<p>
</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/gate/a/2007/10/24/notes102407.DTL[/url]”>http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/gate/a/2007/10/24/notes102407.DTL</a></p>
<p>I think these people are looking at the wrong kids.</p>
<p>The kids I spend my time with are far from this. Maybe it’s the SLC I’m in…maybe it’s my HS…maybe it’s just the kids I hang out with.</p>
<p>But when I look around at my peers, I don’t see ignorance. I see hope for our future. Honestly, there are kids like what you describe in EVERY generation. But they are far from the majority, if you ask me.</p>
<p>There are, unfortunately, communities where the public schools do indeed produce kids with inferior educational preparation. But it isn’t true everywhere.</p>
<p>I think the author of the article was extrapolating from the big-city situation of the people who read his newspaper to other settings where little of what the article says is true.</p>
<p>^Exactly. This is why generalizations are bad things. Because you can’t apply things like this to everyone, everywhere.</p>
<p>It doesn’t describe the kids in my son’s public hs. I’s sure some schools are failing, but not all.</p>
<p>Hey, that’s a harsh generalization! And I’m not even American!</p>
<p>Yes, the article is definitely too generic. The way it’s written, the only way a kid can bee intelligent and successful is if they go to private school and never indulges in television or junk food. That is too generic of a claim.</p>
<p>I consider myself middle class. My children went/are the public school method. My daughter graduated high school with a 3.8gpa. She’s a junior in college and is maintaining a 3.4gpa. She’s the resident advisor in her dorm, (Pays for her room and board). Watches her favorite sitcoms and enjoys "Chips Ahoy"s.</p>
<p>My son admittedly isn’t the big junk food type. But, if my wife makes home made brownies, cookies, cakes, etc… he’s all over them. He is into watching sports on TV, “That 70’s Show”, and a few other things. He normally stays away from the junk food because it’s football season and he has to stay in shape. WHAT, a football player? That means he’s also probably no that good in school. Let’s see. Current GPA is 4.0. Hmmm matter of fact, he’s bee a 4.0gpa since the 6th grade. He’s also in the IB program. (For those that don’t know; think of it like taking AP classes, EXCEPT the whole program is advances and every class is an advanced class. What else; as a senior, he is ranked #1 in his class. Hmm, he kicked butt in the SAT/ACT. I guess that means he’s just doing football to look good on college apps. He’s probably not that good. Well, he’s their starting wide receiver. Starting defensive corner back, and starting place kicker. Leads the league in kicking; #4 in the state, top 10 in scoring, etc… </p>
<p>5 universities/colleges are very interested in my son. Mostly for academics. Sports hasn’t been too much an issue for college until this season is over. He’s already been ACCEPTED to 3 colleges/universities. 2 with full rides and 1 with a 50% scholarship. Damn; imagine if he didn’t eat those pop-tarts or watched “South-Park”,</p>
<p>Oh, and for what it’s worth, I don’t think my 2 kids are “The exception”. Granted, my son is the only kid on the football team who happens to be in the IB program, but in the spring when they play soccer, there are about 4 others. Also, there are probably close to half the football team who maintains at least a solid “B-A” average. We hadn’t had even 1 academic ineligible athlete this football season.</p>
<p>No, too much generalization. But that’s what happens when someone wants to become well known for a theory or hypothesis. They don’t look at the facts scientifically. They generalize and play off of other people’s emotions. Just like the other topic on illegal immigrants causing crime. Oh well, just another idiot trying to become a celebrity.</p>
<ol>
<li>Author is trying to sell more newspapers.</li>
<li>Teacher is suffering from burnout.</li>
<li> They both need to get out of their neighborhood and take a look at suburban public schools and even urban public schools. Ours has a mixed population, below average scores but still manages to send students to HYPSM every year. Not all great education takes place in private schools.</li>
</ol>
<p>And, quelle horreur, both my kids were allowed to watch as much TV as they wanted. They did pretty well in the college admissions sweepstakes and in college.</p>
<p>And marite is being modest. But I say ditto.</p>
<p>Both my kids were the only kids in their grades to get 5’s on the AP Govt. exam. Their explanation? West Wing and only West Wing.</p>
<p>But more to the point, as I’ve said (sorry to repeat myself) I teach at community college. Students are disadvantaged, URM’s, first generation, the works. They are bright and engaged. Writing skills? That sad story has been true for the entire 25 years I’ve been teaching. We’re chipping away at it in our classes. (One of the things I teach is writing.)</p>
<p>In fact, I would say that in the last five years my students have improved. It may be that economic down turns have sent better students to cc, but I think it’s political disaffection has motivated genuine thinking that has a ripple effect into all disciplines.</p>
<p>Our public school did a pretty good job of educating our kids. SAT, ACT and AP scores tell the story. One young woman (not bragging, not my kids) achieved a 5 on all 11 AP’s she took. Of course, she has enormous innate ability, but she must have learned something in her classes as well. She was rejected by Columbia, her first choice, but accepted at Harvard. There are many more stories, but hers is most dramatic.</p>
<p>We need to remember that in the nineteenth century novels were thought to be worthless time wasters. Since our new technologies are here to stay, we need to make friends with them. For instance, I no longer assign a research paper in basic composition. This gives me more time to focus on cognitive tasks, i.e. reasoning, logic, organization, the nature of proof, and the relationship of thought, voice, and language.</p>
<p>Just as calculators raised the level of the calculus course, so can computers and all the raise raise the level of discourse in the Humanities if we let them.</p>
<p>^I completely agree.</p>
<p>My favorite teacher in high school was my 10th and 11th grade English teacher (I had the same teacher for both).</p>
<p>This was not your standard English teacher. In 10th grade when we read Animal Farm, we became a communist classroom. No jewelry or brand names of any kind, we came up with our own “Manifesto”, and at the end of the book the class average was what everyone got. This culminated in a huge walk-out of her class when she inevitably became the dictator that Napoleon became in the book (interestingly enough it wasn’t a real walk-out and the administrators happened to be standing there when we walked out XD).</p>
<p>We returned in eleventh grade, excited to have her again because we had learned so much from her the previous year. On the day that we were to start The Crucible, we entered the room to find it dark and candle-lit, the tables set up like a church, and a large Bible in the front of the class. Someone made a comment which caused the rest of us to laugh, and the teacher yells at us that we are possessed and going to hell (Teacher is not Christian, she says she does not identify with any single religion). </p>
<p>The next meeting (we have block scheduling, so this would have been 2 days later) she pulls me outside (the whole class knew I was a very devout Christian) and asks me for permission to tell the class that I had gone to the admission and complained about her “puritan classroom” and that she was now going to be fired. This ensued in a very “Salem Witch Trial”-ish environment.</p>
<p>Needless to say, we learned more from this teacher in two years than we had learned from others in the past 9. She didn’t teach us how to write a sentence (though she did make sure we knew)…she tought us tone, style, voice, mood…all those things. But more importantly, she tought us about how great literature influences our lives and how to connect with it. She inspired in us a love for books. How many teachers can do that?</p>
<p>I’m now a Teacher’s Aide for that teacher, and I must say she’s become more of a friend and a “mother away from my mother” than a teacher.</p>
<p>And I go to a public school. So I would say that yes, that article is far from the truth.</p>
<p>Oh my.
Firstly, I consider myself smart. I am in no way, shape, or form as intelligent as many of the people on CC. I won’t get a perfect score on my SAT/ACT, and I won’t go to Harvard or Yale, or any other college of the sort. Plus, I wouldn’t want to. I know I’m not perfect, and I wouldn’t want to be. I strive for perfection of course, and FOR ME I don’t want to get that close, it would scare me.
Now, this article bothers me. I have always watched TV and been on the computer. When I was younger I did EVERY SPORT, and still watched TV. I really don’t have any hand-eye coordination though, so I stopped once I got to the real competition level. I am not in excellent shape, but I can run a mile, I’m not overweight, I would consider myself healthy if nothing else. </p>
<p>I also used to love playing Mario when I was 6 or 7 years old. I don’t anymore, but I do play games on-line every once in a while. I don’t think it has hindered my intelligence or damaged me. Sure, I could spend more time outside but I just don’t like it. Other critics may say kids don’t have any imagination because we spend too much time on the computer and not outside playing with sticks and rocks or something, I LOVE to write creative fanfictions of my favorite novels. So are they saying when I was 10-15 and writing this I wasn’t using my creativity and my imagination, not to mention honing my writing style? It would have been better if I was playing tag or making up a game with a stick? I don’t think so, especially since I hope to pursue something later in life related to my LOVE of writing! </p>
<p>I also do indeed know how to construct a sentence. My grammar is not the best, but I try to learn from my mistakes. Even learning Spanish helps me with my English grammar. I also know how to write a paragraph, and use a ruler. I also would like to be able to say I can understand English literature. I can define democracy & agriculture both, with democracy I can also understand the themes in American and British history; and with agriculture I may not be able to identify every species of plant or be an outdoorsy type of person, but I know where to go if I would need to do so. I know how to use my resources, even those such as TV & Internet, or an encyclopedia. As for the reference to “working through complex ideas”, they didn’t specify these so I can’t really go into detail, but let me say that in 9th grade I understood Romeo & Juliet pretty well, and even could translate many of the passages into modern language without the assistance of my teacher.</p>
<p>Now, I am not a fan of the American Educational System. I’ve moved around a lot, and would have appreciated a more uniform system, I do feel like there are subjects I could’ve missed in the gaps, but I am a Junior in High School who has only gotten 2 Bs in her life, both in Algebra I, the rest As, and I seem to be doing okay. </p>
<p>I went to Kindergarten in a Public School, 3rd Grade & half of 4th in the same Public School. Was home-schooled for 1st, 2nd, half of 4th, 5, 6, and 7th. I then went to a Middle School in TN for 8th, a different school district for 9th grade in TN. Then I went to my current school now and last year. </p>
<p>I may have been home-schooled for more than I went to school, but they were all public schools. Also, I essentially taught myself. My mother was there to guide me, but I took the initiative on what I wanted to learn more about; The Salem Witch Trials for example, I have loved them since I was approximately 6-8 years old, they are my favorite Historical Aspect, and I wanted to learn about them. </p>
<p>I can believe some students are as bad as those described in the article, at my Middle School in 8th grade, I could really see that. It was a poor school where Minorities were shipped in from all of Davidson County in TN, it was pretty bad. There were violence issues, drug issues, and not much learning going around. It was scary. I would often times be the only one in my English class who would read the literature. It wasn’t the most enriching environment. I still overcame, and pushed myself to be the best, even in a not so ideal environment.</p>
<p>I don’t think I’m the minority in this situation. I honestly think that more teenagers want to excel in life and do well, than teens who want to fail. I think if you really want to excel you will try to overcome obstacles, even if no one else believes in you. </p>
<p>I am still hurt by this rash generalization. I watched TV way before I was 6, and got on the computer before then as well. I played Video Games. I love chocolate chip cookies, cookie dough ice cream, and Reese’s Cups. My favorite food is French Fries, and I haven’t played a sport since I was 12. My parents are also FAR from rich. My mom and dad are divorced and my mom barely makes enough for us to get by. If this article was right, it would try to tell me I was dumber than dirt and was destined to be that way. I refuse to accept that. </p>
<p>I know some kids are smarter than me, some are dumber. I have gone too a lot of different schools, and I can not believe that the MAJORITY of America’s youth is dumber than dirt. Of course some are, but I’ve met quite a few adults who could carry that same title. I’ve also met people who are rich, gone to private school, and had every advantage who are no better off than anyone else.</p>
<p>I am also glad to say like “HisGraceFillsMe” that I’ve been lucky enough to come across Public Schools teachers are are more concerned about me LEARNING, than teaching me to write a sentence. My current English teacher will be my 11th & 12th grade teacher and yes, she goes over the grammar, but she doesn’t baby us and treat us like we are dumber than dirt. She assigns our literature, we discuss it, and she EXPECTS US to analyze it. She doesn’t give us multiple choice tests over our Literature. She doesn’t ask “Who killed Myrtle: A: Gatsby, B: Suicide, C: Tom, D: Daisy” she asks us to give examples over how the theme of “EYES” covers and is shown throughout the Great Gatsby. Even later this year, we aren’t just doing a research paper over the War, or abortion, or Gay marriage. We’re going to do a project, a very challenging, creative, really cool project, that will tie in our lives with a research paper. That’s just cool, and when teachers make stuff interesting, that’s when kids learn. When they stop focusing on making sure we know when to use “who vs. whom” and actually allow us to LEARN, and be interested in it, that’s when students will excel. All of this in a public school.</p>
<p>I worry about the real kids out there who are exactly what this article depicts. However; I’m not worried for America’s future because of these students. It’s sad to say, but in my experience the kids like that, they lack ambition. If you lack ambition you won’t achieve the power to change the world, better or worse. Instead, I’m happy with the future with respect to my generation, the iGeneration. Those of us who want to succeed have the resources, and the passion, not to mention the grasp of technology all to benefit us. If only people would focus on the great potential having all this knowledge of the technological world gives to us, instead of riding on the fact we shouldn’t spend our time watching “Jacka$$” or “Grey’s Anatomy”, focus on all the great things we have the ability to do. Then, maybe the iGeneration would have more hopeful prospects instead of being generalized as dumber than dirt. </p>
<p>(sorry for the long reply)</p>
<p>^That was a great post, and I agree 100%.</p>
<p>Especially on the Mario…on the old Super Nintendo with the purple buttons. I spent so many hours in front of that thing. XD</p>
<p>Mythmom, I also think that the testing that began with the kids who are now freshmen means that there is now more emphasis on writing. That cohort of kids couldn’t pass the ELA in 4th grade without being able to write a decent paragraph. </p>
<p>My kids learned early to love books, but I didn’t take away the TV. They didn’t play video games though until they bought themselves a machine. However I can hardly pat myself on the back since they played plenty of games on the computer. And yes they went to a public school.</p>
<p>Thanks HGFM, </p>
<p>I also forgot to mention reading! I love to read so much more than writing. I could read before I was in K… When I was in K I often got in trouble because I didn’t want to read the little tiny books that I had been reading for a year. I wanted to little chapter books. I still love to read, but I am not a fan of reading for school. I love Harry Potter, a Series of Unfortunate Events, Dan Brown’s books, Gregory McGuire, and John Grisham. I am very glad my mom taught me to read long before the Schools required me too.</p>
<p>Haha! Super Nintendo! It was sweet… I actually just played one for the first time in years before school started. My friend still had hers and we played Super Mario, of course!</p>
<p><em>Puppy dog face</em> Can I come play too?</p>
<p>Haha just kidding.</p>
<p>Heh. My mom used to read to my sister and me every night, so then one Christmas she gives me a book thinking “That’ll keep her busy for a while.”</p>
<p>Half an hour I come out: “Mommy, I wanna read this book to you!” And I read it perfectly. XD</p>
<p>I really do think reading to your kids makes all the difference. My brother and sister-in-law have been talking to and reading to my nephew like crazy, and he’s already trying to communicate with his little baby noises (he’s just shy of 3 months…November 12th :)).</p>
<p>Generalization is a bit of an understatement. I find it funny that the author noted how “every current generation absolutely convinced the subsequent one is terrifically stupid and malicious and will be the end of society as a whole. Just the way it always seems”, since that’s exactly what he’s doing. </p>
<p>It reads like he has based his entire premise on MTV.</p>
<p>hehe! Well I think Indiana is a little far from Cali… </p>
<p>That’s awesome about the book! I agree about reading to little kids. And awww that’s adorable! I miss my baby cousins (one will be a year old this month, the other is 2 and a half)</p>
<p>Snoopy is cool: I couldn’t agree more! The author essentially flipped everything around, made it seem like the minority of the students that he described was the majority. It’s a shame!</p>
<p>awww, that’s so cute!</p>
<p>My pastor has a 1-year-old and a 4-year-old, and they’re both adorable as well.</p>
<p>Heyyyy, my mom has a good friend in Indiana ^_^</p>
<p>To get back on topic: I agree with you, snoopyiscool (indeed he is ;))…that’s kinda the way it always is. Every generation thinks the next one is going to end the world with their stupidity.</p>
<p>Well maybe our generation should start wondering why the generation the author is from hasn’t ended it already with his stupidity! </p>
<p>(Jk… but that’s the kind of remarks made from this article. I believe that his generation if I’m assuming correctly, has produced some very intelligent adults. Just like I believe my generation WILL produce)</p>
<p>^I agree totally. 
If what he said was true, society would’ve imploded upon the 2nd generation of man.</p>