Education: Did you know 2.0

[alphatarget1]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...LYDm2U&feature=related

How is our education system preparing our next generation for the challenges of the 21st century?

I have spoken to many foreign graduate students about this and the consensus is that a LOT of American kids just aren't that smart. They were dumbed down, taught to use calculators, have no problem solving skills. Seeing the state our education system today I fear for the future of this country and the next generation.

Conservatives argue over stupid crap like evolution, while liberals are out telling kids how special they are. Newsflash: you pretty much mean nothing in the global economy.

 

[Sacrilege]

Don't worry, professors like Henry Gates have been teaching the most important lesson of all: blame Whitey first! With that life philosophy, you can achieve great things not just in the US but worldwide.

 

[blackangst1]

Having done extensive traveling (13 countries) I can tell you that American kids have a "I deserve it because Im American" mentality. When I go to places like Peru...or Manila...or Taiwan and see kids there...how hard they try...how inventive they are...its eye opening. Kids (and many adults too) here think if they cant do it for themselves then they deserve for someone else to do it for them. Maybe its rough, but the majority of the world lives by the rule that if you dont help yourself, youre fucked. In the US, its becoming more of If you dont help yourself, dont worry, the government has a program for that, because we are all equal. We're pretty much the only country that follows that rule. As a result, we are lazy.

 

[nageov3t]

a lot of that video seems either bunk or pointless.

just to address the zomg foreign grad student thing, though, you're comparing the upper echelon of foreign universities against average/below-average american students. there are dumbasses abroad too, they just stay there (like the US dumbasses stay here).

 

[nageov3t]

Originally posted by: blackangst1
Having done extensive traveling (13 countries) I can tell you that American kids have a "I deserve it because Im American" mentality. When I go to places like Peru...or Manila...or Taiwan and see kids there...how hard they try...how inventive they are...its eye opening. Kids (and many adults too) here think if they cant do it for themselves then they deserve for someone else to do it for them. Maybe its rough, but the majority of the world lives by the rule that if you dont help yourself, youre fucked. In the US, its becoming more of If you dont help yourself, dont worry, the government has a program for that, because we are all equal. We're pretty much the only country that follows that rule. As a result, we are lazy.

um, that's like the entire western world, dude.

 

[alphatarget1]

Originally posted by: loki8481
a lot of that video seems either bunk or pointless.

just to address the zomg foreign grad student thing, though, you're comparing the upper echelon of foreign universities against average/below-average american students. there are dumbasses abroad too, they just stay there (like the US dumbasses stay here).

I would say percentage wise they still have more smart people than we do, just because they have a larger population. So the point remains: how do we better prepare our next generation for the challenges of the 21st century?

 

[alphatarget1]

Originally posted by: blackangst1
Having done extensive traveling (13 countries) I can tell you that American kids have a "I deserve it because Im American" mentality. When I go to places like Peru...or Manila...or Taiwan and see kids there...how hard they try...how inventive they are...its eye opening. Kids (and many adults too) here think if they cant do it for themselves then they deserve for someone else to do it for them. Maybe its rough, but the majority of the world lives by the rule that if you dont help yourself, youre fucked. In the US, its becoming more of If you dont help yourself, dont worry, the government has a program for that, because we are all equal. We're pretty much the only country that follows that rule. As a result, we are lazy.

I wholeheartedly agree.

 

[alphatarget1]

Originally posted by: loki8481

Originally posted by: blackangst1
Having done extensive traveling (13 countries) I can tell you that American kids have a "I deserve it because Im American" mentality. When I go to places like Peru...or Manila...or Taiwan and see kids there...how hard they try...how inventive they are...its eye opening. Kids (and many adults too) here think if they cant do it for themselves then they deserve for someone else to do it for them. Maybe its rough, but the majority of the world lives by the rule that if you dont help yourself, youre fucked. In the US, its becoming more of If you dont help yourself, dont worry, the government has a program for that, because we are all equal. We're pretty much the only country that follows that rule. As a result, we are lazy.

um, that's like the entire western world, dude.

Not to the extent of the US but yes... It was similar in Germany (lived there).

 

[alphatarget1]

Originally posted by: Sacrilege
Don't worry, professors like Henry Gates have been teaching the most important lesson of all: blame Whitey first! With that life philosophy, you can achieve great things not just in the US but worldwide.

Is it really necessary to inject race into this discussion?

 

[daveymark]

Originally posted by: alphatarget1

Originally posted by: Sacrilege
Don't worry, professors like Henry Gates have been teaching the most important lesson of all: blame Whitey first! With that life philosophy, you can achieve great things not just in the US but worldwide.

Is it really necessary to inject race into this discussion?

I knew it was going to happen as soon as I saw the thread, because Gates is an educator, and the topic is education. While it does inject race into the discussion, it has a valid place in the discussion IMO. Is that really what the professor teaches? to blame whitey? I find it hard to believe, but if it's true, that might be an educational issue which needs addressing.

How about racial quotas or affirmative action in higher learning institutions? Should those be addressed, or is that just injecting race into the discussion? If the smartest aren't getting accepted because they are not a particular race, wouldn't that make sense that the statistics are showing U.S. students getting dumber?

 

[blackangst1]

Originally posted by: loki8481

Originally posted by: blackangst1
Having done extensive traveling (13 countries) I can tell you that American kids have a "I deserve it because Im American" mentality. When I go to places like Peru...or Manila...or Taiwan and see kids there...how hard they try...how inventive they are...its eye opening. Kids (and many adults too) here think if they cant do it for themselves then they deserve for someone else to do it for them. Maybe its rough, but the majority of the world lives by the rule that if you dont help yourself, youre fucked. In the US, its becoming more of If you dont help yourself, dont worry, the government has a program for that, because we are all equal. We're pretty much the only country that follows that rule. As a result, we are lazy.

um, that's like the entire western world, dude.

Name one other country that bails out its citizens to the extent we do. Including corporations.

 

[babylon5]

USA can corner the market in cheap manual labor as other countries have too much education

 

[Gonad the Barbarian]

Being smart isn't cool in America. Kids want to be cool, so they stay dumb and make fun of smart people. Then they grow up, stomp around and shout "USA, NUMBER 1, WHOOO!!!" and make fun of every other country because they aren't cool either. These people probably also own more than one Toby Keith CD.

 

[blackangst1]

Originally posted by: Gonad the Barbarian
Being smart isn't cool in America. Kids want to be cool, so they stay dumb and make fun of smart people. Then they grow up, stomp around and shout "USA, NUMBER 1, WHOOO!!!" and make fun of every other country because they aren't cool either. These people probably also own more than one Toby Keith CD.

Its not just about being smart. Its about being independent. Figuring out how to solve problems on your own. Something this country knows nothing about.

 

[Gonad the Barbarian]

Originally posted by: blackangst1

Originally posted by: Gonad the Barbarian
Being smart isn't cool in America. Kids want to be cool, so they stay dumb and make fun of smart people. Then they grow up, stomp around and shout "USA, NUMBER 1, WHOOO!!!" and make fun of every other country because they aren't cool either. These people probably also own more than one Toby Keith CD.

Its not just about being smart. Its about being independent. Figuring out how to solve problems on your own. Something this country knows nothing about.

The USA is the most independent country in the world! WHOOO!!!

 

[sandorski]

Originally posted by: blackangst1

Originally posted by: loki8481

Originally posted by: blackangst1
Having done extensive traveling (13 countries) I can tell you that American kids have a "I deserve it because Im American" mentality. When I go to places like Peru...or Manila...or Taiwan and see kids there...how hard they try...how inventive they are...its eye opening. Kids (and many adults too) here think if they cant do it for themselves then they deserve for someone else to do it for them. Maybe its rough, but the majority of the world lives by the rule that if you dont help yourself, youre fucked. In the US, its becoming more of If you dont help yourself, dont worry, the government has a program for that, because we are all equal. We're pretty much the only country that follows that rule. As a result, we are lazy.

um, that's like the entire western world, dude.

Name one other country that bails out its citizens to the extent we do. Including corporations.

They do it, they just do it differently. Smarter I'd say. The US is just way too Reactionary, waiting until something tragic happens before doing anything. Most of the rest of the West is more Longterm looking, avoiding Tragic situations rather than waiting for them to happen.

There's also a fundamental difference in Values between them. Wealth and the Wealthy are respected everywhere, but the US has taken that respect to levels far beyond what the rest of the West(for the most part)has. It's nearly a Religion in the US that is practised from the Poorest to the Wealthiest. In much of Europe there is far more focus on People rather than Wealth, which has created systems where the Average person enjoys Life in such a way that is foreign to most Americans.

You don't need to look at kids to see a sense of entitlement. Just read the forums and you can see it constantly. Whether it's HealthCare and people opposed because their's is great or Auto Efficiency and people whining about their "Freedom" to buy Big-Assed-Impractical-Gas-Guzzler. It's here, right under your nose.

 

[blackangst1]

Originally posted by: sandorski

Originally posted by: blackangst1

Originally posted by: loki8481

Originally posted by: blackangst1
Having done extensive traveling (13 countries) I can tell you that American kids have a "I deserve it because Im American" mentality. When I go to places like Peru...or Manila...or Taiwan and see kids there...how hard they try...how inventive they are...its eye opening. Kids (and many adults too) here think if they cant do it for themselves then they deserve for someone else to do it for them. Maybe its rough, but the majority of the world lives by the rule that if you dont help yourself, youre fucked. In the US, its becoming more of If you dont help yourself, dont worry, the government has a program for that, because we are all equal. We're pretty much the only country that follows that rule. As a result, we are lazy.

um, that's like the entire western world, dude.

Name one other country that bails out its citizens to the extent we do. Including corporations.

They do it, they just do it differently. Smarter I'd say. The US is just way too Reactionary, waiting until something tragic happens before doing anything. Most of the rest of the West is more Longterm looking, avoiding Tragic situations rather than waiting for them to happen.

There's also a fundamental difference in Values between them. Wealth and the Wealthy are respected everywhere, but the US has taken that respect to levels far beyond what the rest of the West(for the most part)has. It's nearly a Religion in the US that is practised from the Poorest to the Wealthiest. In much of Europe there is far more focus on People rather than Wealth, which has created systems where the Average person enjoys Life in such a way that is foreign to most Americans.

You don't need to look at kids to see a sense of entitlement. Just read the forums and you can see it constantly. Whether it's HealthCare and people opposed because their's is great or Auto Efficiency and people whining about their "Freedom" to buy Big-Assed-Impractical-Gas-Guzzler. It's here, right under your nose.

I agree, but take exception to your middle paragraph. Without going into a huge story telling post, I'll just say youre wrong. Wealth/wealthy and the lifestyles surrounding it are pretty much the same everywhere.

 

[sandorski]

Originally posted by: blackangst1

Originally posted by: sandorski

Originally posted by: blackangst1

Originally posted by: loki8481

Originally posted by: blackangst1
Having done extensive traveling (13 countries) I can tell you that American kids have a "I deserve it because Im American" mentality. When I go to places like Peru...or Manila...or Taiwan and see kids there...how hard they try...how inventive they are...its eye opening. Kids (and many adults too) here think if they cant do it for themselves then they deserve for someone else to do it for them. Maybe its rough, but the majority of the world lives by the rule that if you dont help yourself, youre fucked. In the US, its becoming more of If you dont help yourself, dont worry, the government has a program for that, because we are all equal. We're pretty much the only country that follows that rule. As a result, we are lazy.

um, that's like the entire western world, dude.

Name one other country that bails out its citizens to the extent we do. Including corporations.

They do it, they just do it differently. Smarter I'd say. The US is just way too Reactionary, waiting until something tragic happens before doing anything. Most of the rest of the West is more Longterm looking, avoiding Tragic situations rather than waiting for them to happen.

There's also a fundamental difference in Values between them. Wealth and the Wealthy are respected everywhere, but the US has taken that respect to levels far beyond what the rest of the West(for the most part)has. It's nearly a Religion in the US that is practised from the Poorest to the Wealthiest. In much of Europe there is far more focus on People rather than Wealth, which has created systems where the Average person enjoys Life in such a way that is foreign to most Americans.

You don't need to look at kids to see a sense of entitlement. Just read the forums and you can see it constantly. Whether it's HealthCare and people opposed because their's is great or Auto Efficiency and people whining about their "Freedom" to buy Big-Assed-Impractical-Gas-Guzzler. It's here, right under your nose.

I agree, but take exception to your middle paragraph. Without going into a huge story telling post, I'll just say youre wrong. Wealth/wealthy and the lifestyles surrounding it are pretty much the same everywhere.

I don't deny that, it's the Lower/Middle Classes between the US/Europe where the difference lies.

 

[Rockinacoustic]

Originally posted by: Gonad the Barbarian
Being smart isn't cool in America. Kids want to be cool, so they stay dumb and make fun of smart people. Then they grow up, stomp around and shout "USA, NUMBER 1, WHOOO!!!" and make fun of every other country because they aren't cool either. These people probably also own more than one Toby Keith CD.

A Kanye West CD too.

 

[Gonad the Barbarian]

Originally posted by: Rockinacoustic

Originally posted by: Gonad the Barbarian
Being smart isn't cool in America. Kids want to be cool, so they stay dumb and make fun of smart people. Then they grow up, stomp around and shout "USA, NUMBER 1, WHOOO!!!" and make fun of every other country because they aren't cool either. These people probably also own more than one Toby Keith CD.

A Kanye West CD too.

No, those dumb guys land in prison.

 

[miketheidiot]

Originally posted by: blackangst1

Originally posted by: loki8481

Originally posted by: blackangst1
Having done extensive traveling (13 countries) I can tell you that American kids have a "I deserve it because Im American" mentality. When I go to places like Peru...or Manila...or Taiwan and see kids there...how hard they try...how inventive they are...its eye opening. Kids (and many adults too) here think if they cant do it for themselves then they deserve for someone else to do it for them. Maybe its rough, but the majority of the world lives by the rule that if you dont help yourself, youre fucked. In the US, its becoming more of If you dont help yourself, dont worry, the government has a program for that, because we are all equal. We're pretty much the only country that follows that rule. As a result, we are lazy.

um, that's like the entire western world, dude.

Name one other country that bails out its citizens to the extent we do. Including corporations.

the rest of the western world?

Originally posted by: blackangst1


I agree, but take exception to your middle paragraph. Without going into a huge story telling post, I'll just say youre wrong. Wealth/wealthy and the lifestyles surrounding it are pretty much the same everywhere.

the way we do it is pretty much an anglo-american thing

 

[RU482]

I dunno, I've met alot of foreign students that were dumber than a bag of hammers

 

[Engineer]

All I've got to say is when when I sit back and watch the local schools forcefully integrate those that are mentally challenged (autism, etc. to the point that they cannot function at even a 5% level) into the classroom, I just shake my head. It's not "no child left behind", it's "all children held behind to accommodate the one child".

 

[BrownTown]

Well, most of our PUBLIC school system is a piece of shit (definitely here in the south it is), but our private school system is still the best in the world and that is where most of the leaders come from. I guess the fact of life is that its NOT fair, not everyone can be the leader, someone has to be the follower, someone has to flip the burgers etc. I do agree that there is definitely a leafing of entitlement and people being generally lazy, but not everyone is like that. Where I work we do 60 hours the standard work week and everyone is trying to fight to get MORE overtime.

 

[DrPizza]

It's like a game of king of the mountain. Right now, the USA is at the top of the mountain, gloating that we have such a high GDP, etc. We aren't doing as much as we could to stay king of the mountain. Meanwhile, all these other countries are learning to scale that mountain with top of the line climbing gear, while we're standing on the top, letting our gear rust.

I quoted the statistic not too long ago, and now I can't quite remember what it was, but it's something along the lines of "the top 20% of Chinese students are more than ALL of the students in the U.S., and the top 25% of Indian students are more than ALL of the students in the U.S." They're training tons of students in engineering, etc. The sit on our hands people posting here in P&N say "so what, they'll just get shitty jobs over there, because they don't have the need for that many engineers." The answer to that comment: "You're right. They don't have the need... YET." Yet is coming.