posted October 28, 2007 04:13 AM         

I found it interesting, but not really describing much of a problem.

posted October 28, 2007 11:23 PM         

Eleanore, I did find this video worth the viewing time. I cannot stress enough how strongly I personally feel about this disaster in my own backyard.

This video seemed to bring to light how our students really learn, perhaps not everyone caught this? The way our students are learning is via the internet, blogs, email, facebook, word of mouth; cellphone, work, Television, etc. not in a classroom setting at all.

While I commend the students for seeking an education in these manners or by any means necessary... I can't help but feel frightened about the lack of control we have on our childrens influences. Technology is clearly dangerous when we are using to educate via comercials and the like. Seems again, as if our government has had a hand in dumbing us down.

I too, am still looking for solutions...
Thank you

posted October 30, 2007 02:38 AM         

Perhaps I didn't catch that it was tragic because to me the classroom isn't about teaching, but about training. Education is secondary, and the primary reason for education is to make one a better worker and/or soldier (so, learn how to read so that you can follow instructions better, as an example).

I think learning on-line is a viable alternative for many people. Should I ever have kids in my care, I'll certainly look at on-line courses as an alternative to supplement whatever else I use. Btw, Africa is finding this useful, which you can read about in the Utne at news stands now, or click here:
http://www.utne.com/2007-11-01/Africas-Brain-Gain.aspx

As for what I got out of that vid--unintentional as it might've been--is that the classroom environment attempts to teach acceptance of authority. "The Answer is Here." But it's not really there. There was a study that also showed that those who learned in this environment often lacked critical thinking skills, as they just take for granted about whatever they're told--because that's what they learned for hours and years on end, to accept whatever was on the blackboard, in the textbook, and ultimately anything from the mouth of authority. When you spend your formative years believing authority is always right and has all the answers, how can you expect those children to turn into adults that question authority?

And as for commercials, that happens even in public schools, at least in the USA. Just go to a football game for a quick example. Or look in their yearbooks and the like.

Though the real tragedy of the classroom environment is that it's antithetical to learning. For the most part, you don't learn much of anything, you simply memorize and forget. The REAL learning comes in the doing, and what children learn is how to live in a police state without rights and that authority is always right and knows all the answers. The sitting still (so unnatural and unhealthy for children and teens both!)and responding to bells is also part of conditioning them for work in factories. This conditioning turns a great many of them into adults conditioned to live in exactly what we're living in now. (College is better, but still bad until you're a graduate student.)

It not only ruins actual learning and thinking skills, not only teaches a false lesson that learning is not fun (because they mistake learning for the classroom experience), it also makes it much harder for many people to learn how to socialize in that toxic environment (where not only is it arbitrarily divisive and encourages bullying by how it's set up, but even trying to work together with those you CAN get along with is often seen as "disruptive" or even "cheating"--I don't understand those who feel that they needed to go to school to have friends!)

I think I'll end with a comic (put into script form as I don't have any way of recording it visually) from the June 2005 MAD (#454):

Teacher: "There are 40 questions in this 15-minute section. Don't spend too much time on any one question. Begin."

Student: Mrs. Fox? Is the test timed because people who work fast are smarter?

Teacher: No

Student: But the results will decide whether I get into college, right?

Teacher: Partially. Colleges also look at your school transcript.

Student: Which lists grades I got based on their standardized tests.

Teacher: Yes

Student: But if the tests aren't supposed to show who's smarter, then what DO they prove?

Teacher: That you know how to shut up, sit still, and do what you're told

Student: But...

Teacher: 12 minutes left, genius