sounder Digest, Vol 65, Issue 19

[Chris Puttick]

2009/12/10  <sounder-request at lists.ubuntu.com>:
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(much edited, response to conversation rather than particular individuals)

> The problem with modern education isn't the principles, but the way
> many institutions apply them.

This many must be the huge proportion. The nature of my job is such
that the majority of people I meet are graduates or above, and few of
them demonstrate either an interest and skill in learning, nor a great
deal of knowledge; they mostly demonstrate a thin veneer of knowledge
(equivalent to, for example, knowing how a four stroke engine cycle
through the mnemonic "suck, squeeze, bang, blow" but not the meaning
behind the words) and an expectation of being spoon-fed anything they
don't know.

>> They /do/ know Microsoft Office these days, though, and can make a mean
>> Powerpoint presentation.
>
> Which in itself is a HUGE skill; communication is THE way to open
> doors in this world.

But not when it is only Powerpoint you know, and that in a way that
would get you kicked out of the average business presentation; they
should be learning principles of good presentations, methods of
presenting and introduced to several tools that you could present
with, but also taught when not to use electronic aids (please,
particularly the latter...)

>
>> I doubt that 3 out of 100 could figure out how to open the front door
>> of their house if the lock had failed.
>
> Could you? That's the point of locks...

I have a crowbar ;)

> My fear is that the bell curve, while encompassing higher and higher
> 'quality' on the one side, is (most certainly) feeling a slide of
> same on the other side.  The common denominator is becoming more and
> more common.

That is the intended outcome of the UK education system becoming
standardised and continuously assessed; it is far easier to bring up
the average scores by focusing on those below the peak and getting
them up a level than it is to share out attention and bring everyone
along an equivalent distance; this was already becoming an issue when
I was still at school in 1980s and has got worse since (no, I am not a
teacher, but I have worked in schools this side of the millenium)

> Then what will our Creationists have to say?

That that was God's plan?

>> (and is it just another of my own limited perceptions or do most of the
>> Creationists live here in the US?)
>>
>
> I think the most famous and persuasive creationists happen to live in
> certain areas of the US.... that's where the perception comes from.
> It's probably the only developed country that'll give these people the
> time of day anyway, let alone seriously consider allowing them to
> pollute our young people's minds with such ..... wisdom (!)
>
> > Now that's piqued my curiosity as well.  Here in the US there have been
> > a number of lawsuits over teaching of evolution in public schools and
> > wether creationism or 'intelligent design' as it has been retooled,
> > can or should be taught alongside it.  I don't doubt there are a wide
> > range of beliefs in most cultures, but are there actually court battles
> > over it, outside the US?

Sadly, not court battles as such, but I believe one or more of the new
academies (semi-independent state-funded schools) has been teaching
creationism as part of science lessons.

Chris

>
> End of sounder Digest, Vol 65, Issue 19
> ***************************************
>

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