08 Jul 07
Originally posted by agrysonMy opinion: The purpose of education is to both pass along as much of a culture's knowledge as possible as well as to provide a variety of information and experiences so that when children reach the age of choice, they will know enough about their interests, gifts, and talents to be able to make the choices that will maximize their ability to contribute to society as well as their ability to achieve personal happiness and meet their own goals.
Not excuses, simply my interpretation of his meaning. I could've been wrong about it too. Calm down.
08 Jul 07
Originally posted by scottishinnzeducation is strictly about numbers and words and it oppresses creativity; mine does anyways.
Wouldn't an even better way be just to keep them dumb then? Don't you see education as a liberator - it gives you more options, and generally more freedoms than stupidity does.
08 Jul 07
Originally posted by scottishinnzWhat pwrson? Trig?
I never said it was. But how many Joe Q Publics do you know who routinely use, say trig, or calculus in their day to day lives? I know I certainly don't. And I'm pretty sure that if I asked most of my buddies how to do anything beyond simple maths they'd have trouble.
Always attacking the person rather than debating the issue - nothing changes, eh Narg?
08 Jul 07
Originally posted by pawnhandleryou're statistically unlikely to find someone who remembers trig.
My opinion: The purpose of education is to both pass along as much of a culture's knowledge as possible as well as to provide a variety of information and experiences so that when children reach the age of choice, they will know enough about their interests, gifts, and talents to be able to make the choices that will maximize their ability to contribute to society as well as their ability to achieve personal happiness and meet their own goals.
actually, i think US liberal arts majors stop at college algebra, and have trouble with that. so they can be thankful their younger days weren't crammed with useless maths knowledge (or at least, not much).
they did aptitude testing in high school, back then (20 yrs ago). (not counting standard testing, they did that around 6th grade, now it starts at 2nd grade in california.)
08 Jul 07
I think this is a fairly fundamental question.
For some, the purpose of education is to turn out well-behaved, compliant employees.
For others, it is about social enrichment - learning for its own sake.
Obviously, the education system has to furnish everyone with the tools to function within society, but that aside I'm very much in the 2nd camp.
re trig, I've never used it once since I left university in 1984, and I can see myself struggling with my sons' homework soon enough.
08 Jul 07
Originally posted by pawnhandlerThat would be my own view, it fulfills the nations economic needs while also providing enrichment and choice of career to the person being educated. For instance, when I was in school, I had to take French, but couldn't possibly foresee a need for it. Down the road though, it gave me options.
My opinion: The purpose of education is to both pass along as much of a culture's knowledge as possible as well as to provide a variety of information and experiences so that when children reach the age of choice, they will know enough about their interests, gifts, and talents to be able to make the choices that will maximize their ability to contribute to society as well as their ability to achieve personal happiness and meet their own goals.
Of course it means that every student will have subjects they won't ever use, but by leaving no stone unturned, it allows all positions in society to be filled, more importantly, by people who WANT to take up those positions.
08 Jul 07
Originally posted by scottishinnzI think it depends on the system, but some, like the old Russian education system, or arguably the Chinese education system depends too much on rote learning of facts and processes, without teaching the person how to arrive at such things themselves.
Education oppresses creativity? How so?
08 Jul 07
Originally posted by scottishinnzYep. I've taken Japanese, and my mother has joked about visiting Japan and claiming her name was "Vivian Lely." 🙄
Indeedy. It's a knock on the fact that, even at a high level, they still struggle with l/r pronunciation.
However, I must confess nothing but respect for most of the students, as I know how hard learning Japanese is, and English must be equally difficult for them.
And, in agreement, for the (first-hand) record, Japanese is very difficult for someone whose first language is English. 😉
08 Jul 07
1 edit
Originally posted by scottishinnzI think teaching advanced subjects such as Trig, Calculus, etc. are not so much for actually understanding the concepts but more understanding the process(es) involved.
I never said it was. But how many Joe Q Publics do you know who routinely use, say trig, or calculus in their day to day lives? I know I certainly don't. And I'm pretty sure that if I asked most of my buddies how to do anything beyond simple maths they'd have trouble.
Always attacking the person rather than debating the issue - nothing changes, eh Narg?
08 Jul 07
Originally posted by wittywonkaMy unadjusted 2 cents for what its worth is that imoho, you have just described the problem with most education.
I think teaching advanced subjects such as Trig, Calculus, etc. are not so much for actually understanding the concepts but more understanding the process(es) involved.
If it only teaches processes and not concepts, you just end up with a bunch of dumb bunnies without a clue as to what any of what they may be doing means, and as a result of that, any thought that that sort of education will liberate or lead the young to the discovery or invention of any profoundly new thing, is totally flawed.
09 Jul 07
Originally posted by kmax87But that was not the original purpose of public education. The thought that education would liberate or lead the young to discovery is (aside from occasional bursts like the Montessori movement) a very new one. But since you've been taught how to read, you also have the tools you need to discover that which interests you. Go discover or invent your new thing. You have school holidays and summer vacations -- but if you spend them here with us or playing computer games, then you can't really blame adults for your lack of liberation and creativity.
My unadjusted 2 cents for what its worth is that imoho, you have just described the problem with most education.
If it only teaches processes and not concepts, you just end up with a bunch of dumb bunnies without a clue as to what any of what they may be doing means, and as a result of that, any thought that that sort of education will liberate or lead the young to the discovery or invention of any profoundly new thing, is totally flawed.
09 Jul 07
Originally posted by pawnhandlerI Like RHP Debates Forum. I get younger at every post.
But that was not the original purpose of public education. The thought that education would liberate or lead the young to discovery is (aside from occasional bursts like the Montessori movement) a very new one. But since you've been taught how to read, you also have the tools you need to discover that which interests you. Go discover or invent your ne ...[text shortened]... computer games, then you can't really blame adults for your lack of liberation and creativity.
09 Jul 07
1 edit
Originally posted by kmax87No, no, I didn't mean you when I said "the young" -- I'm talking about a trend in education. You're like a senior in high school or somewhere around there ... just graduated or something. Sorry.
I Like RHP Debates Forum. I get younger at every post.
Edit: Wait -- you're the one who said "the young" and so I repeated it. Never mind.