Why are kids so stupid?

One of my favourite quotes is from Mark Twain.

It goes something like:

"When I was 16 I couldn't believe just how stupid my father was.When I was 21 I was amazed at how much he'd learn't in just 5 years."

WolfofWar - Thanks for clearing that up! Did I mention that we live in California? Another reason to recall Davis?
We just had back to school night last week and my sons teacher was telling us to pay extra close attention to his math work this year. He is in 6th grade but the math is 7th grade level due to what the school board has implemented. She suggested to all of us that actually attended - to get our child a tutor now, because we're going to need it. She doesn't have enough hours in the day to give any child extra help

With all the rave parties & all the xctasy pill popping going on, it's not a surprise people are losing more than just a few brain cells.

This reminds me of "Brave New World". Is this a precursor to the soma? Yikes.

My upbringing was considerably different than most other people my age. In the 10th & 11th grades I was home schooled. At lunch my Grandfather and I would walk down the street to the corner restaurant almost every day. We would sit there for, sometimes, 3 hours, discussing the world's problems and solutions, and drinking WAAAYYY too much iced tea. That was when I began to develop a personal interest in history and psychology. Not the packs of lies fed to me at school, but the unedited history and progression of the country. I never could convince myself to commit to memory, any curriculum that was untrue or intentionally misleading, unless it was needed to get a good grade. Outside of school, though, I loved to investigate and discuss everything.

I think that we are failing our children by assuming that schools., not parents are the deciding factor in the mental development and expansion of young minds. If parents feel that their children are not getting the quality of education they deserve, then the parents need to take personal responsibility for their kid's education and pursue whatever course of action is needed to correct the situation. Parents, and not the public school system or the government, have the power and obligation to provide for, protect and educate their children


In addition to the core school subjects, I think all kids should be taught about the different aspects of psychology, and how it affects the way we act, interact and feel. It is my theory that the more a person (including a child) is aware of the motivations and effects of different actions/reactions, the less likely it is that they will act/react without thinking first.

They should also be exposed to philosophy. The ability to ponder, theorize and investigate the different ideals and theories that have, and still do, influence the world's different cultures, creates a desire to understand, rather than assimilate or destroy, that which conflicts with, or is different from their own philosophy. It teaches kids to respect that which is different, rather than fear it.

A good way to ensure that a young person will care about their own education, is to teach by example. If parents can't demonstrate a personal willingness to learn and an openness to the thoughts and ideas of others, why should their kids? Also, a child should never feel like they cannot talk to their parents about problems or questions they might have. Parents, acting in the best interest of their kids, should be able to set aside any personal bias in order to listen to and answer their kids with the same honesty and respect that they expect themselves.

These are just ideas I've been pondering lately. Any thoughts on the inclusion of philosophy and psychology into the curriculum of 5th , 6th, 7th, or 8th graders?

Jezebel - You should be a teacher - You have what it takes
(but promise me when you do that you'll move to San Jose-LOL)

it dosnt seam to me that there lieing about our history (Other then UFO's and mind controle eta..eta..)

most of what it seamed in modern world history it made us "USA" look like a big pusharound

I think you were looking for "pushover" ?

Anyway, I have a question for you.
OK, Actually two questions.

1. What grade are you in?

2. What do you know about the Vietnam "War"?


I'm not in any way shape or form going to come down on you. I'm only curious about what you have been learning in public school.

I've been telling everyone I know all the whole.

Illumination not education.

wtf?

my replay dint show up, wierd

anyway im in 10th grade

OPS lol i did it in the wrong fourm here is my old replay



im in 10th

i took MWH in 9th i dint do to good in that class

about vietnam i know we had a long time on it in class but seamed like we were there to rout out some "terorist" to help save the them?

this was in the very beggining of the year and i had other things on my mind then so i dint

*learn* all i should have