tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5905174948295756526.post6889095202327995580..comments2023-07-21T07:33:04.830-07:00Comments on World Civ. Honors: What's Happened to Education in America?Lord Gehmhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12361275468009503613noreply@blogger.comBlogger74125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5905174948295756526.post-11120027905631876662014-03-09T12:41:58.096-07:002014-03-09T12:41:58.096-07:00I just want to go on the record here and state tha...I just want to go on the record here and state that I was VERY impressed with everyone's thoughts on this topic. WOW 72 post!! It isn't just the number of post that is impressive, but the insightfulness that many of you have on this topic. Like many of you, I too feel that there blame is spread out amongst all parties involved (maybe not equally, but it lies in all parties' laps). I also feel that if your generation doesn't tackle these problems head on - the ranking of American education is going to continue to slip downward. There is no "magic" wand fix here, it'll take some major changes to fix this problem. But after reading your input - it gives me hope that maybe, just maybe we can get things back on track.... hopefully!Lord Gehmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12361275468009503613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5905174948295756526.post-19839594453833177542014-03-09T12:37:27.636-07:002014-03-09T12:37:27.636-07:00Gemma, what a great post!! Very insightful. I th...Gemma, what a great post!! Very insightful. I think you really covered a good range of the problem. Not 100% sure I agree on every point, but I, like some of your classmates have posted, had to re-examine the issue from a different angle!! Good JOB!Lord Gehmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12361275468009503613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5905174948295756526.post-81667853626313657652014-03-07T20:50:32.263-08:002014-03-07T20:50:32.263-08:00I completely agree with the point your bring up wi...I completely agree with the point your bring up with social networking and technology as a constant distraction for our current generation. Older generations did not have this much technology and distractions to hinder their performance in school. Nowadays, students are texting in class or using Facebook instead of paying attention to teachers. I also agree that we should only be taught material that will help us because it would be wasting the students and teachers time.<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14099265988517921613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5905174948295756526.post-58292360157809637932014-03-07T20:38:32.630-08:002014-03-07T20:38:32.630-08:00Wow Gemma! My viewpoint has completely changed on ...Wow Gemma! My viewpoint has completely changed on this issue. Coming from the eyes of a Chinese student, you did an amazing job explaining your experiences in China. American and Chinese education systems are very different and you share your own story to construct an argument. It's amazing how you've experienced both education systems that vastly differ. <br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14099265988517921613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5905174948295756526.post-43350048363068926772014-03-07T20:23:29.303-08:002014-03-07T20:23:29.303-08:00Recently in Writer's Workshop I had to write a...Recently in Writer's Workshop I had to write a paper stating why longer school hours were necessary to advance our educational status. However, after reading your post I realized that the QUALITY of our education has to be changed, not the quantity. I liked how you personalized the post by including an example of your friend who recognize the difference between our education and his previous one.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03569585998200851010noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5905174948295756526.post-88454426165955588462014-03-07T20:23:13.635-08:002014-03-07T20:23:13.635-08:00I completely agree with all the points you make ab...I completely agree with all the points you make about the failure of our current education system. We cannot blame one party because multiple parties, the students, parents, and teachers share the blame. Students need to put the effort in to have a successful future. Parents need to influence their children to do the right things, and teachers need to connect with students.Without these parties on the same page, we cannot efficiently benefit from the education system. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14099265988517921613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5905174948295756526.post-8213258268620435882014-03-07T20:21:40.471-08:002014-03-07T20:21:40.471-08:00Finland is actually number 1 in the world in educa...Finland is actually number 1 in the world in education, (but who's counting). And you are totally right, our country does need a new education reform, like Finland did in 2003, which worked out for them 11 years down the road. So if we act sooner, this could possibly change the direction of our education system in the U.S. So overall, i agree with all of your points.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01148807257667237540noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5905174948295756526.post-12217233543993909392014-03-07T20:16:11.745-08:002014-03-07T20:16:11.745-08:00you are absolutely correct Tom. I never looked a...you are absolutely correct Tom. I never looked at it that way. But sadly,in the world we live in today, people just look at the outcome, even though some of the scores are a little biased. But you are right we shouldn't be on a scale with other countries, but unfortunately, that isn't how it works in the "record books".Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01148807257667237540noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5905174948295756526.post-16833301914100883992014-03-07T20:12:57.256-08:002014-03-07T20:12:57.256-08:00This was directed at Sais post by the wayThis was directed at Sais post by the wayAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01148807257667237540noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5905174948295756526.post-19850904674034631882014-03-07T20:12:08.819-08:002014-03-07T20:12:08.819-08:00I agree with al of your points. The fault is to e...I agree with al of your points. The fault is to everyone in the education system, not the education system itself. Some teachers could definitely do better in their teaching habits, while students could work harder, as you said. Plus parents need to give support to their children for school. My mom teaches in North Bergen and says that almost known of her students' parents care about their respective child's grade. This is an outrage. So overall i agree with you that the failure of our education is due to all people within the education system. not just one party, as you said it best.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01148807257667237540noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5905174948295756526.post-5954234372821233132014-03-07T20:10:35.981-08:002014-03-07T20:10:35.981-08:00Tom, you are absolutely right. I'd never consi...Tom, you are absolutely right. I'd never considered that social networking was a key component in everyday student distraction. Lastly, you are right about the introduction of unnecessary material. It is indeed a waste for the school and student alike.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03569585998200851010noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5905174948295756526.post-2673903373013731522014-03-07T20:09:58.807-08:002014-03-07T20:09:58.807-08:00"but in some of the top countries, they only ..."but in some of the top countries, they only test the students in the top of their classes"; if this is so, then we should not be comparing ourselves with countries who do not want to show their faults. Showing strength and hiding weakness is not something you can compare with. Same goes for science's principles. Both strong and weak are needed to move forward. -Tom HindleAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00485806113290955791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5905174948295756526.post-63434105230901591942014-03-07T20:08:12.803-08:002014-03-07T20:08:12.803-08:00Lack of motivation; that really captivated me and ...Lack of motivation; that really captivated me and made me think. Is it perhaps the students' fault why the teachers have no motivation? *sleeping in class, drawing instead of writing notes etc."; but perhaps it is also parenting; parents who have no connection with their child will most likely suffer greatly when it comes to education. - Tom HindleAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00485806113290955791noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5905174948295756526.post-12592112281023460872014-03-07T19:58:59.929-08:002014-03-07T19:58:59.929-08:00My thoughts exactly Elijah. I too have to say that...My thoughts exactly Elijah. I too have to say that I was fascinated with the story you provided as a background for your argument. Although my parents have had somewhat of a similar experience, your connection with it to the week's blog topic was ingenious. When I thought about my opinion, I merely considered the facts provided. You thought outside of the box by using your own tale as an example.Well done Gemma!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03569585998200851010noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5905174948295756526.post-81811986460528612132014-03-07T19:48:20.908-08:002014-03-07T19:48:20.908-08:00First off, let me start by saying that as I went t...First off, let me start by saying that as I went through everyone's posts, I noticed that everyone held both quantity and quality. Though I too hold an opinion on this matter, I am not as well versed on it as you, my fellow classmates are. However getting back to the topic at hand, it is my personal belief that America's current education is lacking (in the sense that it is not where it's supposed to be). I also believe that the blame does not belong any one party, rather it is shared among all three (teachers, students, and parents). On the one hand, students in this country have not been working as hard as they ought to, and on the other, some teachers have been suffering from a lack of motivation to really connect with their students. Lastly, parents too have not been as influential in their children's lives as they should. Since they are seen the most, they should indeed step up to their role as being a key factor in not only their child's grades, but ultimately what they do with the rest of their life. If reforms are made on all three sides at a fixed rate, then perhaps our country's educational future won't be so bleak. But until then their is nothing more we can truly do.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03569585998200851010noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5905174948295756526.post-56269694095217399532014-03-07T19:47:40.954-08:002014-03-07T19:47:40.954-08:00Well there is no doubt that we have fallen behind ...Well there is no doubt that we have fallen behind in the world rankings of education. But this is not the fault of the education systems or the teachers, but the students. The students have lost the lack of drive to excell in the classroom. Some of them are not motivated to do well maybe because of their life outside of schools or something like that. But one reason that we may have become lower on the international rankings is because of the we administrate the PISA test. (The test that determines a countrys rank in education). In our country, we give the test to every one, but in some of the top countries, they only test the students in the top of their classes, which in retrospect isn't very fair. But if we want to make a move to get back on top in the future, which is a possibility, we have to become more like Finland, who is top in the world in education. Their teachers get paid as much as a doctor would because it is a highly respected occupation, the students only get 30 minutes of homework a night, which allows students not to feel overwhelmed with their work load, and finally, they have shorter school days then us, at 6 hours, which allows students to get other things done along with their school work. So in conclusion, we are only falling behind because of the lack of motivation of the students and the way we administer the PISA test, and if we want to get back on top, we need to adapt to the Finland style of education.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01148807257667237540noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5905174948295756526.post-71463089585057303582014-03-07T19:43:31.684-08:002014-03-07T19:43:31.684-08:00The education system in the USA is not heading whe...The education system in the USA is not heading where we want it to. Students, parents and teachers all play a key role in how the education system operates. Students are the ones who receive the education, and they need to be serious about it. Some students think school is a joke and put in no effort. Our nation spends the most money for each of our students to receive an education, but some students simply don't care. Parents are also play a key role in a student's life. The relationship between a child and their parent can greatly affect their performance in school. It's also the parents responsibility to educate their child to be a well rounded individual because most likely the students that dropout have a poor relationship with their parents. Teachers are also a key aspect of a student's academic life. Teachers who inspire and teach from the heart will impact a student's life. However, not all teachers are the same. Some teachers don't care about the students and just teach "to get it over with." Being a teacher is not a normal job. Lord Gehm is a prime example of a teacher who inspires, truly cares about his students, and teaches from the heart, and we need more teachers like him. At the end of the day if students, parents, and teachers are not on the same page our education system will fail. Students need to be motivated, parents need to have a strong relationship with their children, and teachers need to do more than read from a boring old textbook.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14099265988517921613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5905174948295756526.post-56593765631393222042014-03-07T19:37:08.801-08:002014-03-07T19:37:08.801-08:00By reform I mean change the education so we can co...By reform I mean change the education so we can constantly stay at a certain rank and not fall behind. After reading your blog I am very lucky to be studying here. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14779546700223734172noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5905174948295756526.post-28990081680709115362014-03-07T19:34:22.489-08:002014-03-07T19:34:22.489-08:00The points you made were valid but I do have one p...The points you made were valid but I do have one problem with the blog. The part where you said we should only teach things that are necessary to careers caught my eye. Everyday I question why I need to know certain things that I learn in math or science for example, but that is the core of what education is based on. Knowing that a triangle has 180 degrees or that the sky is blue because of the refraction of the ocean may not help me if I'm starting a business, but it is helpful and almost necessary to learn. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14779546700223734172noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5905174948295756526.post-14125029034765898122014-03-07T19:28:12.073-08:002014-03-07T19:28:12.073-08:00however, i really think the education system that ...however, i really think the education system that supposed to reform is not America, but those rough education system like the one in China and India. You should feel lucky that you are now studying in America :)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05872935948105379986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5905174948295756526.post-70930567196467999722014-03-07T19:26:35.935-08:002014-03-07T19:26:35.935-08:00Coming from someone who went to school in China, y...Coming from someone who went to school in China, your explanation was very descriptive and I can see the true difference between here and China. Like Robert, my perspective was changed by what you said and it made me proud to be living and learning here. Like I said in my blog from the eyes of an American student school doesn't seem all that bad. Maybe America doesn't need to be #1 but a little change wouldn't hurt Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14779546700223734172noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5905174948295756526.post-243749433014574162014-03-07T19:21:13.748-08:002014-03-07T19:21:13.748-08:00This comment has been removed by the author.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05872935948105379986noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5905174948295756526.post-12463729329946125632014-03-07T19:21:12.036-08:002014-03-07T19:21:12.036-08:00You are truly correct when you say that families i...You are truly correct when you say that families impact a child's learning experience. A mothers or fathers word can have a huge impact on how the student will learn. Like you suggested if we get stricter, maybe those horrible statistics will rise. Like you said about China the curriculums the same so we should be the same rank as china which is obviously not the case. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14779546700223734172noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5905174948295756526.post-54292209594728270402014-03-07T19:20:07.182-08:002014-03-07T19:20:07.182-08:00I do feel the blog was trying to hit the education...I do feel the blog was trying to hit the education aspect(test scores and performance) more so than cultural if you get what im saying, but it was cool seeing it from your perspective and you made some intriguing points.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09590598229852406069noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5905174948295756526.post-1143915257300910552014-03-07T19:17:07.972-08:002014-03-07T19:17:07.972-08:00Wow Gemma the second I started reading your blog m...Wow Gemma the second I started reading your blog my perspective changed!! I knew it was rough in China, but it is deeply saddening to hear the extreme measures some teachers and people go to. Thank you for sharing your opinion it was very interesting and it makes me thankful to live in, should I say, and easy going country like america. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09590598229852406069noreply@blogger.com