The Obama Debacle - A Payback

Mhu, how is your name pronounced? My mind is saying Myu Cay-oh, but I want to have it right. You made so many great points here. About our state run educational system, should everyone HAVE to succeed? What if someone doesn't want to succeed in college prep? Whatever happened to trades education for those who can't or won't do college level prep courses? Is it so bad to send them to a non-academic school that trains them in construction, service, secretarial, cosmetology, etc., in which they have an interest and can earn a decent living?

Then we wouldn't have to dumb down high school classes to the lowest common denominator, and could actually teach students who want an academic education. What does no child left behind mean. If a student want put out the effort regardless of the motivational attempts of endless teachers, Sunday School teachers, etc., what do we do. Put a gun to their heads and tell them, "You will learn this or else?" Whatever happened to the freedom to choose not to learn? Well, students still choose that alternative, but now when they do so we punish the teachers and schools that are trying to teach them. So, we put the gun to the teacher's head and say, "Either this student who refuses to put out any effort learns anyway or else!"

And should those who choose stupidity be allowed to vote. Voting is not a process, but the end of a process, the beginning of which is learning about history and government. If one chooses to begin the process, they should not be inspired, encouraged, or helped (or even allowed?) to vote.

Mhu, what do you think on this. Respectfully interested in your opinion.

flipsidedon

Thanks for your kind response.

I'm coming to the position that persons who vote ought to be given greater input on day-to-day politics. I'm not sure how that would be implemented, but it's a nice idea.

Those who don't vote ought not be allowed to whine or complain about the system or our Nation.

In the education system, as in life, not everyone succeeds. Students must be confronted with failure and the corresponding negative consequences.

In the education system, as in real life, people proceed at different paces. None should be held back because of the others. We each have different skills and areas of intelligence.

Schools could do a better job of identifying those different intelligences and finding the "sweet spot" of each student. Areas of weakness that are considered vital for all students can be approached remedially.

Technology is available, but those who would use it to vet the students are not up to the task.

No more dumbing down. No more lowest common denominator. No more punks, wise asses, and rewards for mediocrity or failure.

Some adults are late bloomers. Some students may not be ready to graduate for various reasons. To make them productive, they can be matched with jobs equalling their achievement and skills. The door to future education should be left open - always.

Some people are useless, uneducable, and disruptive to others. Students, too. I would suggest a thorough analysis of the root causes and, if the situation can be changed, then the kid should be helped to get on a good path. Otherwise, out they go.

There are a lot of teachers who simply are not up to the task. They lack subject matter skills. They don't understand that children of different ages are different people not just little adults. They demand uniformity from a group that is anything but uniform.

With the character limit, I may have created more questions than answers.