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Confessions of a High School Math Tutor
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Dec 27, 2014 13:31:29   #
CarolSeer2016
 
Or how I came to discover what is wrong with the present American Education System.

On my first day of tutoring at the small rural high school just east of the Springs, I observed students staring blankly at both teacher and blackboard (whiteboard?).

Months later, these same students were outdoing each other in their eagerness to work problems on the board.

What happened?

That first day, I realized these children---adolescents---considered themselves unimportant, for the simple reason they felt their thoughts were unimportant.

So first I made sure they actually used their minds. I told them: "I don't want you to believe something is true just because I tell you it is true---I want you to see it AS YOU UNDERSTAND IT IN YOUR OWN MIND." In other words, reason it through. And therefore question, always question, until you do understand. And never forget, I myself might be wrong.

I also told them: "If I make a mistake, be sure to tell me---don't let me continue on and make a complete fool of myself." And I deliberately made mistakes until they realized not only can Teacher sometimes be wrong, but that making mistakes wasn't going to k**l them.

And I quoted Lincoln: "Send me a man who is not afraid to make a fool out of himself".

Ultimately, they learned that their thoughts and their own unique thought processes were both significant and valuable, and it's okay to make mistakes, because if you are not making mistakes, you're not taking enough risks,---and without risk-taking there can be no progress, individually or socially.

And that is how the present American Education System have been graduating marching morons: by pressuring children to conform. That is one reason people no longer believe they, as individuals, have either significance or value. No matter what Bill Ayers wants the public to think about his educational regime.

Remember, it has a stronger and longer lasting effect if children AND adults THINK they came up with it all by themselves!

Reply
Dec 27, 2014 14:55:15   #
Richard Rowland
 
Makes sense too me!

Reply
Dec 27, 2014 15:19:29   #
CarolSeer2016
 
Richard Rowland wrote:
Makes sense too me!


I wonder if it would make sense to Susan Douglas, University of Michigan communications professor. As I've said before, you can lead a horse (or jackass) to water, but you can't make them drink!

Reply
 
 
Dec 27, 2014 15:34:28   #
2bltap Loc: Move to the Mainland
 
CarolSeer2016 wrote:
Or how I came to discover what is wrong with the present American Education System.

On my first day of tutoring at the small rural high school just east of the Springs, I observed students staring blankly at both teacher and blackboard (whiteboard?).

Months later, these same students were outdoing each other in their eagerness to work problems on the board.

What happened?
That first day, I realized these children---adolescents---considered themselves unimportant, for the simple reason they felt their thoughts were unimportant.

So first I made sure they actually used their minds. I told them: "I don't want you to believe something is true just because I tell you it is true---I want you to see it AS YOU UNDERSTAND IT IN YOUR OWN MIND." In other words, reason it through. And therefore question, always question, until you do understand. And never forget, I myself might be wrong.

I also told them: "If I make a mistake, be sure to tell me---don't let me continue on and make a complete fool of myself." And I deliberately made mistakes until they realized not only can Teacher sometimes be wrong, but that making mistakes wasn't going to k**l them.

And I quoted Lincoln: "Send me a man who is not afraid to make a fool out of himself".

Ultimately, they learned that their thoughts and their own unique thought processes were both significant and valuable, and it's okay to make mistakes, because if you are not making mistakes, you're not taking enough risks,---and without risk-taking there can be no progress, individually or socially.

And that is how the present American Education System have been graduating marching morons: by pressuring children to conform. That is one reason people no longer believe they, as individuals, have either significance or value. No matter what Bill Ayers wants the public to think about his educational regime.

Remember, it has a stronger and longer lasting effect if children AND adults THINK they came up with it all by themselves!
Or how I came to discover what is wrong with the p... (show quote)


CarolSeer2016- Thank you for sharing that! I wonder if you sent this to the educational powers that be what they would do with it? Probably nothing I fear because it wouldn't fit there agendas of brainwashing our children into c*******tic thinking!

Semper Fi to imaginative educators

Reply
Dec 27, 2014 15:48:15   #
CarolSeer2016
 
2bltap wrote:
CarolSeer2016- Thank you for sharing that! I wonder if you sent this to the educational powers that be what they would do with it? Probably nothing I fear because it wouldn't fit there agendas of brainwashing our children into c*******tic thinking!

Semper Fi to imaginative educators


Thanks. I wanted everyone to know that I have had direct experience of L*****t-Socialist orientation in education. How our children are learning to think all the same-same!!

Reply
Dec 27, 2014 15:49:10   #
CarolSeer2016
 
CarolSeer2016 wrote:
I wonder if it would make sense to Susan Douglas, University of Michigan communications professor. As I've said before, you can lead a horse (or jackass) to water, but you can't make them drink!


Reply to self:
Maybe it should be you can lead a horse-jackass to water, but you can't make them THINK!!

Reply
Dec 27, 2014 15:54:19   #
robert66
 
CarolSeer2016 wrote:
Or how I came to discover what is wrong with the present American Education System.

On my first day of tutoring at the small rural high school just east of the Springs, I observed students staring blankly at both teacher and blackboard (whiteboard?).

Months later, these same students were outdoing each other in their eagerness to work problems on the board.

What happened?

That first day, I realized these children---adolescents---considered themselves unimportant, for the simple reason they felt their thoughts were unimportant.

So first I made sure they actually used their minds. I told them: "I don't want you to believe something is true just because I tell you it is true---I want you to see it AS YOU UNDERSTAND IT IN YOUR OWN MIND." In other words, reason it through. And therefore question, always question, until you do understand. And never forget, I myself might be wrong.

I also told them: "If I make a mistake, be sure to tell me---don't let me continue on and make a complete fool of myself." And I deliberately made mistakes until they realized not only can Teacher sometimes be wrong, but that making mistakes wasn't going to k**l them.

And I quoted Lincoln: "Send me a man who is not afraid to make a fool out of himself".

Ultimately, they learned that their thoughts and their own unique thought processes were both significant and valuable, and it's okay to make mistakes, because if you are not making mistakes, you're not taking enough risks,---and without risk-taking there can be no progress, individually or socially.

And that is how the present American Education System have been graduating marching morons: by pressuring children to conform. That is one reason people no longer believe they, as individuals, have either significance or value. No matter what Bill Ayers wants the public to think about his educational regime.

Remember, it has a stronger and longer lasting effect if children AND adults THINK they came up with it all by themselves!
Or how I came to discover what is wrong with the p... (show quote)


You were doing good until you implied that Bill Ayers runs our education system or really all by himself , has sent the country into turmoil. You actually contradict yourself by saying it. First you seem to have realized that kids should think for themselves and then turn around and make the case that Bill Ayers has ruined the education system therefore you should just ignore that because there's nothing to see there. Maybe you're worried there is something to see there and that if you let them see it they won't do exactly as you would have them to and will form the exact opinions that you want them too. If you were truly a good teacher you could let them decide for themselves. You would hope that your influence would show them how to make the right choice for themselves rather than the one you want them to make.

Reply
 
 
Dec 27, 2014 16:16:13   #
CarolSeer2016
 
robert66 wrote:
You were doing good until you implied that Bill Ayers runs our education system or really all by himself , has sent the country into turmoil. You actually contradict yourself by saying it. First you seem to have realized that kids should think for themselves and then turn around and make the case that Bill Ayers has ruined the education system therefore you should just ignore that because there's nothing to see there. Maybe you're worried there is something to see there and that if you let them see it they won't do exactly as you would have them to and will form the exact opinions that you want them too. If you were truly a good teacher you could let them decide for themselves. You would hope that your influence would show them how to make the right choice for themselves rather than the one you want them to make.
You were doing good until you implied that Bill Ay... (show quote)


Bobbie, I didn't imply that Ayers is solely responsible for the degradation of the AES. However, if you choose to do your own research, you will discover that his views and statements on education have, in fact, infiltrated the system. You sound as if you don't know how he has impacted education in America.

But you are right in one sense, the "pressure to conform" started long before that spoiled brat Ayers, the c*******t with a little c, got his degrees in elementary education.

Reply
Dec 27, 2014 16:31:09   #
UncleJesse Loc: Hazzard Co, GA
 
Problem is all the liberal educators are like this and want students to think up their own answers for stuff rather than teaching them the right answers.


CarolSeer2016 wrote:
Or how I came to discover what is wrong with the present American Education System.

On my first day of tutoring at the small rural high school just east of the Springs, I observed students staring blankly at both teacher and blackboard (whiteboard?).

Months later, these same students were outdoing each other in their eagerness to work problems on the board.

What happened?

That first day, I realized these children---adolescents---considered themselves unimportant, for the simple reason they felt their thoughts were unimportant.

So first I made sure they actually used their minds. I told them: "I don't want you to believe something is true just because I tell you it is true---I want you to see it AS YOU UNDERSTAND IT IN YOUR OWN MIND." In other words, reason it through. And therefore question, always question, until you do understand. And never forget, I myself might be wrong.

I also told them: "If I make a mistake, be sure to tell me---don't let me continue on and make a complete fool of myself." And I deliberately made mistakes until they realized not only can Teacher sometimes be wrong, but that making mistakes wasn't going to k**l them.

And I quoted Lincoln: "Send me a man who is not afraid to make a fool out of himself".

Ultimately, they learned that their thoughts and their own unique thought processes were both significant and valuable, and it's okay to make mistakes, because if you are not making mistakes, you're not taking enough risks,---and without risk-taking there can be no progress, individually or socially.

And that is how the present American Education System have been graduating marching morons: by pressuring children to conform. That is one reason people no longer believe they, as individuals, have either significance or value. No matter what Bill Ayers wants the public to think about his educational regime.

Remember, it has a stronger and longer lasting effect if children AND adults THINK they came up with it all by themselves!
Or how I came to discover what is wrong with the p... (show quote)

Reply
Dec 27, 2014 16:49:06   #
CarolSeer2016
 
UncleJesse wrote:
Problem is all the liberal educators are like this and want students to think up their own answers for stuff rather than teaching them the right answers.


Maybe I'm misunderstanding you, UJ.

Liberals only want students to regurgitate so-called "facts" they are told are correct. No L*****t-Liberal-Socialist-Progressive-Democrat wants people to think for themselves.

If you truly mean what you are saying, give me some examples.

Reply
Dec 27, 2014 16:50:23   #
PoppaGringo Loc: Muslim City, Mexifornia, B.R.
 
UncleJesse wrote:
Problem is all the liberal educators are like this and want students to think up their own answers for stuff rather than teaching them the right answers.


They must be taught how to find the correct answers by themselves.

Reply
 
 
Dec 27, 2014 16:53:24   #
CarolSeer2016
 
PoppaGringo wrote:
They must be taught how to find the correct answers by themselves.


They must be taught not only to question, but to not be afraid to question.

Reply
Dec 27, 2014 17:02:17   #
Rifleman
 
Surprised? After some 20 years had passed, I only then discovered why the "theory of Evolution" was a total fraud. If it hadn't conflicted with my religious beliefs, I would have had no incentive to think it through.

So now I go to debate people on the "merits" of the theory of Evolution, and the best they can do is assume it's false because it's contrary to religion.

At some point you can only figure out that indoctrination and employment for union teachers are the priorities for Education in the United States.

Reply
Dec 27, 2014 17:43:04   #
Richard Rowland
 
PoppaGringo wrote:
They must be taught how to find the correct answers by themselves.
I think carol is attempting to explain creative thinking that needs to be bolstered in combination with structure, and with teaching the process of things that have a formula that needs to be learned. Creative thinking is useless if one is trying to use a mathematical formula in the course of a creative thinking process and has never been taught the mathematical formulas. Unless, of course, 2+2 can be understood to add up to something other than four, but then the only one capable of understanding the meaning behind the process is the creative thinker that thought up what ever was thought up through the creative thinking process. Or, am I missing something here?

Reply
Dec 27, 2014 22:39:50   #
robert66
 
CarolSeer2016 wrote:
Bobbie, I didn't imply that Ayers is solely responsible for the degradation of the AES. However, if you choose to do your own research, you will discover that his views and statements on education have, in fact, infiltrated the system. You sound as if you don't know how he has impacted education in America.

But you are right in one sense, the "pressure to conform" started long before that spoiled brat Ayers, the c*******t with a little c, got his degrees in elementary education.
Bobbie, I didn't imply that Ayers is solely respo... (show quote)


I don't know much about Ayers but it really doesn't matter. I think if you choose to have your students consider only some opinions no matter which way they go they are not learning how to think independently or considering others viewpoints. A person can choose when they elect higher education to go to schools that lean far left or far right. If they choose a school that is extreme one way or another their education will be lacking. My dad was college educated , way right wing. My first wife and present are college educated , they lean from center to left. Most of my longtime friends are college educated and are very conservative. The point here is they all went to public schools. I have taught my children to think for themselves and they not only differ from me they differ from each other in their political leanings. Son , went to the Navy and just got out. He's about middle of the road on politics. My daughter is close to high school graduation and plans to go to law school , she will do it with or without my encouragement. She is very liberal. Both kids educated in public schools. I found that the teachers would bend over backwards to help my kids learn. My daughter participated last summer on a national level in speech and debate. She measured up well and will improve. The kids competing there were extremely impressive. Most of them from public schools. To me , at least in my community , the parents seemed to be more the problem. Most seem to care a lot more about wrestling and volleyball than academics. Which one will take you further ?

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