tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15417436.post7182471578814953619..comments2024-01-08T12:20:35.916-06:00Comments on Rants by Ronni: An Eighth Grade EdumacationRonnihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02062796442588373271noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15417436.post-70214628191366340172009-07-02T00:12:11.168-05:002009-07-02T00:12:11.168-05:00Goldie, here in Williamson County, the main focus ...Goldie, here in Williamson County, the main focus is to keep "Intelligent Design" in science books, and sex education out of them. That's what the majority of parents campaign for, and the rest of us are sort of pariahs. The quality of education is not a priority--the "Baptist-ness" of it is.Ronnihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02062796442588373271noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15417436.post-11392002893993369252009-07-02T00:08:37.890-05:002009-07-02T00:08:37.890-05:00When I was in high school, my most prized possessi...When I was in high school, my most prized possession was a 1926 Encyclopaedia Britannica. That's where I first saw Picasso's "Old Man With Guitar," a print of which I am looking at over my right shoulder.Ronnihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02062796442588373271noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15417436.post-18419513425771029732009-07-01T23:45:49.188-05:002009-07-01T23:45:49.188-05:00Hee! Leila and I were just discussing that this af...Hee! Leila and I were just discussing that this afternoon. We both read dictionaries and encyclopedias for fun, and have since childhood. My husband says I'm weird. I can deal with that. ;)Lisa F.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15417436.post-55804459499156879642009-07-01T19:28:09.575-05:002009-07-01T19:28:09.575-05:00Amen, Goldie! Again!
We didn't have music or...Amen, Goldie! Again!<br /><br />We didn't have music or theater, and I took art by correspondence one year; the school was so small.Ronnihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02062796442588373271noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15417436.post-83468184129934000422009-07-01T19:19:21.703-05:002009-07-01T19:19:21.703-05:00Very interesting! I am currently reading Undaunte...Very interesting! I am currently reading Undaunted Courage by Stephen Ambrose - the story of Meriwether Lewis' expedition after the Louisiana Purchase. His spelling of words in his journal (1803-1806) indicate phonetic spelling of many words. My grandmother had little formal education (probably 8th grade at most) and she spelled words the way they sounded. <br /><br />In order to go to graduate school, I had to demonstrate "currency" in the math and sciences, so I opted to get another BS degree. When I took chemistry in 2003, the periodic table had changed! <br /><br />There is no way I could pass that 8th grade exam, and I certainly could not pass my daughter's 10th grade chemistry, math & physics courses without a huge effort. What she learned in 10th grade, I had only part of it in college - and I was an engineering major the first time around, so I had physics, chem, and more math than any human should have to do in a lifetime! <br /><br />I fondly remember having music education from 6th grade to 12th grade and how much I enjoyed and looked forward to those classes. We learned to sing, how to read basic music, and about the classics. My adult life has been so enriched as a result of studying music. (I also play a few instruments too, and that has been a source of pleasure as well). <br /><br />Good "government schools" are few and far between. It takes the involvement and drive of the citizenry to insist that education be a priority in our communities.Goldenblattnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15417436.post-27317407087702450312009-07-01T17:41:51.849-05:002009-07-01T17:41:51.849-05:00Part of the problem is that there is so much more ...Part of the problem is that there is so much more to learn these days. In 1895, a person could expect to be born, live, and die in the same place, and never travel more than 100 miles from their place of birth. Remember that the speed limit for cars was around 12 mph at that time.<br /><br />Now, when we try to give kids more of a sampling of a broader range of knowledge, something has to give, or they would be in school 24/7!<br /><br />On that test was no world history, no art, no theater, no music, no foreign language, and not a lot of science.<br /><br />The body of human knowledge has grown exponentially since then.<br /><br />Of course, that doesn't explain why Americans are so far behind the rest of the world. <br /><br />And the standardization sucks, for sure!<br /><br />There is a lot to be said for learning the three Rs at Mom's knee...problem is that Mom's knee works outside the home, and life has changed too drastically to do that, any more. Thus, we expect the schools to do so much more, with less time, and fewer incentives (like rulers and paddles), than ever before.<br /><br />I really think that the best thing for parents is to consider what the schools teach to be just a jumping-off place, and to devote at least a couple of hours a day to furthering their kids' knowledge.<br /><br />I made mine listen to NPR in the car.Ronnihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02062796442588373271noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15417436.post-45549564012413840672009-07-01T17:23:54.972-05:002009-07-01T17:23:54.972-05:00This doesn't surprise me. I have heard it sai...This doesn't surprise me. I have heard it said that our college grads are the equivalent of many other nations high school grads. We are not learning what we used to. But we are taking lots of standardized tests.Marshahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12411116190752318793noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15417436.post-21457426318332104962009-07-01T16:34:17.030-05:002009-07-01T16:34:17.030-05:00I learned some of the pronunciation symbols, but I...I learned some of the pronunciation symbols, but I think they have changed. I've seen some online dictionaries that have some really odd symbols. if you want a good laugh, search wikipedia for something gaelic and see if the pronunciation guide helps.Chandranoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15417436.post-61069681968449376482009-07-01T12:27:55.896-05:002009-07-01T12:27:55.896-05:00No sheep, Sherlock?
I never learned orthography. ...No sheep, Sherlock?<br /><br />I never learned orthography. I did pick up some of the symbols, because I sometimes read dictionaries.<br /><br />(I'm a dork, and a bored dork, at that...)Ronnihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02062796442588373271noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15417436.post-22474443853926434552009-07-01T12:14:38.347-05:002009-07-01T12:14:38.347-05:00Shear. Good grief. Sheer, please. No sheep involve...Shear. Good grief. Sheer, please. No sheep involved.Lisa F.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15417436.post-61880333820366244302009-07-01T12:12:41.426-05:002009-07-01T12:12:41.426-05:00The standards for a Victorian era education were -...The standards for a Victorian era education were -wildly- different, wow! I knew that, but to see it in print is another kettle of fish. Still, it's reasonable. There has been an exponential explosion of information. The shear amount to learn is so much more than it was. I personally am glad for more emphasis on science and arts now. I think there's more realization now that language flows and evolves like a river. Now if we can just drag English teachers into -teaching- it like that... (Don't look at me. I'm still trying to figure out how!) ;)<br /><br />PS Orthography! Squee! I -loved- orthography in college! And I'm -lousy- at it! (The written symbols to write the exact pronunciation of words...sorta.)Lisa F.noreply@blogger.com