New Presidential Dollars 2006 or 2007?

Consider the results of a recent survey by the National Constitution Center:

* Only 41% of today's students know the three branches of government. But 59% know the names of the Three Stooges.

* 74% can name the city where cartoon character Bart Simpson lives (Springfield). But only 12% know where Abraham Lincoln lived (Springfield, IL).

* 74% know who is our Vice President (see, they can learn civics, if they find it relevant). But 90% know that Leonardo DiCaprio starred in Titanic.

* Less than 2% recognize James Madison as the father of the U.S. Constitution. But 58% know Bill Gates is the father of Microsoft.

* 95% can name actor Will Smith as the star of the movie Hitch. But only 2% can name the chief justice of the United States (William Rehnquist).

* 25% know of at least one of the constitutional rights protected by the Fifth Amendment. 64% know what the "Club" protects.

* 75% know what city has the zip code 90210. But only 25% know in what city the Constitution was written.

These results make it quite clear that no one is teaching history to the teenagers of today. They obtain information from the sources that are providing it. Television, not the teachers is doing the job. Couple that with dumbed down testing, and you wonder why it is hard to find applicants that can chew gum and walk at the same time!?!

 

well, come on now... those are statistics specifically geared to prove something, and they are very misleading.

the fact that 95% of people can point out Will Smith as the star of Hitch has nothing to do with the fact that only 2% of students can name the current chief justice. There is no correlation between those facts. They are random and statisitcally tainted evidence. Beyond this, I strongly doubt that those are results from a serious survey - I would question what the sample size, and geographical spread is.

And my education level is acceptable by most standards, as is my IQ on any given monday morning before coffee - and if someone asked me to 1. name all the members of the supreme court, or 2. name all the members of the seven dwarves...

I'll tell you right now, on a pop quiz I can only finish one list - does that random sample of information determine that I am an idiot?

 

Thank you, there all you go

you do need to shut up because u choose to use older authority over me and not my citizen rights.

clap clap for u


its funny how all you think teenagers are stupid and back talkers and all when you guys are the annoying ones and need to be back talked. I have a father a lot harsher then all of u put together and what do I get?? Someone who disregards anything I say and gives orders. Im not stupid like u all think alright. Im top 1 percent and I take ACT and SAT tests anually to check my improvements. I score over thousands and thousands of highschoolers.

Ahhhhhhhh its so clear now. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU Thats how ill make it in life. Ill go on Jepordy for the rest of my life and hope to be asked those questions. THANK YOU MIDAS! Now I can go to Yale and make millions of dollars being asked where our Constitution was writen. I just cant stop saying thank you Midas, you made my life worth living!!!!

Get used to it, aight? Its ur future!

 

Midas:

Right on, right on, right on!!!!

At the beginning of school each year I would give a "General Knowledge Contest" to my classes. It didn't deal only with history, but about other things such as geography, local government, and every day things such as how to address an envelope, make out a check, contents (sections) of newspapers, etc.

Anyway, one of my biggest yearly shocks was the ignorance surrounding how we gained our Independence. Perhaps 20 percent knew it was from the British. Most popular guess was the Germans (they didn't mean Hessians), with Russians coming in second. The 20 percent who knew (guessed correctly) didn't have a clue as to how the war started, where, or why. Sure they were only seventh or eighth graders, but wouldn't you think that somewhere prior to middle school they might have been taught the facts. Living in the greatest country in the world, and they don't know why it happened for them.

I'm sure Jay Leno finds the best possible intellectually-challenged individuals for that piece he does on the sidewalk, but I think there are more of those walking the streets than we imagine.

I won't be around to see the final results, but it's scary.

Traveling down another road, somewhat connected to this one --- what about the "gene pool?" God knows it's not my thinking is necessarily correct, but when the families who are well educated believe in having only one or two kids, and those who aren't, have a dozen --- what does that say about the future?

 

Where do you live Gary? All that is common sense

 

Spider:

I won't post on this thread anymore.

Your attitude seems somewhat bitter, and I am sorry if you have had some bad experiences which make you unhappy with certain age groups, or things which have happened to you in the past.

I think highly of "kids." 35 years teaching, and 37 years as a Sports Editor for the local paper which covers middle school and high school athletics. So, I have been serving kids for a long time.

I don't know you, and therefore certainly wouldn't try and judge you in any way. Life is too short. I feel I can constructively criticise, which is my right, but I can't judge. As I said, life is too short.

I sincerely hope your life is a happier one than your posts suggest.

 

in spiders defense...

those kids you talk about that cant read or write, or know common history...why do you think that is? is it because they dont WANT to learn it, forget about it....or perhaps it honestly hasnt been taught to them? not all teachers are the best out there, infact, i've come across quite a few in my day that could care less about what we learn, and want to be friends instead, or really just dont give a damn. or, their methods of teaching doesnt work with some students.

in some cases, its not that the students dont want to learn, its that they ARENT learning, and its because of their teacher. and it happens in public AND in private schools (which i went to)

 

With that strategy in life, the authorities are gonna love you!!

Seems you have learned everything but COMMON SENSE! I too will not post on this topic any longer because I have to deal with this kind of attitude almost daily and I don't want to do it here also! It seems that the most of the younger generation constantly have to try to make you think that they are your superiors and know more because they have taken a test that says so. Spider you have managed to rear up and show those venemous fangs that you wish to sink into this forum and have clearly shown your feelings about older people, educators and authority. Always remember to be careful whose feet you step on on your climb to greatness because they're the ones that will have to carry you when you fall. With that I say have fun and go out and have your parents buy you some more coins but don't listen to what the dealer say's or trust him because he's probably older than you!

 

Spider,
I am 19 and from what I have seen most kids don't want to learn. Most are either high or on ridlin(sp?). When I went to public schools the kids were amazed when I would get done with a 20 question quiz in 10 minutes!! The others would usually take half an hour!? I was one of the few kids who did not use foul language and was well liked by the teachers. Most of the kids who used foul language were at the bottom of the class. Not all my teachers were good but that did not give me the availibility to use foul language, I don't anyway, For instance my geometry teacher seemed to patrinize the older students by teaching in a kindergarden type style. The best teachers I have found are going to be making you tow the line. And guys and gals one more thing the "F" word is is used incorrectly these days. It actually means to rape. When I hear people use it I try to tune them out and their point is lost to me.

Well I am getting long winded. So long.

 

"Im top 1 percent and I take ACT and SAT tests anually to check my improvements. I score over thousands and thousands of highschoolers."

If you are in the top 1 percent and judging by your posts and contributions, this country is in deeeeeeeeeeepppppp trouble. They must have lowered the standards of both ACT and SAT testing...AGAIN. Glad it makes you "feel" better to be at the top. After all, we want to make sure we all "feel" good.

Before you raise your voice and tell everybody to "shut up", reinforce your argument.

 

Hahahahahahaha, Ill let that go, hahahahaha

 

I only care to add one more observance, and that is:

Somewhere in Illinois a village
is missing an Idiot!

 

EMERGENCY BROADCAST.....

Record numbers of hell bound hand baskets are plaguing the American Education System. If anyone has any information regarding the manufacturing and distribution of said hand baskets, please notify the proper authorities immediately. Note, this is ONLY in regards to hell bound hand baskets. Officials are still investigating the issue of heat resistant snowballs and will publish their findings at a later time.

 

All right guys lets lay off of spider

 

I thought Hillary taught everybody "It Takes a Village". Quick, I am getting sensitve and emotional...get me a tissue or a Coke so I can sing, "I like to teach the world to sing." After all, wasn't Hillary born in Illinois? (Shivering at the thought of her on both a presidential coin and spouse gold coins)

<Looking to hold hands and feel sensitive...in the words of the famous civil rights leader Rodney King...."can can can can't we alllll ge ge ge get along.">

<This is too easy>

 

Shame on you and anyone else who uses the name "Spider' in this conversation. What makes you think anyone is talking about him?

After all it could have been Abe Lincoln or anyone else you might name!

 

you know....you older folks who are yelling at spider...your not much better than he is, by accusing the SAT's of lowering their standards, your basically calling him/her stupid without even KNOWING them.

i certainly dont think anyone on here is stupid, and i'm taken aback by the venom used on BOTH sides....and to be quite honest, it wasnt spider who started this. spider was just defending themself, being one of the young, stupid, not wanting to learn, disrespectful kids you speak of. Just because you are older than him/her, doesnt give you the right to disrespect him/her because they disagree with you.

yes, there ARE kids like that. but there was also kids like that in YOUR generations as well.

all of you sound like you're back in the grade school playground. fighting on the internet is immature, and honestly, isnt going to get anyone anywhere.

 

Have to agree with OldDan here. Spider may have sparked some of the emotions expressed here, but they were there already.

Spider, when you choose to be a lightning rod, expect a little heat Stay on your feet and choose your words carefully and you'll be more respected for it.

As for the lowering of SAT standards issue, I've aleady deleted what I wrote...twice. I'll say this in short, if I was still in HS I'd be REALLY ticked that I was getting short changed because the powers that be can't admit there's a problem and that they're more worried about the "numbers" and their paychecks than with your education. The education system gets graded based on how well students do. So the easiest way to look good is to lower the bar so it looks like everyone is doing great. Doubt me, then answer why there are record numbers of students graduating illiterate.

Doh, there I go starting to spout again so I'll quit with a quote.

"It is better to hold your tongue and be thought a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt."

...still working on this one myself

 

i guess my question is, are more students graduating? i was under the impression that more and more students ARE going back to school and finishing than past years. maybe that has something to do with it.

 

nothing I cant handle