Re: Interesting Unicef report


Chicago Paddling-Fishing wrote:
Lee <REM0VElbspamtrap@xxxxxxx> wrote:

I've been away for 10 days, so am just catching up.
Anyhow, I am quite surprised to see John grandstanding
on the subject of education and school standards, at
the same time as making posts littered with errors,
such as:

Hmmm... your a thesbian and a english professor?

(We all make mistakes and typos, but four in one short
sentence is bad even by usenet standards.)

But worse, while asserting his concern for educational
standards, he then says that he doesn't care about
standard in English, saying:

For stuff that matters I just let the grammer checker take care
of it... there are far more important details to worry about...

John, when you say:

Do you think those countries allow schools to function as
long as 15%-25% of their students are at grade level? Do think
that learning and feeling like they have a good chance at a
successful future is important to kids, their self esteem and
happiness (both present and future)?

Don't you realize that ability to communicate in good English
forms a large part of a kid's ability to make a grade, and to have
a good chance of future success?

[And Hugh, you are being rather quiet; aren't you usually quite
vocal on this topic, or is that only when atheists or gays are
involved? ;-) ]

Anyhow, since you ask, I personally support a voucher system.
I think that non-government schools would likely (as in so
much else) do better than the state-run version.

However, in line with church/state separation, and for the
good of the kids, I would maintain that voucher/taxpayer-funded
schools should follow an educationally-driven curriculum, not a
religiously-driven one. They should also not have a religious
entrance test.

The reason why the Netherlands does OK with schools
with religious connections is that they still follow a secular
curriculum, and any religious influence is minor. If we allowed
faith schools in the US we'd have all sorts of crackpot stuff
funded by the taxpayer, to the detriment of actual education.

Chimp

.

Relevant Pages

  • Alarming drop in UK educational standards
    ... SINGAPORE SCHOOLS VERSUS WESTERN ONES ... Alarming drop in UK educational standards ... Singapore education system depends on private tuition rather than what ...
    (soc.culture.singapore)
  • Re: OT: Do we need a law?
    ... have to insure the schools meet US standards. ... If we require kids who live in the US to receive ... an education, why in hell would we let a loophole ... standards are set by the states. ...
    (rec.audio.opinion)
  • Re: Why Not Religion in Public Schools?
    ... We subsidize basic education because it's valuable to our ... useful - hence educational standards. ... inevitable result of allowing religious training in public schools ... religion would be represented as fairly as possible. ...
    (talk.origins)
  • Re: OT: Do we need a law?
    ... have to insure the schools meet US standards. ... home schooling is by state standards, not fed's, BTW ... is sending the kids off for a religious education.. ... You may not like the religion, ...
    (rec.audio.opinion)
  • Education Without School: How It Can Be Done
    ... A Special Supplement: Education Without School: How It Can Be Done ... students submit to certified teachers in order to obtain certificates ... conceive of a different style of learning. ... The alternative to dependence on schools is not ...
    (sci.med.psychobiology)