Pineapple Princess

Ooooh that makes me so mad! I graduated in May from homeschool with a 4.0 GPA. The problem isn't the kids, too often it's the parents or teachers! When you lower the standards to "accommodate" the one kid in class who can't (or won't) make the grade, what you get is what you put in - nothing.

I'm also a historical re-enactor, so I have spent countless hours studying. When I interact with the spectators (often kids my own age) I'm shocked to hear things like "Abraham Lincoln was the second president" or even worse "the Civil War was more then 200 years ago". That one came from a teacher!

Seriously, someone needs to wake up and tell kids to pay attention! All these fancy electronic gadgets were made by people who spent the time studying and working. When this younger generation becomes the leaders and inventors of tomorrow, we won't be having the advances we have now.

Lisanne

A generation ago, they blamed it on TV.

Face it, some kids don't pay attention when they're being taught. It's true that some schools don't teach the history of the last 50 years, but many schools do and there's still a group of kids that don't absorb their lessons.

FWIW, I grew up in the Viet Nam (remember when we spelled it that way instead of Vietnam, which is all you see now?) War era, and I didn't know what a POW MIA was until my college years in the late '70s. I'd seen the initials, but no one in my family was involved with the war (except for a cousin who fled to Canada and another one who protested it), so it just wasn't something we concerned ourselves with. (Oh, and btw, when that cousin headed to Canada, the family didn't talk about him fleeing the draft, but about how he was so bright and yet he'd dropped out of college.)

amma

It is a shame how since Viet Nam, our military does not get the recognition that it deserves... Some adults and children only having only a vague idea of what Memorial and Labor Day's are, except that it is a 3 day weekend signalling the beginning and ending of summer. No clue of either MIA or POW??? That is more than sad or a shame...it is WRONG!!! Not to mention the other military related holidays spread throughout the year. A disrespect to all who served, are serving or will be....

Years ago it was tv...kids talked constantly on the phone and watched too much tv. It has evolved into all forms of electronics and computers... It is up to the parents to take these away, make sure the home work is done, their kids are being taught, and to fill in the gaps...
I see too many parents with the attitude that it is the schools responsibility to educate their kids... Well, it used to be the parents job, and the school helped with the 3 R's... I have watched lazy parents churning out even lazier kids, who are now churning out the laziest grandchildren... 3 generations that make me scratch my head and wonder how much worse the next generation will be...

Joan

I'm just glad your DH "educated" that young person.

We can never forget the VietNam Vets or any Vets for that matter.

Oklahoma Suzie

How true. Most of the youth don't have a clue. But some do.

nativetexan

never give anyone dollar bills and change. they can't figure out what you should get back, even with the help of the "manager". sigh!

Emjay

It's called the "dumbing down" of America. I see it all the time and still can't believe it. But it's happening.
Who is responsible? Parents who don't set limits on electronics or who had TV baby sit their kids? Or????

KarenSimon

I read my DH (Vietnam Era) your note. He said, "Been there, done that." Isn't it sad that kids don't get an education any more?

pookie ookie

My grandfather was a combat correspondent and general writer and editor for the military. He was told in the late forties to dumb down his writing. He was writing about sports at the time. How do you dumb down sports writing? You don't. You just say you did.

The majority of people are either ill informed or none too smart. Smile at them kindly, take them by the hand and guide them across the intellectual highway one lane at a time.

Lowering standards does more harm than good.

mcdaniel023

My DH is a HS math teacher (33 years). My son and daughter are both elementary teachers. I can tell you that they are all dedicated and frustrated. The students must pass standardized test to keep funding. So what do they want the teachers to do...teach the test. Hubby says that the students need to learn math. The latest smart move is the administation says give em a caculator and they can figure things out. What about count money, making change, check books, and maybe in the future making quilt patterns???? DH is an outstanding teacher and totally ready to retire.