so you saw that episode of Wallace and Grommit toodzjepp wrote:Isn't the moon made out of kraft cheese?
What's the closest star to the earth?
You're a smart guy, but I think you're also a bit high on yourself.tnf wrote:Yea, most young people today are ticked off when asked to think.
And it was an extra credit question.
I don't think young people are ticked off when asked to think. I think young people are ticked off when someone takes a condescending attitude to them.
Kids today are socially smarter than ever before. They're forced to "grow up" so fast that a lot of what they need as a child gets left behind. I do agree that the american eduactional system is kinda screwy but you seem to be taking the stance of using the "stupidity" of your students to prove your own beliefs about a system you don't like. A truly intelligent person would try to adapt to the situation, not just flaunt his credentials as a means of showing how big his edupenis is.
I've been on the dean's list. I've gotten bursaries for projects at an undergrad level (sometihng that hardly ever happens) and I managed to land a solid job while still in university. However, if you asked me a question about astronomy I would probably get it wrong (granted I knew the sun was the closest star, didn't know a damn thing about Alpha Centuri though). My point is that though some of these kids didn't know certain things about physics and astronomy doesn't mean they're stupid. In fact, many of them are likely to have talents in other fields that you would fail in.
-
^misantropia^
- Posts: 4022
- Joined: Sat Mar 12, 2005 6:24 pm
*puts on flame-proof armour*tnf wrote:Getting people to think is really tough these days, because the public school system has let kids get away without having to do it for so long.
*assumes role of Devil's advocate*
What good would that do? They don't need it in high school, they likely won't need it to get through university and they sure as hell won't need it in the job they end up in.
On a different note: the nearest star - apart from Sol - is Proxima Centauri. *Not* Alpha Centauri (it's not even a star, for chrissake, it's a solar system). Unless the hypothetical Nemesis is found to be real.
-
Guest
I never said that they were stupid because they didn't know something about astronomy or physics. That wasn't the point of the question.Jackal wrote:I don't think I'm missing it, I just don't 100% agree with it.tnf wrote:Jesus Christ.
That's all I have left to say regarding how bad people are missing my point here.
Jesus Christ.
They may be smarter in terms of their technical savvy and the 'growing up' that they are forced to do quickly as a result of the number of new distractions and obstacles they face. They are not, however, more literate (scientifically, mathematically, and otherwise, than ever).
The entire issue is directed at a system that, for so many years, has not required students to really think in order to succeed. My frustration isn't at the students - they are the products of the system.
The fact is that kids cannot do many of the basic things that students could do years ago. Sure, they are more literate with a computer, they can make multimedia presentations - but all of our technology, all of our understandings, literacy in general is still rooted in a solid understanding of the fundamentals - reading, writing, and math.
As for a truly intelligent person adapting to the situation - that is just an asanine comment to make in light of this entire discussion. I've adapted my instruction to try and deal with the lack of critical thinking skills they come to my class with and balance it with the 'standars' I am supposed to teach per the state's mandate. I'm not using "stupidity" to prove my beliefs. I'm using a common example of the responses students given when presented with a question that goes slightly beyond strict recollection.
Again, this WASN'T ABOUT ASTRONOMY. Nor was it about me flauting my edupenis. Nor was it about me thinking they kids were stupid. Nor was it about me not realizing they are likely to have other talents.
So, yea, in light of that, you kind of missed the point.
-
^misantropia^
- Posts: 4022
- Joined: Sat Mar 12, 2005 6:24 pm
I think my first reply would be a prime example. I knew that the sun is a star, but my brain passed that over and went for the first instinctive response and answered with the nearest 'star' instead of thinking about the question for a minute and seeing what the real question was. Or did I completely fuck that up too?tnf wrote:I never said that they were stupid because they didn't know something about astronomy or physics. That wasn't the point of the question.Jackal wrote:I don't think I'm missing it, I just don't 100% agree with it.tnf wrote:Jesus Christ.
That's all I have left to say regarding how bad people are missing my point here.
Jesus Christ.
They may be smarter in terms of their technical savvy and the 'growing up' that they are forced to do quickly as a result of the number of new distractions and obstacles they face. They are not, however, more literate (scientifically, mathematically, and otherwise, than ever).
The entire issue is directed at a system that, for so many years, has not required students to really think in order to succeed. My frustration isn't at the students - they are the products of the system.
The fact is that kids cannot do many of the basic things that students could do years ago. Sure, they are more literate with a computer, they can make multimedia presentations - but all of our technology, all of our understandings, literacy in general is still rooted in a solid understanding of the fundamentals - reading, writing, and math.
As for a truly intelligent person adapting to the situation - that is just an asanine comment to make in light of this entire discussion. I've adapted my instruction to try and deal with the lack of critical thinking skills they come to my class with and balance it with the 'standars' I am supposed to teach per the state's mandate. I'm not using "stupidity" to prove my beliefs. I'm using a common example of the responses students given when presented with a question that goes slightly beyond strict recollection.
Again, this WASN'T ABOUT ASTRONOMY. Nor was it about me flauting my edupenis. Nor was it about me thinking they kids were stupid. Nor was it about me not realizing they are likely to have other talents.
So, yea, in light of that, you kind of missed the point.
The particular question has fuckall to do with tnf's grief.scourge34 wrote:I think my first reply would be a prime example. I knew that the sun is a star, but my brain passed that over and went for the first instinctive response and answered with the nearest 'star' instead of thinking about the question for a minute and seeing what the real question was. Or did I completely fuck that up too?
I know, I was referring to the way I handled the question, not the subject. I didn't think, I just blurted out the answer I thought was right without thinking about it.Transient wrote:The particular question has fuckall to do with tnf's grief.scourge34 wrote:I think my first reply would be a prime example. I knew that the sun is a star, but my brain passed that over and went for the first instinctive response and answered with the nearest 'star' instead of thinking about the question for a minute and seeing what the real question was. Or did I completely fuck that up too?