How to improve American Education in 2021. (3 Viewers)

[Paul]

The most recent PISA results, from 2015, placed the U.S. an unimpressive 38th out of 71 countries in math and 24th in science. Among the 35 members of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, which sponsors the PISA initiative, the U.S. ranked 30th in math and 19th in science.

U.S. students’ academic achievement still lags that of their peers in many other countries

U.S. students continue to rank near the middle, and behind many other advanced industrial nations, in international math, science and reading assessments.

www.pewresearch.org

My suggestion is rather simple.

1. Study why immigrants from East Asia, India, and Nigeria do well with American education. Apply that insight to other groups (if possible).
2. Manage public schools as if though they were private schools with uniforms and discipline.
3. Create high end special schools for those that are truly disenfranchised.
4. Create a force of social workers to treat family dysfunction with regards to education.
5. Reduce the curriculum to the simple basics and repeat that on a yearly basis.
6. At about 10th grade divide college bound students away from non-college bound.
7. Provide solid basic education and trade training for non-college bound kids. There is no point in offering free college to these kids.

 

[MT15]

They know that, but theirs's is a new religion so they don't play well with other religions yet. It is much more fun to smile as you type a zinger of a passive aggressive post against the 'old' religions.

This is kinda ironic, don’t you think? (Callback to an old school song)

 

[samiam5211]

World would be better off without it, imo. Although predominantly a wholly different topic, if we never had religion it's interesting to think how the void would potentially be filled with other intellectual pursuits... like math! The two dovetail somewhat when it comes to a search for meaning/understanding the world/universe. No doubt Ted Kennedy was a liberal but then you have Amy COMMIE (I love that one) Barrett who is basically Paul Bettany from the Da Vinci Code.

I’m really not sure we could have organized society on the scale we did without something similar to the concept of religion, but I do think it could have been done better.

China is the closest example I can think of as an example of a durable civilization that isn’t based on religion, but I would categorize confucianism in the same bucket of philosophies as religion with Confucius as the prophet.

I do think that humans are in the Patrice as of phasing out religion,

 

[Paul]

I’m really not sure we could have organized society on the scale we did without something similar to the concept of religion, but I do think it could have been done better.

China is the closest example I can think of as an example of a durable civilization that isn’t based on religion, but I would categorize confucianism in the same bucket of philosophies as religion with Confucius as the prophet.

I do think that humans are in the Patrice as of phasing out religion,

Excellent post!
I agree in that humans are phasing out religion based on a deity. This will be replaced with religion based on cultural or political philosophies. Nietzsche predicted all the mayhem and murderous chaos of the 20th century when he proclaimed God was dead.

God is dead. God remains dead. And we have killed him. How shall we comfort ourselves, the murderers of all murderers? What was holiest and mightiest of all that the world has yet owned has bled to death under our knives: who will wipe this blood off us? What water is there for us to clean ourselves? What festivals of atonement, what sacred games shall we have to invent? Is not the greatness of this deed too great for us? Must we ourselves not become gods simply to appear worthy of it?

People on the extremes of the political spectrum are already religious and intolerant of others.

 

[Optimus Prime]

Stop tying school funding with property taxes and create a more level playing field

Smaller classes - 30-40 students per teacher is ridiculous

Stop teaching just to pass a test and teach to learn and retain the information

Bring back arts, music, afterschool activities

Studies have said start the school day later - too many students aren't getting enough sleep

As a student I would have hated this but some have suggested getting rid of summer vacation - maybe switch to 3 months on - one month off

Pay teachers more - higher pay will attract more people

It used to be if a student was in trouble at school the parents sided with the school - not it's often the kid's side no matter what

"How dare you fail my kid on this test?!"

"Because 2+2 is NOT 22"

"That's your fault for not teaching him better!"

 

[Paul]

Stop tying school funding with property taxes and create a more level playing field

I have to disagree here. The concept of throwing more money at the problem has not worked. Spending has gone up and results remain poor.

I would simply operate pubic schools as if though they were private schools with uniforms and much more discipline.
I would expulse the bad students and concentrate on good students. Saving some is better than saving none.

 

[Farb]

Stop tying school funding with property taxes and create a more level playing field

Smaller classes - 30-40 students per teacher is ridiculous

Stop teaching just to pass a test and teach to learn and retain the information

Bring back arts, music, afterschool activities

Studies have said start the school day later - too many students aren't getting enough sleep

As a student I would have hated this but some have suggested getting rid of summer vacation - maybe switch to 3 months on - one month off

Pay teachers more - higher pay will attract more people

It used to be if a student was in trouble at school the parents sided with the school - not it's often the kid's side no matter what

"How dare you fail my kid on this test?!"

"Because 2+2 is NOT 22"

"That's your fault for not teaching him better!"

I agree with most everything here!
I would also like to see shop, home economics, and firearm electives (bb guns maybe but just to teach basic fire arm safety)

Some issues I have in regards to starting the day later for students...I am worried what that will do to parents that work? I am alway against leaving your child with the government in general. Parents that have to work will require assistance and that, in todays society, will have to come from the state so that mean more spending. I get that a lot of peeple are working from home recently, but I hope that is not the new normal, though I think I am wrong.

You nailed the last part!! I agree 100%. Parents need to let their kids fail and fail a lot, that is how you learn to work hard and make good decisions all the while promoting self accountability.

 

[brandon]

firearm electives

Sounds like a fantastic way to ensure our school shooters are the most effective they can be.

 

[CoolBrees]

@Farb

other than the firearm training, I’m good.

I would add to your mention of shop to include all kinds of vocational education. My high school offered to take kids by bus to the local CC where they learned to be an electrician, plumber, etc.

Which, by the way, we need more of than anything else. We need electricians and welders and other skilled labor because we have massive shortages. This is because Unions were busted and apprenticeship programs that they gave are gone now too.

Right now in Portland a skilled welder with an orbital cert can earn over $65 an hour straight time. With OT and weekend work they easily clear $150k. We can’t find them to hire them. The bench is empty at the hall. Same with electricians.

 

[Farb]

@Farb

other than the firearm training, I’m good.

I would add to your mention of shop to include all kinds of vocational education. My high school offered to take kids by bus to the local CC where they learned to be an electrician, plumber, etc.

Which, by the way, we need more of than anything else. We need electricians and welders and other skilled labor because we have massive shortages. This is because Unions were busted and apprenticeship programs that they gave are gone now too.

Right now in Portland a skilled welder with an orbital cert can earn over $65 an hour straight time. With OT and weekend work they easily clear $150k. We can’t find them to hire them. The bench is empty at the hall. Same with electricians.

Yall, take note, @CoolBrees and I actually agree on this!

 

[Paul]

Right now in Portland a skilled welder with an orbital cert can earn over $65 an hour straight time. With OT and weekend work they easily clear $150k. We can’t find them to hire them. The bench is empty at the hall. Same with electricians.

That is because the left told all those kids to go to college and study liberal arts. They now owe a 100K in tuition loans and are unemployed collecting Covid-19 checks for not working.

 

[MT15]

I wouldn’t have a problem with an elective firearm safety class. Lord knows we could use some safety awareness with the prevalence of weapons around.

 

[MT15]

That is because the left told all those kids to go to college and study liberal arts. They now owe a 100K in tuition loans and are unemployed collecting Covid-19 checks for not working.

Respectfully, just zip it. “the left” did no such thing. “The left” doesnt have meetings and they don’t have worship sessions. You have a lot of ridiculous ideas and this thread is going pretty good, so your attempts to push blame and divide people are not welcome.

 

[JRad]

I wouldn’t have a problem with an elective firearm safety class. Lord knows we could use some safety awareness with the prevalence of weapons around.

Different thread, but I think this should be a requirement to own a firearm - I still stick to some of the lessons learned in mine, and that was in the late 90s/early 00s.

As far as Catholic School goes - I spent K-8 at one, plus a year of HS. Religion is not an optional thing, you are there to learn and integrate into Catholicism. Daily religion class, mandatory church attendance, mandatory prayer. I was only one of two unbaptized students in my entire time in K-8, so while parents may send children to Catholic school for a “better” education, it’s largely also for the religious part in my experience. I left 8th grade thinking premarital sex, drinking, drugs, etc were just the worst thing you could ever do (so I hope you abortion is murder people are following all the teachings).

And anecdotal, but of the 4 high schools I attended, the Catholic one was the easiest.

 

[Paul]

And anecdotal, but of the 4 high schools I attended, the Catholic one was the easiest.

YOUR ANECDOTE IS AN ANECDOTE.

Catholic school students perform higher on standardized tests than their public school counterparts. In fact, a Harvard University study found that private schools came out ahead of public schools in 11 out of 12 comparisons of students.

Catholic schools have rigorous programs that revolve around self-discipline. They emphasize homework and study, leading students to have very effective writing skills. Many minority students have also demonstrated great success in Catholic schools.

Non-Catholic students are being enrolled in Catholic schools more frequently. One in five students do not identify as Catholic. This number is up 11% since 1980.

Catholic schools focus on providing a strong moral and ethical foundation. It will inform critical decisions for their students throughout their lives.

Catholic schools also offer differentiated learning, advanced curriculum, and a religious perspective. Their programs do not revolve around standardized testing, which evaluates for minimum understanding. Rather, they are able to provide enrichment and perspective to students.

Some Catholic institutions have specialized programs in drama, the arts, or music. Their focus is on developing the character and maturity of individual students.

Catholic schools provide a strong religious foundation. A love of learning is expressed differently by each pupil.

In one study, students were questioned eight years after they graduated high school. 62% of Catholic school graduates were found to have graduated from an institute of higher education. This can be contrasted with the 31% of public school students who had earned a bachelor’s degree or higher.

Here Are 5 Ways Catholic Schools Are Different From Public Schools

Some people think Catholic schools are different since they give religious teachings. But there's more to it than that. Click here for 5 ways they're different!

ndasd.org

 

[JRad]

YOUR ANECDOTE IS AN ANECDOTE.

That’s why I said it was anecdotal?

 

[Paul]

That’s why I said it was anecdotal?

You must have gone to school in the 1950s. These days Catholic schools have a lot of non-Catholic kids and they do not proselytize in that manner anymore.
BTW, most of the great universities of the world were or are Christian. Harvard started as a divinity school.

 

[JRad]

You must have gone to school in the 1950s. These days Catholic schools have a lot of non-Catholic kids and they do not proselytize in that manner anymore.
BTW, most of the great universities of the world were or are Christian. Harvard started as a divinity school.

Thank you for explaining my first hand experience to me. I really needed that correction.

 

[MT15]

Paul gonna Paul. He said to me that he was sure I had never been actually in a Catholic Church, when my daughter was married in one.