We cannot compete with the Chinese and Indian educational systems by mimicking them

This is a fundamental problem with Obama's SOTU comments. Even if we were to exactly copy their techniques, and American Parents copied all the stereotypical "parenting" behaviors we are hearing about, we don't have the numbers. And never will. They can throw away 50% of their kids in poverty and menial labor paths and still have huge numbers.

What we need is a return to the fundamental education that made it possible for America to lead in innovation. This means fewer tests, more encouragement of imagination, taking the path less traveled, taking "unnecessary" classes in history, philosophy, classics, etc.

In short, Helping each student be an individual. And doing the best job we can to bring out that potential in each student, regardless of background.

Tests don't do that. Robo-teaching using "distance learning" and computerized kiosks doesn't do that. Supporting teachers who care about their profession and their students does do it.

Look at this toon:


Think about the sub-context- Why is the room falling apart? Why are only "math" and "science" pictured? Where are we being led?

The room is falling apart because we do not spend enough on infrastructure to maintain buildings or, if you want a symbolic answer, enough to pay for education.

Math and science are pictured, because we already have soft stuffed covered, like sports, religion, and basket weaving.

Is it really the job of schools to teach students to be individuals? My children became individuals without a class or an ap to do that. I'd prefer they learn critical thinking.

Instead of an insane patchwork of local schools under local control, the U.S. should develop a world class curriculum that is the same in every school. We don't have to initiate a Tiger Mom education system.

I agree, maybe that is a better term than "becoming an individual". I tend to think that we all have different optimal ways of thinking. Finding a way to that goal is the hard part.

To critical thinking.

I saw a study where taking a test reinforces better than reading the same thing over and over. Testing is an important part of learning.

Those are not the same thing. Many other countries tests kids to find out what their aptitudes are, and focus them in that way. I think a curriculum that exposes children to a lot of different things so they can find where they do well is better. That could be done with a national curriculum.

Besides, some people will always want to do things that the world thinks they have no aptitude for.

As a nation, we do need to educate more scientists and engineers. We could do a much better job with that if we had basic standards that all schools must meet rather than follow the mantra of local control.

There is a group that thinks the world is a computer program that children play with, or learn from, that is more school subset of that doctrine.

From that some people actually think they have to outsmart some external child that is playing a game that is our existence.

Really fascinating doctrine, and leads to many ideas.

It also can be said to be a metaphor for the elite and the rest of the people and how they can be led or tricked to go against what is best for them and most people by someone elses view of what is best.



I guess the problem I had with literal interpretation of religion, is I saw many people trying to fit scripture into their views of what it should mean to match their view, making it about there view anyways. And if it is going to be about their view of things, they should not say some scripture is there point that they stand on, when it could mean many things, and they choose to see it some way based on their heart and mind anyways.


And I am still due beer and travel money, and any 5th grader can see that.

...or at least the highly pyramidal, teach-the-best-and-shoot-the-rest system we originally had in from the days of Horace Mann down to within living memory.