Xref: utzoo sci.math:5402 sci.physics:5587 comp.edu:1900 Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!sco!brianm From: brianm@sco.COM (Brian Moffet) Newsgroups: sci.math,sci.physics,comp.edu Subject: Re: Are Americans Intellectually Inferior? Message-ID: <2085@scolex> Date: 17 Jan 89 17:47:17 GMT References: <14.UUL1.3#913@acw.UUCP> Reply-To: brianm@sco.COM (Brian Moffet) Organization: The Santa Cruz Operation, Inc. Lines: 51 In article johnm@uts.amdahl.com (John Murray) writes: >In article <14.UUL1.3#913@acw.UUCP>, scott@acw.UUCP (Scott Guthery) writes: >> Bret Jolly wonders if Americans are intellectually inferior. The >> answer is a resounding "Really!" ... translation: Yes. This >> is first and foremost a result of being subjected to a public >> education system that is run solely for the benefit of the unions >> that control it. > >If unions and public schools are to blame, then how come kids in other >countries seem to be smarter? The US isn't the only nation with public >schools and teachers' unions. #define SOAPBOX TRUE Actually, the teachers and Unions are not to blame so much for the schooling that children recieve in the States. I would have to say the lack of respect for educators is partially responsible for this low education. Why Should I, who makes over 30K a year, go teach at a school where I would probably make half that. I was lucky. I had parents who taught me to think, and to ask questions. I also had a physics teacher in high school who loved what he was doing. He loved to show his students how physics worked in real life! My "elders", so to speak, were not the type to get in the way of my learning (even if they had to put the vacuum cleaner back together) and I learned a lot. However, I also learned to dis-respect the schooling system in the US. The US seems to believe the saying "Those who can't, teach". They are not willing to make it worth my while to teach people in subjects that I have an active interest in. I would like to say this, I will probably get my teaching credentials and start teaching children. I enjoy watching and helping people learn about their surroundings. I will not do this for the money, I will do it because I believe I can make a difference. But, in order to get children to really learn, a system has to be set up to allow people to not hurt themselves financially in order to make this difference. #define SOAPBOX FALSE Oh well, enough spouting off. brian moffet -- Brian Moffet {uunet,decvax!microsoft,ucscc}!sco!brianm -or- ...sco!alar!brian "I was everything you wanted me to be. You were afraid, I was frightening." My fish and company have policies. I have opinions.