In the news

[Giovanni Schwartz]

http://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php ... air-miles/

[Giovanni Schwartz]

http://www.geekosystem.com/giantest-squirrel/

[Digit]

http://nypost.com/2013/10/08/us-adults- ... age-human/

[vorpal blade]

http://nypost.com/2013/10/08/us-adults- ... age-human/

Very interesting. Lots of good ideas in the comment section.

[Digit]

What ideas caught your attention?

[vorpal blade]

It's cultural, enhanced by liberal political philosophy. The article says we have to fix it if we want to compete, but there is no incentive to fix it. The government and educational system make it ever easier to stay unskilled. Politicians get elected by increasingly ignorant people who want ever more government programs as they stay unemployed and unemployable.

The more behind we get, the more we will demand solutions, such as more government handouts, that will make the situation worse. Sooner or later, educated workers will relocate to other countries where opportunities are greater, and where they won't be penalized with high tax burdens and be looked down upon for actually making a living.

I am not surprised at all. Our schools are too involved in teaching political correctness, tolerance, gay rights BS, and many other non-subjects. This is what happens under the democratic/liberal agenda. Dumb down society, and you make them dependent on gov't. It is easier to control the population, the dumber they are. With common core being taught in so many schools, it will only get worse.

2 words....teachers union.

i quit my job as a teacher last year after working for a decade in the nyc public school system. best part about quitting? my last year, i told each student whether he was lazy or not and that he or she deserved what happened as a result. also let those kids know that no one owes them anything and that the world isn't fair, nor is it nice. it felt great. i am ecstatic to be away from the nightmare that is the american education system of today. and oh, bullying happens every period in every class.

Today’s world requires that people become better educated. Those who are capable of attaining higher education and skills gain the possibility of better and more profitable employment. This will in almost all cases vacate lower paying positions leaving them available for those who are not capable of attaining higher education or who have been unable or unwilling to work. Regarding the latter, the unwillingness to work can only be overcome if the incentive not to work is eliminated or reduced forcing those unwilling to work to (gasp) work. These jobs may not be glamorous but are appropriate for those intellectually unable or unwilling to better themselves thru higher education or vocational training. Secondly, a drastic reduction in welfare and SSI abuse is needed in a big way. It's not only the right thing to do, but it will free up tax payer money that can them be used to better educate those willing and able to succeed. Perhaps this freed up funding can also be used to generate some economic incentive such as small business grants that actually create new jobs for the educated as well as the less educated. Paraphrasing our founding fathers – Helping the poor become less reliant upon themselves will breed more poverty. While helping the poor to help themselves produces dignity.

Hmmm? When the schools teach global warming, cultural diversity, non-competitive sports and anti-American history, this is the result. 0+0=0

I'm from Australia, which thankfully scored comparatively well. My view is that the poor overall state of literacy and numeracy in the US and some other countries is by design. Populations which are not well educated ask few questions and are more accepting of their lot. For some governments the development of a population which is well educated and able to think and question- is not a desirable outcome.

[bobtheenchantedone]

So... all those other countries that are more socialist than we are are beating us because we're too socialist?

[Emiliana]

Also, why the animosity towards teachers' unions? Almost every teacher I know, from the most liberal to the most conservative, is part of a teacher's union. It's as necessary as car insurance.

[vorpal blade]

So... all those other countries that are more socialist than we are are beating us because we're too socialist?

I am agree with you, Bob, socialism does not correlate with low scores in math and the ability to read. In India some of the most literate regions, particularly where girls are concerned, are those dominated by communists. Socialists and communists often make great efforts to see that the children learn reading, writing, and arithmetic.

The question in this article is why adults in this country don't know how to read and do arithmetic as well as in some other countries. The opinions expressed point to political and social factors in America which do not encourage students to graduate with the needed skills.

[vorpal blade]

Also, why the animosity towards teachers' unions? Almost every teacher I know, from the most liberal to the most conservative, is part of a teacher's union. It's as necessary as car insurance.

As I understand it there is a requirement to belong to the teacher's union. The teachers don't have a choice.

People who don't like the teacher's union point to the fact that the leadership is very liberal. The teacher's union leadership can be counted on to support liberal politicians and not conservative ones. The teacher's unions have a reputation of defending teachers who would otherwise be fired for incompetence or gross misbehavior. Teacher's unions are seen as being highly intransient when it comes to any changes which might benefit the students at the expense of the power of the teacher's unions. They consistently put their own selfish interests ahead of the students, in the opinion of many. Again, individual teachers may have different opinions, but they do not control the union. The teachers are required to pay dues which are spent by the leadership to buy political influence to continue the power of the teacher's unions and further liberal causes.

That, as I understand it, is why people have an animosity to the teacher's unions.

[Portia]

Also, why the animosity towards teachers' unions? Almost every teacher I know, from the most liberal to the most conservative, is part of a teacher's union. It's as necessary as car insurance.

I always went to private schools, where the teachers aren't unionized, so I know they may view the unions with more skepticism.

[Portia]

BYU students study male urination and "splashback."

[Digit]

Holy PhotoShop, Batman.

[Portia]

Funding inequality in public schools. While most the article focuses on the gap between rich districts and poor, some focuses on the difference between states, which can be confusing. (For instance, Alpine is a very chichi nouveau riche city in Utah, so I would assume they spend more per pupil, if the other trends hold.)

[Marduk]

Of course, Alpine city does not have its own school district. It shares one with most of the county.

[Whistler]

I transferred to a high school that had the rich property tax advantage (#130 on this list http://mag.newsweek.com/2013/05/06/amer ... hools.html). We had tons of AP classes and everyone planned to go to college after graduation. But it was also very competitive; basically, I felt a lot smarter after I came to BYU. I think that was good though, because I learned to work hard for good grades.

Anyway, my point is that the funding disparity is something I've experienced firsthand, and I benefited from it. Parents are much more likely to fund education when they know it will go to their own children. I'd love to see more equality in schools though.

[wryness]

As I understand it there is a requirement to belong to the teacher's union. The teachers don't have a choice.

It's not a requirement in my district--I have managed to get this far through the school year without joining a union, anyway, and I don't think I've received a single missive trying to convince me to do otherwise.

That having been said, I am still planning on joining a union soon, because I want to have additional protection in case something weird happens. I am über-cautious and have tried to help students enjoy my class, but I can still imagine a couple of them having a vendetta against me and saying things that aren't true as revenge for me giving them a poor grade or just not letting them do whatever they want during my class. I've also heard stories about things that sometimes happen between teachers and administration, so I'd like an extra advocate on my side. As Vorpal said, teachers' unions are mostly for the teachers, not the students--but I don't think that's selfish, as long as the unions don't masquerade and pretend that their main focus is the students. It's not weird for any other professional to be a member of a professional organization, so there shouldn't be a stigma attached to teachers' unions, either, as long as they are doing a good job. Teaching/education is just so much more politicized than other professions, as it is one of the most widespread, mandatory, and complex public services available.

Though I think teachers' unions are mostly "for teachers," I do concede that by making the profession livable for teachers, they are consequently benefiting students. If we want to attract the best and the brightest to education--and if education is really as important as we say it is--it ought to receive adequate attention and support. (I'll let other people argue about how much "adequate" is measured to be.)

[Portia]

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/blogsfaith ... l.html.csp

Probably the best Mormon news I've heard in a long time.

[Emiliana]

As I understand it there is a requirement to belong to the teacher's union. The teachers don't have a choice.

It's not a requirement in my district--I have managed to get this far through the school year without joining a union, anyway, and I don't think I've received a single missive trying to convince me to do otherwise.

That having been said, I am still planning on joining a union soon, because I want to have additional protection in case something weird happens. I am über-cautious and have tried to help students enjoy my class, but I can still imagine a couple of them having a vendetta against me and saying things that aren't true as revenge for me giving them a poor grade or just not letting them do whatever they want during my class. I've also heard stories about things that sometimes happen between teachers and administration, so I'd like an extra advocate on my side. As Vorpal said, teachers' unions are mostly for the teachers, not the students--but I don't think that's selfish, as long as the unions don't masquerade and pretend that their main focus is the students. It's not weird for any other professional to be a member of a professional organization, so there shouldn't be a stigma attached to teachers' unions, either, as long as they are doing a good job. Teaching/education is just so much more politicized than other professions, as it is one of the most widespread, mandatory, and complex public services available.

Though I think teachers' unions are mostly "for teachers," I do concede that by making the profession livable for teachers, they are consequently benefiting students. If we want to attract the best and the brightest to education--and if education is really as important as we say it is--it ought to receive adequate attention and support. (I'll let other people argue about how much "adequate" is measured to be.)

Oh hey, I meant to respond to this a long time ago. But basically, I agree with wryness. Happier, better protected teachers are better teachers. I am in a union and it definitely brings me peace of mind.

[Giovanni Schwartz]

Lion kills lioness in front of zoo visitors this weekend.