American kids, dumber than dirt

[Holt's Cat]

You are absolutely right. One of the biggest threats to America is the advancement of technology and with this it is going to eliminate many jobs that used to be done manually. we are seeing the beginning of this right now at your local grocery store. A self checkout, what the !!!

Down with advancement. Down with advancement.

[Yonivore]

But several experts on the public health impact of climate change, having reviewed Gerberding's testimony, said there were no inconsistencies between the original testimony and the IPCC's recent reports.

"That's nonsense," in the words of University of Wisconsin at Madison public health professor Jonathan Patz, who served as an IPCC lead author for its 2007, 2001 and 1995 reports. I pointed out a glaring inconsistency with the IPCC report. Ground-level ozone and airborne pollutants have never been claimed, by the IPCC, to be a causal factor in global warm...er, climate change.

So why edit it?

They said why. The CDC Director was out of her area of expertise.

That's suspcious to me, especially considering this administration hasn't been one to take up very noticeable concern for the idea of global warming.

I think you're confusing their dubiousness over anthropogenic global climate change with the fact we all realize the globe is getting somewhat warmer...possibly due to a completely natural cycle over which man can exert absolutely no influence.

I think that's downright deceitful. If her report had no inconsistencies or false information, nor lacked credible evidence to support the claims, why should any of it been edited?

Do you want the head of the NOAA making predictions on the spread of hoof in mouth disease?

Again, the opinion of University of Wisconsin at Madison public health professor Jonathan Patz, who served as an IPCC lead author for its 2007, 2001 and 1995 reports, notwithstanding, the White House's scientific policy director believed there was 1) insufficient time to properly review the testimony, it being submitted a mere 24 hours before it was to be given, 2) inconsistencies with IPCC -- even if not from your view or that of Prof Patz -- from the view of the White House and, I think, aptly demonstrated from that one excerpt I found; and 3) a deviation from the witnesses area of expertise...also demonstrated by the one excerpt I quoted.

[Holt's Cat]

It's not a coincidence that the performance of American students has declined with the expanding involvement of the federal government in K through 12th grade education over the last four decades.

But the federal government isn't solely to blame. A lot of the problem is cultural. We Americans take educational success for granted. Children are supposed to accomplish at least as much as their parents did, regardless if they have really earned it or not. Everyone is above average. The high school diploma has lost any significance as an indicator of competence and accomplishment. I'd argue the same holds true in many instances for the holder of an undergraduate degree.

We as a society do not have any patience. As anyone who has accomplished anything academically knows, patience is a key component of succeeding in the classroom. We want it all now. We want low taxes and we want the government to spend a lot. We don't have time to wait so we max out our credit cards. We are leveraged to the hilt. Those who study are nerds. Just give me my paper so someone will pay me $100K a year. I'm en led, damn it.

[101A]

...The high school diploma has lost any significance as an indicator of competence and accomplishment. I'd argue the same holds true in many instances for the holder of an undergraduate degree.

Absolutely.

The quality of the undergraduate degree, however, varies with the university, and the degree.

B.S. Chemistry >>>>>> B.A. in History >> B.A. in Education

My wife sits on the comittee that reviews applications to the university she teaches at. They pretty much completely ignore high school GPA, class standing, etc.. A candidates attractiveness/ability is judges just about soley on the SAT and ACT. The diploma itself is not an indicator of anything.

[Nbadan]

Absolutely.

The quality of the undergraduate degree, however, varies with the university, and the degree.

B.S. Chemistry >>>>>> B.A. in History >> B.A. in Education

My wife sits on the comittee that reviews applications to the university she teaches at. They pretty much completely ignore high school GPA, class standing, etc.. A candidates attractiveness/ability is judges just about soley on the SAT and ACT. The diploma itself is not an indicator of anything.

You can make a argument that both the SAT and ACT may not be a valid measurements of complex thought in some areas....although it probably is for the sciences......but probably not for the Business and Humanities....look at that guy Kerkokian who just purchased all that Tesoro stock, didn't graduate from the 8th grade...to make that kinda bread takes cohones that you can't measure on any piece of paper....

[101A]

You can make a argument that both the SAT and ACT may not be a valid measurements of complex thought in some areas....although it probably is for the sciences......but probably not for the Business and Humanities....look at that guy Kerkokian who just purchased all that Tesoro stock, didn't graduate from the 8th grade...to make that kinda bread takes cohones that you can't measure on any piece of paper....

Cojones (sic.)

I bet he would have done just fine on the tests.

And it's not that the tests are all knowing; it's that the grades are completely worthless.

[Nbadan]

Dropout factories - the interactive map