Education Then and Now

[PoliticalChic]

1. Education then:

a. Horace Mann was appointed secretary of the Massachusetts Board of Education in 1837, at $1500 a year, giving up a promising career in law and politics. He secured greater appropriations for education, more and better schoolhouses, more uniformity of instruction, longer school terms, better trained instructors and higher pay for teachers ($65 a year was common for women). He was largely responsible for establishing the first teacher training schools (normal schools).

b. Noah Webster was prominent in the improvement of textbooks, with his famous readers and spellers, many designed to promote patriotism. He used the royalties to write his dictionary (1828) which helped to standardize the American language, helping to unify the nation.

c. William McGuffey produced a series of grade-school readers (1830) which elevated cultural standards and offered lasting object lessons in morality, patriotism, and American idealism, shaping the minds and morals of the American people in the 19th century. A copy exercise in the ‘Second Reader’ ran:

Beautiful hands are they that do
Deeds that are noble good and true;
Beautiful feet are they that go
Swiftly to lighten another’s woe.
(Thomas A. Bailey and David M. Kennedy, “The American Pageant: A History of the Republic”)

2. Education of late:
The evolution in teaching math since the 1950s.

1. Teaching Math In 1950
A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is 4/5 of the price. What is his profit?
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2. Teaching Math In 1960
A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is 4/5 of the price, or $80. What is his profit?
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3. Teaching Math In 1970
A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is $80. Did he make a profit?
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4. Teaching Math In 1980
A logger sells a truckload of lumber for $100. His cost of production is $80 and his profit is $20. Your assignment: Underline the number 20.
------------------------------ -----------------------------------------
5. Teaching Math In 1990
A logger cuts down a beautiful forest because he is selfish and inconsiderate and cares nothing for the habitat of animals or the preservation of our woodlands. He does this so he can make a profit of $20. What do you think of this way of making a living?
Topic for class participation after answering the question: How did the birds and squirrels feel as the logger cut down their homes? (There are no wrong answers.)

 

[Big Black Dog]

Pretty funny. Lot of truth in it too...

 

[chanel]

6. 2010 - Who can the animals sue and where can the squirrels find free legal representation?

 

[Big Black Dog]

Modern day math question: A train leaves the West Coast at 1:00 pm heading East. Another train leaves the East Coast at 1:00 pm heading West. Each train is traveling at 50 mph. How many miles will they each travel before they must stop to kick off the illegal aliens?

 

[boedicca]

Too Funny while being Too Sad.

 

[chanel]

7. 2012 - If the greatest president who ever lived is at a 29% approval rating, and 22% are undecided, how many Acorns will it take to register the squirrels?

 

[Kalam]

Yeah, education in the 1950's sure was great if you were white.

 

[CrusaderFrank]

Education today:

1. When did the War of 1812 occur?
a. 1942
b. 1776
c. 1492
d. 1812

2. Including George Washington, name three Founding Fathers

 

[CrusaderFrank]

Yeah, education in the 1950's sure was great if you were white.

What? Look, just because Obama's a fucking retard it does not mean that all non-whites are.

As a Hispanic American I take exception to that racist remark.

 

[Kalam]

Yeah, education in the 1950's sure was great if you were white.

What? Look, just because Obama's a fucking retard is does not mean that all non-whites are.

As a Hispanic American I take exception to that racist remark.

Wow. That sure went over your head.

Racial segregation in the United States - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[CrusaderFrank]

Yeah, education in the 1950's sure was great if you were white.

What? Look, just because Obama's a fucking retard is does not mean that all non-whites are.

As a Hispanic American I take exception to that racist remark.

Wow. That sure went over your head.

Racial segregation in the United States - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

That may have been true in the Democrat controlled South, home to the KKK, but not so much here in the north.

 

[midcan5]

This belongs in humor or maybe the trash.

My wife teaches math, and I'm sure she would find this somewhere beyond stupid because there is a real world out there where teachers teach and work hard. But in America unless you play childish games well or rob and steal in the derivative's market, you are unappreciated. We get the education we value, expect, and pay for, and this thread represents why.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxsOVK4syxU]YouTube - Taylor Mali on what teachers make[/ame]

 

[CrusaderFrank]

The Teachers Union ensures that quality teachers never make more money than total fuck ups and incompetents

 

[PoliticalChic]

This belongs in humor or maybe the trash.

My wife teaches math, and I'm sure she would find this somewhere beyond stupid because there is a real world out there where teachers teach and work hard. But in America unless you play childish games well or rob and steal in the derivative's market, you are unappreciated. We get the education we value, expect, and pay for, and this thread represents why.

YouTube - Taylor Mali on what teachers make

No, my friend, we do not get "the education we value, expect, and pay for..."

It is in large part because usually intelligent folks, like yourself, wear blinders when it comes to giving the proper weight to ideas merely because they come from the other side of the aisle.

"My wife teaches math, and I'm sure she would find this somewhere beyond stupid because there is a real world out there where teachers teach and work hard."
I see why you wish to take this personally, but if the shoe doesn't fit, don't wear it! In general, data finds no such correlation between your wife's hard work and the effect known as learning.

Further, look at the educational landscape and note that there are plenty of nooks and crannys in which to lay the blame: unions, teachers, administrators, politicians, curriculum writers, parents, children...and mostly, the educrats in the colleges and universities.

And so there be no doubt as to why I find your post " somewhere beyond stupid" let me do what you have failed to do, and provide evidence:

1. " The report card is fairly gloomy. Using the NAEP’s ‘proficient’ level as benchmark, just eight states showed even ‘moderate’ progress over the past 10 to 15 years. The National Center for Education Statistics reported that 12th graders reading performance in 2005 was worse than in 1992- and flat since 2002. U.S. Chamber of Commerce - Leaders and Laggards

2. “Despite concerted efforts by educators,” NYTimes reporter Sam Dillon summarized in November 2006, “the test-score gaps are so large, that, on average, African-American and Hispanic students in high school can read and do arithmetic at only the average level of whites in junior high school. ‘The gaps between African-Americans and whites are showing very few signs of closing,’ said assessment expert Michael T. Nettlews.” http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/20/education/20gap.html

3. “Education Week” researchers found ‘evidence of a consistently positive relationship between achievement gains and the implementation of standards-based policies related to academic-content standards, aligned assessments, and accountability measures. These associations are more robust for achievement in mathematics, compared to reading.’ http://www.edweek.org/media/ew/qc/2006/MakingtheConnection.pdf

4. “…educators still resist the behaviorism of standards-based reform and resent…the embarrassing results that it often brings to light.” Chester Finn, “Troublemaker,” p. 259


If you wish to retain your honor, I demand that you either refute or retract.

 

[Neser Boha]

Maybe 'y'all' should take a look at Finland and what they are doing that is making their students perform so well compared to the rest of the countries around the world - including USA. Their students have been on the top of maths and sciences, problem-solving, attendance, etc. and so on ...

You can read about their system and principles on which it stands here (notice that nowhere in there is 'money' or 'tuition' mentioned as it is FREE (or rather, paid for by tax-payers) and it is considered a basic right:

EDU - The Education System of Finland

Here is the 'Teacher' section of their website that you might find illuminating, especially the part where even early childhood teachers have to have a minimum of bachelor's degree and all 'subject-teachers' have to be specialists on each subject they teach (in other words - master's degree in those subjects), which is sure as FUCK not the case in the USA:

http://www.edu.fi/english/page.asp?path=500,4699,84383

Teachers



All teachers in basic education and general upper secondary education have university level degrees.

Pre-primary education

Teaching and guidance staff within early childhood education and care have either Bachelor’s degrees from a university or a polytechnic or what used to be known as post-secondary vocational qualifications. In addition, they may be assisted by other child-care professionals with relevant upper secondary vocational qualifications. Pre-primary education can also be given by class teachers.

Basic education and general upper secondary education

Teachers in the first six grades of basic education are usually generalists (class teachers), whereas those in the last three grades and at upper secondary level are subject specialists (subject teachers). Class teachers are Masters of Education and subject teachers have completed a Master’s degree in the subject they teach as well as pedagogical studies.

Vocational and higher education

Depending on the institution and subject, vocational and polytechnic teachers are required to have either 1) an appropriate higher (or postgraduate) academic degree; 2) an appropriate polytechnic degree; or 3) the highest possible qualification in their own vocational field, at least three years of work experience in the field, and completed pedagogical studies. University teachers are generally required to have a doctoral or other postgraduate degree.

Teachers have pedagogical autonomy

Teachers are considered pedagogical experts, and are entrusted with considerable independence in the classroom, and also have decision-making authority as concerns school policy and management. They are deeply involved in drafting the local curricula and in development work. Furthermore, they have almost exclusive responsibility for the choice of textbooks and teaching methods. Teachers’ continuing professional development is regarded essential and is organised extensively.

 

[uscitizen]

The Teachers Union ensures that quality teachers never make more money than total fuck ups and incompetents

Teachers unions also make sure that a teaching positions do not become political appointee/crony positions.

 

[PoliticalChic]

Maybe 'y'all' should take a look at Finland and what they are doing that is making their students perform so well compared to the rest of the countries around the world - including USA. Their students have been on the top of maths and sciences, problem-solving, attendance, etc. and so on ...

You can read about their system and principles on which it stands here (notice that nowhere in there is 'money' or 'tuition' mentioned as it is FREE (or rather, paid for by tax-payers) and it is considered a basic right:

EDU - The Education System of Finland

Here is the 'Teacher' section of their website that you might find illuminating, especially the part where even early childhood teachers have to have a minimum of bachelor's degree and all 'subject-teachers' have to be specialists on each subject they teach (in other words - master's degree in those subjects), which is sure as FUCK not the case in the USA:

EDU - Teachers

Teachers



All teachers in basic education and general upper secondary education have university level degrees.

Pre-primary education

Teaching and guidance staff within early childhood education and care have either Bachelor’s degrees from a university or a polytechnic or what used to be known as post-secondary vocational qualifications. In addition, they may be assisted by other child-care professionals with relevant upper secondary vocational qualifications. Pre-primary education can also be given by class teachers.

Basic education and general upper secondary education

Teachers in the first six grades of basic education are usually generalists (class teachers), whereas those in the last three grades and at upper secondary level are subject specialists (subject teachers). Class teachers are Masters of Education and subject teachers have completed a Master’s degree in the subject they teach as well as pedagogical studies.

Vocational and higher education

Depending on the institution and subject, vocational and polytechnic teachers are required to have either 1) an appropriate higher (or postgraduate) academic degree; 2) an appropriate polytechnic degree; or 3) the highest possible qualification in their own vocational field, at least three years of work experience in the field, and completed pedagogical studies. University teachers are generally required to have a doctoral or other postgraduate degree.

Teachers have pedagogical autonomy

Teachers are considered pedagogical experts, and are entrusted with considerable independence in the classroom, and also have decision-making authority as concerns school policy and management. They are deeply involved in drafting the local curricula and in development work. Furthermore, they have almost exclusive responsibility for the choice of textbooks and teaching methods. Teachers’ continuing professional development is regarded essential and is organised extensively.

Nice post, and right on target.

Let me add to the mix another factor: vouchers.

"The Swedish model is built on a voucher system at both the primary and secondary levels:
According to the political adviser to the Swedish minister of education, if a public school isn't meeting a student's needs, he or she can take advantage of the voucher system and leave.

Students have the option to switch to another public school or they can leave the public system altogether and opt for a private school.

The government attaches money to each student, which then follows him wherever he goes, says the Swedish Wire.

According to the Stockholm County governor and former education minister Per Unckel: "Choice is for everyone, whatever income you have. The right of the kid is to get a good education. If the public sector cannot offer it, he or she should have the right to go somewhere else:

When Sweden introduced the voucher system in the early '90s, it was controversial; but now it is widely popular, and the results have shown rising standards across the board.

The program has also helped desegregate schools in cities with large immigrant populations, such as Stockholm.

It's a way for the high achievers to get out of the environment that is holding them back."
Swedish schools more American than America's


And what else must be fixed?

 

[Dr.Traveler]

Hillarious. Here's an actual question from the examination I gave today in Pre-Calculus. For those that don't know, that's a freshman level course at College, or a Junior or Senior level high school course:

On a certain route, an airline carries 5000 passengers per month, each paying $30. A market survey indicates that for each $1 increase in the ticket price, the airline will lose 100 passengers. Find the ticket price that will maximize the airline's montly revenue for the route. What is the monthly revenue?

For the record, the basic equations in the problem are accessible to those that have had an 8th grade algebra course. The only "higher level" concept required is knowledge of parabolas.

Now, how many of the folks in this thread mocking education can answer this? How many can even set this up?

 

[Missourian]

hillarious. Here's an actual question from the examination i gave today in pre-calculus. For those that don't know, that's a freshman level course at college, or a junior or senior level high school course:

On a certain route, an airline carries 5000 passengers per month, each paying $30. A market survey indicates that for each $1 increase in the ticket price, the airline will lose 100 passengers. Find the ticket price that will maximize the airline's montly revenue for the route. What is the monthly revenue?

For the record, the basic equations in the problem are accessible to those that have had an 8th grade algebra course. The only "higher level" concept required is knowledge of parabolas.

Now, how many of the folks in this thread mocking education can answer this? How many can even set this up?

$40 per ticket.....$160,000 monthly revenue?

 

[Neser Boha]

Hillarious. Here's an actual question from the examination I gave today in Pre-Calculus. For those that don't know, that's a freshman level course at College, or a Junior or Senior level high school course:

On a certain route, an airline carries 5000 passengers per month, each paying $30. A market survey indicates that for each $1 increase in the ticket price, the airline will lose 100 passengers. Find the ticket price that will maximize the airline's montly revenue for the route. What is the monthly revenue?

For the record, the basic equations in the problem are accessible to those that have had an 8th grade algebra course. The only "higher level" concept required is knowledge of parabolas.

I don't think you're getting the gist of this thread.

Btw, got the same answer as Missourian. At $40 a pop they would maximize their revenue at $160 000. That was a rather easy question, as a matter of fact. That's the sort of shit an 8th grader in the Czech republic could solve.