Why, it is semi-related to his comment.. :D

[ 10-23-2002, 08:49 PM: Message edited by: Nanobyte ]

School is prison, get over it... college is freedom, work is slavery... Welcome to the real world... -_-

Lol! So, what is college like, /)?

America's schools are behind everyone else's? I think, that when tested student for student, we're at the same level, if not better than most of the world.
1.) One problem is, people wre saying that our test scores (SATs and the like) were plummeting... uh, yeah, that's because 20 years ago, only the top 30% of each class (or less) were taking tests like the SATs. Now that close to 70% are taking them, yeah, the average is going down. But, if you look at the top 30% now compared to then (or any group), the average has gone WAY up. So not only have our students' scores increased, we're also getting more students to test.
2.) We also teach a myriad of other things to our students, like citizenship, morality, anger-management, athletics, sex education, nutrition, etc. (the list is actually more than 130 items long) that many countries skip. We could give up on these things to concentrate on academics, but we won't until the public tells us that's what they want.
3.) Our country accepts all students (from those with special needs, to the average joe),includes all in aformentioned testing, and tries to not leave anybody behind. Some countries pick and choose who they include. We don't have the "luxury" of believing in a select few.

Simply put, if you compare apples to apples, we rock. Don't buy the sensationalism of the headlines and politicians (they're just trying to make money and obtain votes). Rather, pay attention to the objective research that is going on by America's educators today, and then make up your own mind. I know I do... it's the only way I'll keep improving as a teacher.

Well all I have to say is if you take your average american 9th grader and compair him to your average eroupean 9th grader, the eroupean will probably come out on top.

If you haven't already, reread Gammit's list, especially #2. I believe Europeans focus more on the academics than we do (correct me if I'm wrong)

I can't say for the rest of the country, but I can pretty well say that here in Texas, public education is pretty abysmal, with a few pockets of excellence here and there (way too few and far between). We have a vo-tech school full of students whom the system failed that are a testament to the poor quality of education in this state.

-Sazerac

If you haven't already, reread Gammit's list, especially #2. I believe Europeans focus more on the academics than we do (correct me if I'm wrong)</font>[/QUOTE]It's not that we focus more on academic stuff (though we do), but rather that we view schools as a place where the kids go to learn, and occasionally be tested to see how they are doing. It seems that in America, school is a place kids go to be tested, and learn by doing inordinate amounts of homework.

OH SO you wanna KNOW do ya? :D

"PUCKING DIE!!!" :D was my quote of the day today...

and tomorrow... I shall reconstruct last night's rave out of leggos...

lets also say that I finished my Haloween Costume a few weeks in advance...

All-in-all... it's just
well, y'know...
and since i have enough TIME to upload like 50 MP3S to my website every day...

how about you listen to one?

RINGO MELO-O-O-DEEE!
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http://members.lycos.co.uk/th8or/HEA...%20ultimat.jpg
I am Devine Punnishment
I am Devine Death
I am... FO SHEEZY!

[ 10-24-2002, 02:03 PM: Message edited by: /)eathKiller ]

Actually, they have compared the American 9th grader to the European 9th grader elevty-billionty (no borrow a term from a friend) times. Depending on which country you're bringing the European from, and which subject, the American student runs nearly equal. And people have even compared the number of hours American children spend on homework to that of European children... guess who has more? Answer: not the American children.

Ok, now I play devil's advocate... Unfortunately, the american teacher has gotten a bad rep. Then again, some of us deserve(d) it. Let me put it this way: when a local school district here in Michigan made it MANDATORY for all of their teachers to be well-versed in current technology, 50 teachers retired early that year. Pretty sad. However, there are those of us who consider ourselves the new generation of teachers. Those that rely on different methods and approaches other than just talking to the students, who constantly reflect ("how could I have done that better?"), and who bury themselves in the research to come up with the most reliable and efficient teaching practices, are already making a difference.

I'm not saying that the teachers who are out there right now are bad, as some of them are quite up-to-date with their teaching practices, and/or are fantastic educators. However, for those of you with "bad" teachers, be patient... we are on our way.

P.S. I'm always open to tutoring those who need help with nearly any subject... as odd as that is over e-mail, you can find my address in my profile. Just be sure to mention that you're from the Ironworks so I don't think you're crazy!