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