Legatus wrote:
As we continue absurdity, you can't survive well without computers in the modern world. I hardly call the crap my kids get taught in computer classes useful beyond being a good administrative assistant ( if thats your goal, then this is fine ) anyway. I am actually an advocate of removing most of the computer classes from the schools. I think they are a distraction from learning critical thinking skills. Use computers as a part of instruction, and the child will naturally learn to use the computer. Teach the kid computer skills, and they learn very little. Most teachers have fairly weak computer skills. It is not a core competency of their work. Its a bit like going to your local computer geek for public speaking skills ( yes some are very good speakers, but being a computer geek didn't make that so ).
Yup. Get them out. I learned how to use a computer quite well. My brother did. Most of the people I've worked with did. Many of you on this list that are my age obviously know how to use them. There was one computer class in one *private* school that I went to in all my years from K-12. In my public high school there was an optional (elective?) computer class. I don't think I took the class, but I was in the computer club.
So why do we have this stupid need to teach computers in elementary and high school as if all the children, when reaching adulthood, would die without it?
I don't think that excluding all teaching of the origins of man from public schools suddenly makes public schools vocational schools. Biological science can be taught at the competency levels of just about any high school student without ever broaching that subject, and thus avoid any of the controversy. Natural selection, and selective breeding can be taught without ever touching the controversy. Hybrid plants, and the definition of species can be taught without ever touching the controversy. Biological relationships and anatomical similarities can all be taught without ever teaching about the origin of man. Which in turn respects religions like Christianity's, Judaism's, and Islam's belief in a creator.
Too true, but I learned both theories in public *and* private school. I was taught both as *theories*, because that's what they are. Our classes were not told which to believe in, and told neither was a fact.
The most important things I learned in high school science classes was not the specific contents of the classes, but the application of the scientific method, and how to develop a logical plan to test ideas to find answers or resolutions, and how to apply real logic to my thinking, rather than common sense.
I learned how to mix chemicals and make things go boom and make smoke. ;) Seriously though, I learned the same. I feel these things are missing today. PGA -- Paul G. Allen, BSIT/SE Owner, Sr. Engineer Random Logic Consulting Services www.randomlogic.com -- [email protected] http://www.kernel-panic.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/kplug-list
