"Dumb things that Americans believe" -Newsweek

[Crystallas]

But while I agree that unions (no matter what profession) can certainly protect the wrong people, you only have to go back around a century to see why they began and, in fact, can be a good thing.

Unfortunately there are a lot of problems with the current system - even beyond the ones you state as you very well know. One thing I see though is that there are a lot of teachers (I would even venture to say most that I've encountered) would welcome the challenge (and even already have welcomed the challenge brought forth by NCLB and strive to get the best out of their students) that makes their job harder. Unfortunately, NCLB has also resulted in negative consequences - teaching to high stakes tests and a putting such an emphasis on skills that concepts are not being taught/learned.

There are far to many problems with the educational system, including public, private, and higher(for-profit, private and state)

Most of the issues would correct themselves if parents across the country could choose schools, and the only way to do that, would be to limit the power of the teacher unions. I don't like unions, and I do agree there is a purpose, but I would be very content if union power was limited.

NCLB was a bad idea. I'm not going to debate for it or against it more than that. If you want children to learn, you can't just force them. The best scenarios would improve test scores, building on the skill of test-taking, and not actual progress. I really would love to hear well thought out arguments in favor of NCLB, but I have yet to hear one that makes sense for ANYONE LOL!

 

[Scoot26]

There are far to many problems with the educational system, including public, private, and higher(for-profit, private and state)

Most of the issues would correct themselves if parents across the country could choose schools, and the only way to do that, would be to limit the power of the teacher unions. I don't like unions, and I do agree there is a purpose, but I would be very content if union power was limited.

NCLB was a bad idea. I'm not going to debate for it or against it more than that. If you want children to learn, you can't just force them. The best scenarios would improve test scores, building on the skill of test-taking, and not actual progress. I really would love to hear well thought out arguments in favor of NCLB, but I have yet to hear one that makes sense for ANYONE LOL!

Thats all my high school cared about by the time my senior year rolled around. Junior year they had an assembly just so they could tell us that we needed to improve our test scores or the school would lose federal funding. And so they did..We had to take two practice tests and any students that fell below a certain score had to take a class on how to take the test lol....

Every teacher I had that ever talked about NCLB talked nothing but about how much they hated it. I had one teacher that went into great detail with a few students of us that I happen to over hear and I just remember him saying that it took alot of creativity and control away from the teacher in what they could teach their classes and how they could teach it. He felt the system had destroyed his ability to properly teach a class.

 

[Crystallas]

I'm just wondering how large this Education Reform Bill will be. Obama mentioned it in his Address last night, and I'm sure his team and supporting seats will push something through. My worry is that we'll see another 5000 page bill that Harvard Grads can't decipher with a few kicker deals that make half of the nation gung-ho.

 

[Scoot26]

I'm just wondering how large this Education Reform Bill will be. Obama mentioned it in his Address last night, and I'm sure his team and supporting seats will push something through. My worry is that we'll see another 5000 page bill that Harvard Grads can't decipher with a few kicker deals that make half of the nation gung-ho.

You know.. I didnt catch Obama's speech last night nor did I read anything about it in the paper this morning or online...

But while I do consider my political leanings to be center-left...I am very against any Federal Government involvement in education. Probably because I have seen first hand what its effects have done to schools and how out of touch schools are from reality. I have already mentioned that to you in another post, so you get my drift on that.

 

[Crystallas]

Last nights speech in a nutshell.

I'm proud of our troops....
Were ending OIF.
Were starting a new mission in Iraq.
Were sending more troops to Afghanistan.
All of this will take another 18 months, but its a new mission.
Soon we wont have to worry about Iraq, and we can focus on reform in education, and other needy parts of the nation.
He's also pushing for more benefits for Vets who get out.
Thanks again to the troops.

Done.

Thats from my memory, don't take it to the bank, but I'm pretty sure. I only watched it once.

 

[Scoot26]

Last nights speech in a nutshell.

I'm proud of our troops....
Were ending OIF.
Were starting a new mission in Iraq.
Were sending more troops to Afghanistan.
All of this will take another 18 months, but its a new mission.
Soon we wont have to worry about Iraq, and we can focus on reform in education, and other needy parts of the nation.
He's also pushing for more benefits for Vets who get out.
Thanks again to the troops.

Done.

Thats from my memory, don't take it to the bank, but I'm pretty sure. I only watched it once.

well on the wars, I already knew that and thats been said for weeks now (probably even months).

The reform in education and benefits for vets is what news to me. The education stuff..I'm against...Vet benefits I'm for.

 

[Crystallas]

I'm a vet who saw a lot, and I'll tell you right now, we don't need any more special treatment.
If someone was disabled while in the service, they already get additional benefits and opportunities to claim them late. The system in place is very generous, with the only people complaining, are those who didn't sign up to genuinely defend the nation, they only signed up out of desperation and/or tuition money.

 

[Captain Iago]

Last nights speech in a nutshell.

I'm proud of our troops....
Were ending OIF.
Were starting a new mission in Iraq.
Were sending more troops to Afghanistan.
All of this will take another 18 months, but its a new mission.
Soon we wont have to worry about Iraq, and we can focus on reform in education, and other needy parts of the nation.
He's also pushing for more benefits for Vets who get out.
Thanks again to the troops.

Done.

Thats from my memory, don't take it to the bank, but I'm pretty sure. I only watched it once.

Ahh...so the rhetoric for the obama reelection platform has begun.

 

[Crystallas]

Ahh...so the rhetoric for the obama reelection platform has begun.

He did read the speech extra slow off the teleprompters. As if he was careful not to change any words or put the wrong emphasis into any phrase. This was an extra careful Address, even for Obama's standards.

So yes, I'm fairly sure it was an election ploy.

So far, the public has been all over with their reactions. I don't know what to think TBH, and usually I'm quick to decipher and answer a lot of the questions.

Most people that I have talked to around watercoolers, chats and forums, is that the main emphasis is on the past of the situation. All of the outcries about any aspect of an Iraq War dispute comes up. I know we need to look at history for guidance, but there are a lot of unanswered questions that words can't clarify.
I have a few hundred questions of my own, but the one that bothers me the most in some conspiratorial way is : Does Washington want to bring more troops home, in order to prepare for a new phase of a growing Counterintelligence state?

 

[Captain Iago]

Appreciate the recap.

 

[payton 34ever]

Quality here on CCS.

EVEN WITH POLITICS

It is rare - I can barely tell what party some of you identify with - that's the way it should be in any civil discourse. I love this place!
:crazydance:

 

[Scoot26]

It is rare - I can barely tell what party some of you identify with - that's the way it should be in any civil discourse. I love this place!
:crazydance:

It could be because most of us dont have a political party. In my 4 short years of voting I tend to have mostly voted for Democrats, but I'll still vote for some Republicans (Only locally though) and then I do vote for several third party members. I consider myself a left-center moderate.

 

[cubsneedmiracle]

I could be because most of us dont have a political party. In my 4 short years of voting I tend to have mostly voted for Democrats, but I'll still vote for some Republicans (Only locally though) and then I do vote for several third party members. I consider myself a left-center moderate.

Almost exactly the same here..

 

[Crystallas]

I have my own party, but by the design of my party, if there is ever any issue that benefits my own individual interest, I should support it. LOL Ironically, what hurts others and benefits me, will eventually hurt me by other means or in due time.

 

[Stapler]

I'm a vet who saw a lot, and I'll tell you right now, we don't need any more special treatment.
If someone was disabled while in the service, they already get additional benefits and opportunities to claim them late. The system in place is very generous, with the only people complaining, are those who didn't sign up to genuinely defend the nation, they only signed up out of desperation and/or tuition money.

Same opinion here.

And some of the "beliefs" posted in this thread are as wacky as the newsweek examples.