Math Wars -- Old vs New

[BlueStarLizzard]

But how many of you have made their child's teacher cry?

i made a couple teachers cry. but then again, i was the kid. 

my thoughts on the public education situation:
1. elementary should be basics. and when i say elemetary, by the end the kids should be ready for a g.e.d. in other words it shoudl last longer and teach more. elementary should be just that, your basic education. basic maths, basic everyone needs to know science, reading/writing skills (emphisise on reading skills) and a solid history corse including world and american history. not academics should be tought only to a certain exstent and be stuff like home ec- how to cook a decent nutritional meal, how to sew a patch and how to replace a button, cleaning/maintaining a house  (for both boys and girls), basic mechanics- stuff like changing tires, changing oil, running and maintaining everyday equitment (boys and girls), gym and maybe a couple other things.
2. at about 15/16 the kids (with parental imput and guidance conselers) decide weither they want a college track or a technical track. by the end of high school they could/should have the equivalent of an associates degree or the capibilty to go straight into the job force with a viable career.
3. ages are flexable. i.e. you don't pass the class, you have to repeat until you pass. no more grades of kids based on age. more like college in that you have a certain amount of classes that have to be on your transcripts to graduate.

unfortunatly pigs will fly before anyone goes for my idea.

[Tallpine]

Bluestar - what you are describing used to be called an "eigth grade education"

(some of that would have been learned at home, along with skinning a buck and running a trot-line)

[BlueStarLizzard]

Bluestar - what you are describing used to be called an "eigth grade education"

(some of that would have been learned at home, along with skinning a buck and running a trot-line)

it worked didn't it?

see, thats what i'm saying!

[wmenorr67]

Bluestar - what you are describing used to be called an "eigth grade education"

(some of that would have been learned at home, along with skinning a buck and running a trot-line)

And a country boy can survive.

I know I am doing my best to make sure my children can at least survive in todays world.  I have one child that will probably not go to college right out of high school, my other one it is all up to him.  But even the one that doesn't go to college will at least know enough to get a job to support herself.