Wow wow, that is pure Marx. 50 years ago you could be locked up for that comment or maybe even shot. Also 50 years ago your president were critisizing my country for it’s high number of suicidal tendensies and some other crap, the thruth was that he was afraid because my country were a successful mix of capitalism and socialism, and were teaching their inhabitans the thruth, as far as they knew it during that time.

The thruth IS that the section of a soceity that owns a lot of money, power or influence will never give it away without a powerstruggle, bloody (as it is in general) or unbloody (as it was over here, more or less) But it took it’s time. During a period of over two hundred years ordniary workers and poor farmers struggled to break the chains who were placed upon them by rich bourgeois ( the nobles were long gone) and the king. But they let the power go, inch by inch, because they knew that they would lose more money (or maybe their necks) by refusing the people their rights, among them, the right for education. Now, because of a lucky outcome of the last world war AND a education that as far as it goes to my school time were at the cutting edge, my country (taking it’s size in calculation) is one of Europes riches, and with a standard that most american cities would only dream of.

The latest figures I heard when it comes to how many americans were homeless, it was about 10% of your population. That is as far as my calculation abilities goes approx. 25 million people. If you would translate that to my country it would be 800 000 people. If I say that 80 000 is without a adress I guess I’m counting high and that would include most of the people that the local social dep. provide a flat but they refuse to live there of various diffuse reasons.
10% or 1% Which country would you think were the richest?? Or may I be bold enough and ask instead. Which would you think was the most unfair??

Comment by Clif — May 4, 2006 @ 12:05 am

Clearly… :)

Comment by Gregor Samsa — May 3, 2006 @ 2:23 pm

I’m thinking that maybe he’s in the 11% that can’t pick the United States off a map either… Just a hunch :)

In a science class “God did it” has no room. It is not a scientific answer and wholly unacceptable. Period.

It is not about convincing anyone of any “views” -it is about transmitting scientifically sound knowledge.

Maybe you should take a look at yourself and question your actions that caused such a strong reaction from kids of this caliber.

If you had read the post (actually read it, not parse it), you would also understand what the issue is: It was not a class on religion, but the students chose to give a religion-based answer to a science question.

And just because of your smug arrogance and your mock-superiority, you don’t know what the hell you’re talking about – it’s a requirement in the Science curriculum, written in their textbooks, that they be taught Science in Science class and not religion.

You should know what you’re talking about. Otherwise you look like an even bigger fool than we already know you are.

AND I’m sure your straight A honors students are not in the habit of f*cking with their teachers OR showing direspect. Maybe you should take a look at yourself and question your actions that caused such a strong reaction from kids of this caliber.

Comment by Antagonist — May 3, 2006 @ 1:58 pm

Actually, they are. When it comes to religion. It’s why the system has such a huge shortage of Science teachers. Besides, I taught the curriculum. It wasn’t about me. It was about the situation (I was new and took over from another teacher mid-year). The teacher sppon fed them. I didn’t. That was the issue.

Man you are a paranoid ignorant moron. Bet you can’t pick Iraq off the map either.

Just because in your smug arrogance and your mock-superiority, you don’t believe God exists—doesn’t mean you get to convince your religious students of your views.
AND I’m sure your straight A honors students are not in the habit of f*cking with their teachers OR showing direspect. Maybe you should take a look at yourself and question your actions that caused such a strong reaction from kids of this caliber.

Just found out. Thanks! I’ll do my best ;)

I agree more parent involvement is needed. Those statistics really did send a chill down my spine. I could hardly believe them.

I saw some a few years ago about college students who couldn’t pick Iraq off an unmarked map (like 38%), and those who couldn’t pick the United States 11%)! College students who couldn’t pick their own country off a map!

Sometimes I have to wonder if it is a conscious effort by the political, economic elites to keep people ignorant and compliant; ignorance just runs too deep to be mere negligence (mind you, I am not into conspiracy theories).

I didn’t say this earlier because I dislike the conspiracy stuff as well. But Howard Zinn, Noam Chomsky and Gore Vidal all believe that the education system is simply a baby sitting system that provides no actual education. After a year in the system, I have to say, it certainly is plausible that we are kept ignorant and isolated. Especially when they they are presently trying to restrict our internet access, as we speak.

It’s been done in history before. Why not here? Why not now?

Not only people cannot point Iraq in a map, a staggering number believe the universe is 8,000 years old. How is that possible in an industrialised nation? What jobs are these people going to apply for? How is the US supposed to compete successfully in technology & science with emerging powerhouses? It boggles my mind…

Comment by Gregor Samsa — May 3, 2006 @ 12:59 pm

I had a couple of kids harrass me a few weeks back after I told them that ‘God’ was not the correct answer to the question ‘HOW did the solar system form’ on their test, and marked it wrong. It got ugly. The Administration did not stand up to their parents and tried to let me be the scape goat. They learned a very valuable lesson about respect – the hard way. And about who you should not f**k with… Worst part? They were straight A honors students who plan to go to college. One of them thought Amsterdam was a city in Nevada. It’s like we discussed – they memorize information for the test, and then forget it. Nothing get learned except manipulation of the system.

I think we’re witnessing the end of the American Empire, personally. We can’t compete. We’re becoming less and less educated in contrast to the rest of the world, and considering that we don’t care, as a whole, I think it will continue to decline.

I’ll do what I can to help. But in a country of 280 million people, it’s hard to save anything anymore – including yourself :).

So you got the job, eh? You probably said so in another thread, but I missed it. At any rate, congratulations… those kids will be in good hands, I am sure.

I agree more parent involvement is needed. Those statistics really did send a chill down my spine. I could hardly believe them. Sometimes I have to wonder if it is a conscious effort by the political, economic elites to keep people ignorant and compliant; ignorance just runs too deep to be mere negligence (mind you, I am not into conspiracy theories). Not only people cannot point Iraq in a map, a staggering number believe the universe is 8,000 years old. How is that possible in an industrialised nation? What jobs are these people going to apply for? How is the US supposed to compete successfully in technology & science with emerging powerhouses? It boggles my mind…

Comment by Gregor Samsa — May 3, 2006 @ 1:54 am

We’re so geared in the public school system to play parents to these kids that there’s little time left to teach them anything.

Plus, there parents don’t care, so why should they?

Next school year I’ll be teaching architecture. They will learn about the political, geographic and cultural influences. I’ll make sure they can answer these questions about the world. I’m trying to figure out how to do ‘virtual field trips’, which will allow them to semi-experience other cultures and gain an awareness of the world. And because this class is completely void of No Child Left Behind (it’s actually affliated with a local college), I can actually teach them valid and useful, real world information (which was why I got the job). I’ll keep you posted. See if it’s possible, without the constraints of bureacracy, to teach these kids something useful. Because, where I am now, it’s damn near impossible.

We need to get the bureaucrats out of the classrooms, and put a large level of accountability back where it belongs – on the parents. It’s the first 5-6 years of a child’s life that sets their foundation for the rest of it. Until parents realize that it’s their job to teach their child respect, encourage learning and curiosity, and prepare them for the world, those statics will just continue to decline. I would bet the ranch on that.

• One-third of respondents couldn’t pinpoint Louisiana on a map and 48 percent were unable to locate Mississippi.
• Fewer than three in 10 think it important to know the locations of countries in the news and just 14 percent believe speaking another language is a necessary skill.
• Six in 10 could not find Iraq on a map of the Middle East.
Poll: 1/3 of Youths Can’t Find La. on Map

I think it is a reasonably safe bet to say the same percentage don’t know where Iran is located either.

This is why the American public buys into the most haywire and unrealistic schemes the Bush administration proposes: Ignorance simply reigns supreme.

YOU could not help in the defense of your country, so you cower behind the skirt of an IDIOT and YOU call me GAY!

Sorry, but I DO NOT fall for the IDIOTIC ramblings of a FALSE President who cannot lead his d*ck to a toilet to piss in it!

But, as I said, the REPUBLICANS are FIRST to call for war, but the LAST to fight them! If it were not for the majority of sane citizens, then who knows where we’d be! No wonder the GENERALS are revolting against him! They know an IDIOT when they see one, and I know a COWARD when I SPEAK to one!

the general in the photo is a Major General ( two stars ) not a Lt. General ( which would be 3 stars ) – so either this is an old photo ( since promoted ) or his rank is incorrect in the story. either way, he has pull / clout.