Gore in '04?

[fishamaphone]

OK, this might fit better in the rant/rave section, but Sean wanted something more interesting, so I'll try to make it more political in nature. My title's a bit misleading, let me explain.

I've had problems with science classes during my high school career, and because of this, I'm forced to take 2 sciences my senior year(luckily, I already have 4 maths, so I can simply skip one of those). One of these classes is Earth/Space Science, and I swear to you, I know more about the subject than my teacher. He doesn't even know how to teach information! His idea of a class lecture is reading the text out loud during class! Then he makes sure the people most involved speak the least English! Wow, he's bright. Just to take the point further, I got a question wrong on one of his tests: I had answered it the exact opposite of the right answer, then convinced him my answer was just as accurate, and got full points for it.

Anyway, somehow one day we got to talking about the FTAA(I didn't bring it up), and he goes on about whatever the hell he wants, and somehow we get to how crappy a job Bush is doing. It really surprized me to find out the guy was liberal... he'd been a businessman before. Anyway, he regretted that Bush would probably win the 2004 election because, and I quote, "Gore doesn't have a chance."

So I go up to him afterward and I mention that there are about a dozen Democrats running, 4 that actually have a good shot at getting the nomination, and none of them are Gore, and that he in fact has made official announcements stating he won't run. To this, he responds "well of course Gore has said he won't run. He can't!" completely ignoring Dean, Kerry, Lieberman, and Clark(that last name escaped me at the time, though... almost as bad as forgetting the word "saturated").

So, in his own way, I think my science teacher explained why he was right. Sad as it is, there are people out there as stupid as him in positions of relative power. I think there are enough people out there who will litterally believe anything, and with the Democrats still mostly too scared to talk, the only ones speaking are the conservatives.

There. I tied it in... somehow... so, why do you think people are idiots, and what can we do about it?

[Sean]

Good post, but I think very little can be done. This nation is one of control. The dumber the consumer/worker, the more satisfied they'll be. We're a corporate culture, and it's going to be hard to become anything else in my opinion.

I suppose it's best to get out there and help. I do little things like dean bumper stickers on my car, and donating a little cash.

[Impenitent]

why are people idiots? because they are...

what can we do about it? herd them like cattle and put them to work...

[Aequo]

Yes, but these idiots are educating future generations. If teachers had to be periodically tested, and the salary raised so more intelligent people would want to do it, it might alleviate the problem. As it stands, teaching (most subjects) is a job a retard can pull -- I know from experience.

[nature of reality]

the reason why teachers are retards is because it is a state funded instition.
They get there money by force (taxes) rather then by trading values, naturally they do a shitty job.
With no rewards for excellence, it attracts medicrity.

The solution?

Privatize it all.

[fishamaphone]

Nature: here's where I pull the rug from under you.

I attend a private school.

Privitizing isn't the solution to everything...

[nature of reality]

heres where i pull the rug out from you...


You also attending a public school. Or at least paying for one at the same time. Think of the quality education you could be getting if you didn't have to "attend" two schools at once?

[fishamaphone]

Can you explain how I'm attending a public school, please? That's kinda eluding me at the moment, but there's probably some pseudo-connection, such as the acredidation process... can't go on if I don't know what you're talking about.

[nature of reality]

taxes. your paying for a seat in a public school

[fishamaphone]

So long as the money's being put to good use, I really don't mind. I'm one less head they have to keep track of, which means the public school system can be just a teensy bit more effective.

Regardless, that's ignoring the point: I'm not involved with any government run facility when it comes to education at this point, and I still get stupid teachers.

Sorry if I'm coming off attacking... pissed off at the teacher, not you.

[G. Adams]

I was wondering how people get jobs as teachers in the US? In the UK they have to have a degree in teaching plus its standard to have a degree in their specialist subject (seperate, they arn't combined courses), unless they have particular experience in something, like drama teachers from the royal shakespeare company etc

[fishamaphone]

Generally, there are supposed to be certain standards, but there's a teacher shortage, so a lot of them are being ignored. That's the main problem.

Different teacher told us in class that "pseudo" meant "foot"

[nature of reality]

he was refering to clams:)

EDIT:

Because your private school has to lower its standards to lower its admission to become competitive with teh public schools, who get there money automatically.


In other words, since every one of their consumers were already FORCED to buy a education and thus have less money (and less ambition) to buy private one, they have to substationally cut costs and lower there costs of admission to get any sort of revenue at all. Thus you get stupid teachers.

[fishamaphone]

No, *she* was reffering to an ameoba. The word was "pseudopodium," or a little foot that comes out of a cell to ingest food. She told us, "It's like a little foot, just remember the 'pseudo' means 'foot.'" I didn't want to bother mentioning that pseudiatrists don't treat athlete's foot... or that "pod" was right there in the word as well.

And you're using emotional generalizations to support your argument, similar to the "get your hands off my God" that was heard as a statue of the Ten Commandments was removied from an Alabama courthouse. My taxes don't go to the school system. My taxes go to a general pool, where it then turns into the Peoples' money, and the government decides how that money would be best spent to serve the Peoples' interest.

Regardless, the answer isn't to privitize, it's simply to expand. If schools could create communities of like-thinking people, instead of throwing everyone together and letting them set up a heirarchy, you'd get a much more positive result. That's why I advocate the idea of magnetizing the public school system, meaning all secondary schools are specialized, and are allowed freedoms to teach in unorthodox ways(within reason). Just remember, you can specialize in generality, as well.

[nature of reality]

"
And you're using emotional generalizations to support your argument, similar to the "get your hands off my God" that was heard as a statue of the Ten Commandments was removied from an Alabama courthouse"


Where did i make such arguement? I showed a clear and real correlation as to why your private school's teachers sucked.


"My taxes don't go to the school system. My taxes go to a general pool, where it then turns into the Peoples' money, and the government decides how that money would be best spent to serve the Peoples' interest"

Blah blah blah. When i get pickpocketed, my money doesn't go to the pickpocket. it first goes into a general fund to be redistributed to various wants of the pickpocket.

You agreed that you paid for two seats earlier as well. Don't try back track bullshit mixed in with dogmatic spewage.

"Regardless, the answer isn't to privitize, it's simply to expand. If schools could create communities of like-thinking people, instead of throwing everyone together and letting them set up a heirarchy, you'd get a much more positive result. That's why I advocate the idea of magnetizing the public school system, meaning all secondary schools are specialized, and are allowed freedoms to teach in unorthodox ways(within reason). Just remember, you can specialize in generality, as well. "


As long as those teachers make there money through force and not by offering values, they will fools and idiots.

[castille]

Teachers who don't do their job properly should be fired.

Simple as that. Add in a bit of competition and they'll do well.

People perform poorly without competition (even the USSR used competition to stimulate its workers - you do it well or you die).

Thus without competition, there is no motivation to do things well. "Hey Science teacher is a loser and a dumbass, so why do I have to be smart to be a teacher?"

[fishamaphone]

</span><blockquote><span class="smallfont">Quote:</span><hr size="1" />Originally Posted by (nature of reality,)
"
And you're using emotional generalizations to support your argument, similar to the "get your hands off my God" that was heard as a statue of the Ten Commandments was removied from an Alabama courthouse"


Where did i make such arguement? I showed a clear and real correlation as to why your private school's teachers sucked.


"My taxes don't go to the school system. My taxes go to a general pool, where it then turns into the Peoples' money, and the government decides how that money would be best spent to serve the Peoples' interest"

Blah blah blah. When i get pickpocketed, my money doesn't go to the pickpocket. it first goes into a general fund to be redistributed to various wants of the pickpocket.

You agreed that you paid for two seats earlier as well. Don't try back track bullshit mixed in with dogmatic spewage.

"Regardless, the answer isn't to privitize, it's simply to expand. If schools could create communities of like-thinking people, instead of throwing everyone together and letting them set up a heirarchy, you'd get a much more positive result. That's why I advocate the idea of magnetizing the public school system, meaning all secondary schools are specialized, and are allowed freedoms to teach in unorthodox ways(within reason). Just remember, you can specialize in generality, as well. "


As long as those teachers make there money through force and not by offering values, they will fools and idiots.<hr size="1" /></blockquote><span class='postcolor'>

Page switching sucks ass. A lot.

"Where did i make such arguement?"

It sounded like you were using the "it's my money, and I don't want it spent on other people" argument. If you weren't I apologize.

The pickpocket's "earnings" go solely to himself, and he never considers anyone, especially the one he stole it from. When the government collects taxes, they supply services to the people they took the taxes from. True, a portion goes to the government itself in the form of salaries, but the government never truly makes a profit from taxation(the way it's utilized now).

I was giving a different argument before. That one assumed you were talking on the singular level, and as such assumed your scenario was correct. This one realizes you were talking on the general level and argues that point.

Teaching isn't a measurable thing. You can't pay one teacher more if they're better, all you can do is let people go once they prove their uselessness, or not hire them in the first place. For the most part, teachers have to see their own reward in the students' successes. That's why it should be more rewarding to teach in an environment where all the students have the same goals. Even if the teachers aren't motivated, the students will be, and have a better chance at doing things on their own.