Read this NY Times article. Why don't more students know this information? Is it important?
10 comments:
Anonymous
said...
Yes, some of the information that was aksed in that survey was important, but some of it we would never use in our lives, depending on our occupation that we choose when se grow up. Some of those questions that were asked in that survey about the literary works, I didn't know either, so when am I going to learn them? I believe that President Bush signing that bill was a huge mistake, because I have an interest in history and literature, and now i have to spend more time working on subjects that don't interest me at all. What are we going to do? :(
I think the reason why people are "flunking" at history and literature is because they are relying too much on what they see on televison, video games, and what they hear. I believe that all history is important and that we shouldn't forget our past and the past of others. Do we really want a repeat of World War II? Nowadays, teens aren't reading anymore. You ask any question about literature and I betcha nobody would know what the heck your talking about. Who wrote the Illiad? What??? Who was Dante Alghieries (Spelling is wrong but oh well!)...WHO???? Who wrote Uncle Tom's Cabin???? Teens these days have no idea. Not only do teens not read but teachers don't push them to read. Instead of reading the book they'll read a 10 page excerpt and then watch the movie....HELLO!!! Also in public school systems, teachers are more worried about science and math, and they forget all about History and Literature/English. Brooke, you don't need to learn these books...you need to read them! Don't rely on teachers to order you to read them (trust me, if they order you to read them they aren't as interesting...read them on your own time), go to the library and check it out! Also Brooke, it doesn't matter what occupation you go in to, History and Literature are probably one of the top three most important things to have for a job (other than Math because believe it or not you use math a lot!) Really, I don't think we can rely on the School Systems to "teach" us these things, we need to get up off our butts and go and do it ourselves...It's actually quite fun!
I agree that most students today don't have a clue about some history and literature. I for one agree with Brooke when she said that some of those questions she couldn't even answer. I had and have a hard time learning anything in history because of the way it is taught to us. Some teachers obviously think that by having us just read the chapter on our own is going to make us learn it. Well, it isn't. We need more time to go over the material and have the teacher "teach" it to us. After all, isn't that what they are there for? Literature and reading is important too. If we had more literature classes and a time set aside for reading and reading only, we could improve alot. I believe the "No Child Left Behind" plan is ridiculous. I guess it is good that President Bush is trying to give everyone an equal chance at getting all the knowledge they can, but the students who are at the head of the class and want to explore different subjects, are getting held back and are not being able to accomplish some of the things they can and want to do.
I dunno. The sooner we get rid of Bush, his little colony of ants will follow...that and the repelition (haha I don't even know if this is a word, but I'm improvising--hang in for a sec) of the NCLB act....
.....I actually enjoy learning history and literature, and not so much the other subjects. I mean, in what career are we going to know how to find the area of a trapezoid that's cut in half? Never.
Sarah, harriet Beecher Stowe wrote "uncle tom's cabin"...just to clarify...
"Some of those questions that were asked in that survey about the literary works, I didn't know either, so when am I going to learn them?" ---How about instead of going on the phone and playing video games Americans just at least TRY and read a book? There are books out there that have impacted the world more than Donkey Kong. People need to realize that.
"...Ms. Cortese and Dr. Ravitch did not directly blame the No Child law for the dismal results but said it had led schools to focus too narrowly on reading and math, crowding time out of the school day for history, literature and other subjects."
See, right now I'm in the most difficult class I think I've ever been in: Geometry. To be in geometry, you better be good at math, which I am. You also have to be, basically, right-brained. If you are, you can see things in a certain perception. I'm left-brained, so I'm basically screwed in that way. Now to actually get onto topic. People who are in math, in my opinion, take it to seriously. If we all used common sense (sure not all of us HAVE some, but the majority of us have a little bit) it would make it so much easier. If I actually had to think in that class, I'd be flunking.
*Rolls eyes* I mean come on. If someone isn't going to be a mathematician or a rocket scientist when they're older, why do we need to know how to find the tangent and geometric mean of a ratio? Or how to dissect a frog *good memories lol...haha!*? We should be more literate when it comes to literature and history. Nothing bugs me more than someone asking, "Like, where is like the Caribbean at like yeah?"--Yes I have been asked this for your information.
It's not that the students are getting dumber; it's the fact that the teachers aren't teaching us the necessary material.
I'm like a psychic: "Well what should teachers be teaching the students?" Well, not about a hunt in Africa, not about what they did over the weekend (no, we really don't want to know that a teacher got wasted over a weekend...I dunno, it's the first thing I though of), or what they did as a student. Instead of screwing around, teachers should jump on things. I mean, are we REALLY going to remember in 20 years that the Earth started creating itself 13 BYA? Uhm, no. I won't be able to remember that in a week.
Like Emily said, teachers don't really teach us. They give us the material to read and then touch on key points, which is a good thing. But if I was a teacher, I wouldn't test if I didn't have to. As a student, I cram and cram for a big science test (well, once in a while, I normally study in band) and then forget it all after I learned it. Testing kids require them to cram it, and then attmept to remember it when it comes time to the STEP test or ACT.
Not only are the students getting lazier, the teachers are too.
I can believe that more kids struggle with history and literature because depending on your interests those subjects can seem very unimportant and difficult to learn. I do also think, though, that they are very important subjects and help us to understand concepts and ideas about how are world and society work. I think the approach a teacher takes has a lot to do with it, but the student's effort is also crucial. When I think of history and literature, I think interesting but overwhelming at the same time. I just don't ever know where to start. The information I want to know and feel like I need to know is so endless that sometimes I think I just file those subjects away in my mind until I have an excessive amount of time to pursue these topics.
History is tough...we all know that if you take AP history. It is boring and you don't remember a thing past the test at the end of the week, so I can understand if there are kids that don't have a clue about history. Even though, I knew quite a few of those questions, I can still see how people would have struggled. But is this stuff really that important? I mean unless you are actually going to teach history, who needs to know the stuff off hand when you can just go and look it up on the internet. There are many facts that I don't know, but I guarantee if you give me five minutes on the internet I could find the answer. So there you have it, you don't need to know all that stuff, just use the resources you have (internet) and you will be able to breeze right through those questions.
I'm going to say students don't learn this as well because most of the history teachers I have had just make you memerize what has happened in that section then test over it and that's about it. Previous information is never used - it's always...learn this...memerize this, then we're done. I understand how most people can quit and just not care; students can easily give up.
On the other hand, if people don't know literature is because nowadays nobody reads, nobody cares, nobody wants to learn, etc. Literature is extremely boring to me, and I don't really care much about it. But, I know that I need to know certain things and it is critical to remember them.
now we all know the evil side of technology.....it takes away the fun of books and makes them "boring" even though they aren't....books takes you to places you've never been before places you never could imagine and now people see them as a hassel and if they have to read a book for class or something, its less enjoyable and sparknotes becomes our best friend.
10 comments:
Yes, some of the information that was aksed in that survey was important, but some of it we would never use in our lives, depending on our occupation that we choose when se grow up. Some of those questions that were asked in that survey about the literary works, I didn't know either, so when am I going to learn them? I believe that President Bush signing that bill was a huge mistake, because I have an interest in history and literature, and now i have to spend more time working on subjects that don't interest me at all. What are we going to do? :(
I think the reason why people are "flunking" at history and literature is because they are relying too much on what they see on televison, video games, and what they hear. I believe that all history is important and that we shouldn't forget our past and the past of others. Do we really want a repeat of World War II? Nowadays, teens aren't reading anymore. You ask any question about literature and I betcha nobody would know what the heck your talking about. Who wrote the Illiad? What??? Who was Dante Alghieries (Spelling is wrong but oh well!)...WHO???? Who wrote Uncle Tom's Cabin???? Teens these days have no idea. Not only do teens not read but teachers don't push them to read. Instead of reading the book they'll read a 10 page excerpt and then watch the movie....HELLO!!! Also in public school systems, teachers are more worried about science and math, and they forget all about History and Literature/English. Brooke, you don't need to learn these books...you need to read them! Don't rely on teachers to order you to read them (trust me, if they order you to read them they aren't as interesting...read them on your own time), go to the library and check it out! Also Brooke, it doesn't matter what occupation you go in to, History and Literature are probably one of the top three most important things to have for a job (other than Math because believe it or not you use math a lot!)
Really, I don't think we can rely on the School Systems to "teach" us these things, we need to get up off our butts and go and do it ourselves...It's actually quite fun!
I agree that most students today don't have a clue about some history and literature. I for one agree with Brooke when she said that some of those questions she couldn't even answer. I had and have a hard time learning anything in history because of the way it is taught to us. Some teachers obviously think that by having us just read the chapter on our own is going to make us learn it. Well, it isn't. We need more time to go over the material and have the teacher "teach" it to us. After all, isn't that what they are there for? Literature and reading is important too. If we had more literature classes and a time set aside for reading and reading only, we could improve alot. I believe the "No Child Left Behind" plan is ridiculous. I guess it is good that President Bush is trying to give everyone an equal chance at getting all the knowledge they can, but the students who are at the head of the class and want to explore different subjects, are getting held back and are not being able to accomplish some of the things they can and want to do.
I dunno. The sooner we get rid of Bush, his little colony of ants will follow...that and the repelition (haha I don't even know if this is a word, but I'm improvising--hang in for a sec) of the NCLB act....
.....I actually enjoy learning history and literature, and not so much the other subjects. I mean, in what career are we going to know how to find the area of a trapezoid that's cut in half? Never.
Sarah, harriet Beecher Stowe wrote "uncle tom's cabin"...just to clarify...
"Some of those questions that were asked in that survey about the literary works, I didn't know either, so when am I going to learn them?"
---How about instead of going on the phone and playing video games Americans just at least TRY and read a book? There are books out there that have impacted the world more than Donkey Kong. People need to realize that.
I'll write more later..it's time to get off =)
'Allo people, the ranter is back
>.<
Anywhos, here's an exerpt from the retarded site:
"...Ms. Cortese and Dr. Ravitch did not directly blame the No Child law for the dismal results but said it had led schools to focus too narrowly on reading and math, crowding time out of the school day for history, literature and other subjects."
See, right now I'm in the most difficult class I think I've ever been in: Geometry. To be in geometry, you better be good at math, which I am. You also have to be, basically, right-brained. If you are, you can see things in a certain perception. I'm left-brained, so I'm basically screwed in that way. Now to actually get onto topic. People who are in math, in my opinion, take it to seriously. If we all used common sense (sure not all of us HAVE some, but the majority of us have a little bit) it would make it so much easier. If I actually had to think in that class, I'd be flunking.
*Rolls eyes* I mean come on. If someone isn't going to be a mathematician or a rocket scientist when they're older, why do we need to know how to find the tangent and geometric mean of a ratio? Or how to dissect a frog *good memories lol...haha!*? We should be more literate when it comes to literature and history. Nothing bugs me more than someone asking, "Like, where is like the Caribbean at like yeah?"--Yes I have been asked this for your information.
It's not that the students are getting dumber; it's the fact that the teachers aren't teaching us the necessary material.
I'm like a psychic: "Well what should teachers be teaching the students?" Well, not about a hunt in Africa, not about what they did over the weekend (no, we really don't want to know that a teacher got wasted over a weekend...I dunno, it's the first thing I though of), or what they did as a student. Instead of screwing around, teachers should jump on things. I mean, are we REALLY going to remember in 20 years that the Earth started creating itself 13 BYA? Uhm, no. I won't be able to remember that in a week.
Like Emily said, teachers don't really teach us. They give us the material to read and then touch on key points, which is a good thing. But if I was a teacher, I wouldn't test if I didn't have to. As a student, I cram and cram for a big science test (well, once in a while, I normally study in band) and then forget it all after I learned it. Testing kids require them to cram it, and then attmept to remember it when it comes time to the STEP test or ACT.
Not only are the students getting lazier, the teachers are too.
Okay, I'm done!!!!
I can believe that more kids struggle with history and literature because depending on your interests those subjects can seem very unimportant and difficult to learn. I do also think, though, that they are very important subjects and help us to understand concepts and ideas about how are world and society work. I think the approach a teacher takes has a lot to do with it, but the student's effort is also crucial. When I think of history and literature, I think interesting but overwhelming at the same time. I just don't ever know where to start. The information I want to know and feel like I need to know is so endless that sometimes I think I just file those subjects away in my mind until I have an excessive amount of time to pursue these topics.
History is tough...we all know that if you take AP history. It is boring and you don't remember a thing past the test at the end of the week, so I can understand if there are kids that don't have a clue about history. Even though, I knew quite a few of those questions, I can still see how people would have struggled. But is this stuff really that important? I mean unless you are actually going to teach history, who needs to know the stuff off hand when you can just go and look it up on the internet. There are many facts that I don't know, but I guarantee if you give me five minutes on the internet I could find the answer. So there you have it, you don't need to know all that stuff, just use the resources you have (internet) and you will be able to breeze right through those questions.
I'm going to say students don't learn this as well because most of the history teachers I have had just make you memerize what has happened in that section then test over it and that's about it. Previous information is never used - it's always...learn this...memerize this, then we're done. I understand how most people can quit and just not care; students can easily give up.
On the other hand, if people don't know literature is because nowadays nobody reads, nobody cares, nobody wants to learn, etc. Literature is extremely boring to me, and I don't really care much about it. But, I know that I need to know certain things and it is critical to remember them.
now we all know the evil side of technology.....it takes away the fun of books and makes them "boring" even though they aren't....books takes you to places you've never been before places you never could imagine and now people see them as a hassel and if they have to read a book for class or something, its less enjoyable and sparknotes becomes our best friend.
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