Conserving, celebrating, and contributing to the excellence that is Western Civilization.
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Happy Birthday America!! Sorry About That.
Jay Leno asks basic questions about American history of people on the street, and demonstrates that modern teachers are a greater threat to the US than even BarryO.
Fay...in my travels in foreign lands, as well as meeting many European skiers, by the time I was 40 the foreigners were hands down no question about it better informed on American history and American values generally, than any of the youngsters here that I can recall.
That video doesn't surprise me at all, but it does discourage me.
I cannot imagine how one could even begin even in the trade of "Rigging" without some fundamental knowledge of math and physics and how vectors effect lift capacities of cables and such.
When we don't know where we came from or how to get where we're going, or able to explain either, we're in trouble.
And given today's assumptions about what is important and what is not, I don't know of an answer either. It is scary.
One of my fantasies if I were to win a huge lottery is to found a school that teaches those things that need to be taught: math, science, good literature, history, values. I am certainly no expert on many of those things, but I still appreciate them.
I may have forgotten much, but the knowledge is still amongst the cobwebs of my mind and helps shape my attitudes.
Matt, we were talking about this last night, and Noah googled his old high school. I'm happy to report that they're STILL teaching Latin, as well as several other languages. A glimmer of hope?
We've had the same fantasy about using lottery money to fund an A+ school. Sigh.
RAdioMattM said: "I may have forgotten much, but the knowledge is still amongst the cobwebs of my mind and helps shape my attitudes."
Possibly unintentionally, you hit smack on the sorest point I have with our education system as it is today. Around 1955 or so, here, the school officials decided not everyone needed advanced courses of any kind and they delineated students in to "college prep" or "vocational"...all the while having no clue what "vocational" really requires.
The main thing is simply this: All students should be exposed to the same curriculum and courses. All of them. No, some may not get all A's, and more will struggle to pass. But they are exposed to knowledge and they will retain some or all of it....even in the deep "cobwebs of their minds"....as you put it. The basis is there, the knowledge is there, and it will influence your thinking down the road...even if you do not realize it.
This over fascination with "self esteem" as an entitlement is crippling us. You gain no real esteem by having the world shaped to fit your deficiencies. Little Johnny or Suzie or Kwame or LaQuisha is not "entitled" to "A's" unless they earn them....just as later on in life you are not entitled to a paycheck (usually?) unless you earn it.
But you could just tell that they all had great self-esteem
ReplyDeleteAridog touched on this in the "Brain Drain" thread, and this video highlights what he was saying.
ReplyDeleteGrandpa knew his history, while the two younger generations were clueless. I'll bet Grandpa could smoke the young 'uns at math and science, too.
It's a sad state of affairs.
Grandpa is a cool dude.
ReplyDeleteI must admit that I said "One if by land, two if by sea" to the question about Paul Revere -- but I think that is close enough.
America got its independence in 1922???
Sheesh, even we learned all that in BRITAIN, when I went to school.
ReplyDeleteFay...in my travels in foreign lands, as well as meeting many European skiers, by the time I was 40 the foreigners were hands down no question about it better informed on American history and American values generally, than any of the youngsters here that I can recall.
ReplyDeleteThat video doesn't surprise me at all, but it does discourage me.
I cannot imagine how one could even begin even in the trade of "Rigging" without some fundamental knowledge of math and physics and how vectors effect lift capacities of cables and such.
When we don't know where we came from or how to get where we're going, or able to explain either, we're in trouble.
And given today's assumptions about what is important and what is not, I don't know of an answer either. It is scary.
One of my fantasies if I were to win a huge lottery is to found a school that teaches those things that need to be taught: math, science, good literature, history, values. I am certainly no expert on many of those things, but I still appreciate them.
ReplyDeleteI may have forgotten much, but the knowledge is still amongst the cobwebs of my mind and helps shape my attitudes.
Matt, we were talking about this last night, and Noah googled his old high school. I'm happy to report that they're STILL teaching Latin, as well as several other languages. A glimmer of hope?
ReplyDeleteWe've had the same fantasy about using lottery money to fund an A+ school. Sigh.
I agree, Aridog. I was watching the video with Matt and I just kept saying to him, "these people can't be that stupid."
ReplyDeleteHow can you grow up here and not know these things? WTF do they teach them in school anyway.
RAdioMattM said: "I may have forgotten much, but the knowledge is still amongst the cobwebs of my mind and helps shape my attitudes."
ReplyDeletePossibly unintentionally, you hit smack on the sorest point I have with our education system as it is today. Around 1955 or so, here, the school officials decided not everyone needed advanced courses of any kind and they delineated students in to "college prep" or "vocational"...all the while having no clue what "vocational" really requires.
The main thing is simply this: All students should be exposed to the same curriculum and courses. All of them. No, some may not get all A's, and more will struggle to pass. But they are exposed to knowledge and they will retain some or all of it....even in the deep "cobwebs of their minds"....as you put it. The basis is there, the knowledge is there, and it will influence your thinking down the road...even if you do not realize it.
This over fascination with "self esteem" as an entitlement is crippling us. You gain no real esteem by having the world shaped to fit your deficiencies. Little Johnny or Suzie or Kwame or LaQuisha is not "entitled" to "A's" unless they earn them....just as later on in life you are not entitled to a paycheck (usually?) unless you earn it.
We've got it bass akwards in our system today.