24 replies to this topic

[zaccariah2005]

leo2car, on Apr 10 2007, 05:14 PM, said:

I want to kill the people that says Israel is Muslim and a terror organization.

you do know that these people aren't haters, right? they are just ignorant. They don't care. You would kill somebody for being ignorant? Cuz, most of us are ignorant to alot of things that happen in the world.

[Reincarnation]

Be wary of attitudes toward the ignorant. One becomes ignorant when one can't accept the ignorance of others. Work against it, but don't hate people for it.

I suppose that since we're all tested like nuts on math and reading at all grades because of No Child Left Behind, we won't have the same kind of attention paid to social studies (which is precisely what most of the people in the video seemed to lack an understanding of). How can we if all we're doing is drilling for a high-stakes exam? Good thing you are all at Tech, with some of the best social studies teachers out there, or you could have very well turned into one of those buffoons.

[DBest]

katinka, on Apr 10 2007, 06:11 PM, said:

What does no child left behind have to do with this? Not that i think its perfect, but what does it have to do with this?

He's trying to say that because of that system, more kids are able to advance to the next grade which normally shouldn't happen. It makes it so that more kids who doesn't pass the criteria from the last grade move on which is kind of making a statement that more dumb or academically challenged kids are passing.

[MsCookieMonst3r]

I have to disagree with Reincarnation...

sure math and reading is emphasized in standardized tests but history is also a big part of out curriculum...and i personally think that we students are old enough to take initiative and keep up with current events.

[Reincarnation]

At the high school level, I agree with you somewhat. It's what goes on in elementary schools that concerns me. If all that "matters" in high-stakes examinations are reading and math in elementary school, there would likely be little time for other subjects like social studies; where would the incentive be to teach it if it didn't adversely effect the school's standings? Without the groundwork laid in elementary school, where would such students pick up on their necessary learning in social studies? And to the high school students referred to, it takes initiative to pick up a newspaper, read news sources online, or even to flip the channel to the news. While I'm sure a Brooklyn Tech student would likely have some of that initiative, you'd be surprised what happens outside. Brooklyn Tech is, unfortunately, by no means a representation of average students (unfortunate in this argument, but fortunate cause you're all good like that).