Beyond.........Astounding, Even Shocking........Flabbergasting......

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   gmwilliamsposted 8 years ago

   
   Several young Americans were questioned about World War II.  Many of those questioned didn't know what World War Ii was.  Also, they didn't know how the Allied & Axis powers were.  It is further astounding that they didn't know WHO won World War II. 
   
   Now in another vein, some high school students in an elite school in Seattle were asked about historical questions which every American should know; however, none could name when the Revolutionary War & Civil War occurred.  One student stated that the Civil War occurred at the time when the Revolutionary War actually occurred. 
   
   Many Americans aren't cognizant of geography.  When asked to name countries that begin with a "U"- one indicated Utopia.  What are people learning & reading...........This is an abysmal state of affairs. Your thoughts?

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      Credence2posted 8 years agoin reply to this

      It is appalling, ignorance among our young people will be the seeds for America's decline. It won't matter your political orientation.

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         gmwilliamsposted 8 years agoin reply to this

         It is beyond appalling.  It is beyond inexcusable.  It seems that our American young people are more concerned about the private lives of celebrities than important historical facts.  There are those among them who strongly proclaim that history is totally irrelevant in their lives.  They dismiss history, indicating that history is.......PAST.......

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      rhamsonposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      “We're doomed to repeat the past no matter what. That's what it is to be alive. It's pretty dense kids who haven't figured that out by the time they're ten.... Most kids can't afford to go to Harvard and be misinformed.”
      ― Kurt Vonnegut
      
      "What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun."
      --Ecclesiastes 1:9
      
      We are doomed as a species, hell bent on destroying that which we build only to rebuild it later again and again. Murder, greed and deception seems to be in the makeup of our DNA. What is really pathetic is many know this and refuse to do anything about it.

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   colorfuloneposted 8 years ago

   Flabbergasting!   Donald Trump Jr. opened up and gutted the academic problem in schools.   He is very knowledgeable of the educational problem in America.  As he so well addressed in his speech at the RNC.
   *  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tI2CE2ivxY
   
   There has been a deliberate dumbing down of America.

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   ahorsebackposted 8 years ago

   Only those , when young , who have a natural interest in reading , history ,  politics ,  education and actually maturing   impress me at all  and there are actually many of them ! But the majority of our young   ,between  seventeen  and thirty five  are  actually extremely immature , historically shallow  and  uninformed.
   
   I also believe a lot of them dwell  here in political forums , proudly showing that lack of maturity !   In the area where I live  most of them are interested in partying  , sex , drugs and alcohol.

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   colorfuloneposted 8 years ago

   Amen!
   
   And, this is not about Trump and he knows it. 
   (I've said that a few times.)

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   IslandBitesposted 8 years ago

   Nothing new. In 2002 National Geographic–Roper Global Geographic Literacy Survey, about 11 percent of young citizens of the U.S. couldn't even locate the U.S. on a map. The Pacific Ocean's location was a mystery to 29 percent; Japan, to 58 percent; France, to 65 percent; and the United Kingdom, to 69 percent. Within the U.S., almost one-third said that population was between one billion and two billion; the answer is 289 million.
   
   In 2006 six in ten young American adults were unable to locate Iraq on a map of the world. Nearly one-third of Americans between the ages of 18 and 24 could not locate Louisiana, and nearly half were unable to identify Mississippi. Only 50 percent of the kids could find New York State on a map of the United States.
   
   A 2008 study by the Intercollegiate Studies Institute, which surveyed more than 2,500 Americans, found that only half of adults in the country could name the three branches of government.
   
   According to a study conducted in 2013 by the U.S. Department of Education and the National Institute of Literacy, 32 million adults in the U.S. can't read. That's 14 percent of the population. 21 percent of adults in the U.S. read below a 5th grade level, and 19 percent of high school graduates can't read.
   
   Unfortunately, US is an ignorant society.

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      gmwilliamsposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Oh, please say this ISN'T so.................
      
      
      It is FAR WORSE than what I thought.

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   Kathryn L Hillposted 8 years ago

   Today I went to the movies and saw The Secret Life of Pets. The beginning of this movie is really funny and cute. The animation captures our pets so perfectly. Now, this is a funny movie and I was laughing.  A lady a couple of seats over told me to "shut up already!!!"  I guessed she really didn't see the humor!!!!

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      colorfuloneposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      I am so sorry that happened to you.  Some people have complete disregard for pets, and are sadistic in nature.  Which you are not.

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         Kathryn L Hillposted 8 years agoin reply to this

         The meanest of all the animals is a white bunny who had been discarded by his magician owner. He leads the underground animal society which consists of a multitude of cast-aside angry human-hating animals. The action part of this movie is over the top and probably very scary for young children. They should not see it. The older ones will appreciate the humor and the point of the movie which ends on a positive note. ( the bunny gets adopted… sorry …)
         Kids today are very smart as they have been exposed to so much. They are very aware and are in touch with the pulse of our society. Maybe they don't know certain things not taught by ignorant teachers, but they go on internet tutorials and teach themselves many things such as drawing their favorite animation characters or learning their favorite tunes using various keyboard capabilities via i phones, i pads etc. Many know, (and are fascinated by,) the latest space exploration vehicles and what planets they are orbiting or on.
         So, take heart.

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            colorfuloneposted 8 years agoin reply to this

            Who is greater in us? ... then he who is  in the world?

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   Kathryn L Hillposted 8 years ago

   When Math teachers and History teachers learn how to teach, our kids might become more interested. The kids of today require a different learning environment than in the past. There are many reasons for this.

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      ahorsebackposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      This isn't directed AT you Kathryn ;
      
      That happening is entirely dependent upon parents- becoming parents again !    Teachers , like our cops , like $7.00  an hour day care workers , like the state or federal government  welfare agencies , ARE NOT YOU KIDS PARENTS  !       
      
      The new modern day,  day care is an I phone  and the TV. !     Our kids are so dumbed down that they will never catch up again- except for those who do it on their own !

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         gmwilliamsposted 8 years agoin reply to this

         Parents have to step to their educational responsibility.  The primary & first teachers of children are their parents.  However, there are parents who believe that whatever children learn aren't theirs but the teachers' responsibility.   It is an abdication of parental responsibility. 
         
         Children who are smart & voracious learners have parents who encourage education in the home.  When education & learning isn't encouraged in the home environment, children are doomed from the start unless the children are extremely self-motivated.  There are engaged parents then there are parents who believe that somehow children should learn by osmosis w/very little or no participation on their parts.
         
         Also education, class, & family size plays into children's learning.  On the average, lower middle, working, & lower class parents are the least involved in their children's education.  They feel that educating children are teachers' jobs, not theirs.  They believe that it isn't their job to educate & teach their children.  They furthermore believe that children should learn on their own.  Solidly middle, upper middle, & upper class parents are the most involved in their children's education & learning.  These are the parents who are at teacher-parent meetings.  They also have books & other intellectual paraphernalia in the home.  They also expose their children to intellectual activities beyond school.
         
         The more educated parents are, the more education & learning are encouraged. Conversely, the less educated parents are, the less education & learning are encouraged.  After all, parents can't impart what they are incapable of or don't authentically know.   Studies furthermore confirm that parents of small families are more engaged & involved w/their children's learning.  There are also more adult interaction which is beneficial for the intellectual development of children in small families.  In contrast, the large family environment have little or no parental involvement.  Parents in large families don't teach children nor help them w/their homework.  There are also no books nor any type of intellectual paraphernalia in large family homes.  In fact, educational & academic achievement aren't stressed in large family households.  The rule is that children learn on their own or from each other.  Parents from large families believe that children should learn on their own w/no participation on their part.

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            Kathryn L Hillposted 8 years agoin reply to this

            Yes, If the parents AND teachers care, the children will care. If the parents put focus on developing the mind and intelligence, their kids will too. The parents need to show the teachers they support them, trust them and are thankful for them. Teachers need a lot of encouragement.
            Parents can help them. (The administrators are no help.)

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