quote:Originally posted by miamizsun:quote:Originally posted by GoFish:
I've watch these kinds of stories for years, Deep. They keep suggesting the same thing: We are getting out butts whipped. Losing our edge. We are a society of lazy people who are willing to outsource our competitive spirit.
Of course is is a reflection on our public education system that is perhaps too willing to bend to the will of politicians and even us parents.
Of course fundamentalism does not help and shold be combatted at every opportunity. But I hesitate to blame the Bill Grays of the world for our education woes. I tend to believe that this crisis is a result of our dumbing-down of education. We value football more than academics. We "helicopter parents" bi*ch when the teacher doesn't send Johnny on to the next grade level. We expect our schools to raise our kids and focus on raw test scores rather than fostering academic excellence.
People who are passionate about stopping this stupidity should get involved before we become an academic wasteland.
That's right.
We should be raising our standards to reflect the new and expanded knowledge base. School/education should be increasingly intellectual, not relaxing, or lowering the bar to include the people not making the grade.
BTW, there is a link to Peter Navarro's book on that site, "The Coming China Wars" which should be required reading. Check it out.
The Coming China Wars.
Y'all may be shocked by this, but I agree with both of you. We live in a "dumbed down" society in many ways.