I don't doubt it. I know more than I want to already. Aside from lack of historical knowledge, I know most kids today can't tell time from an analog clock or watch... I know most can't name the even half of the 50 states, much less describe their geographic relationship to one another. I know most think the Civil War was about slavery when it wasn't.
Most kids can't read 12-hour analog clocks? URL?
As for the 50 states...the even half? I think most people who aren't historians wouldn't be able come up with a chronological list other the first (Delaware), last couple Hawaii and Alaska) and their home states.
And how much slavery figured into the Civil War (or the Great Unpleasantness for my southern friends) is debatable.
At school, I collected teachers bloopers but unfortunately, I cannot find them anymore. But one thing I still can remember:
While talking about the population growth rate in Africa, the teacher asked about methods to avoid pregnancy. A girl wanted to explain the "Knaus-Ogino-Method" with the following statement: "It is an abort of the intercourse before the erection". Some of the boys (including me) broke out in laughter. We got a warning by the teacher for our childish behavior, but she had obviously totally overlooked that this girl just told nonsense:
- the Knaus-Ogino-Method is something different than coitus interruptus
- the girl didn't know the difference between erection and ejaculation
At least the described method is rather effective to prevent pregnancy 8)
P.S.: Carol, it seems like you end each line with a carriage return which causes the forum software to put each line in its own paragraph.
[B]Most kids can't read 12-hour analog clocks? URL?
No URL this time. I got my information first hand, from two middle school teachers, one of whom teaches in an urban area in Chicago another of whom teaches in fairly wealthy suburb. Both have told me that other educators in the area complain about the same kinds of things during conferences as well, so I doubt it's isolated.
Today's kids have grown up depending on digital clocks and watches (and computer clocks obviously), so it's not surprising even though it IS pathetic in my book. That's not to say all kids can't tell time on an analog, but rather a large percentage can't (according to these educators anyway... I have no reason to doubt them).
Quote:
As for the 50 states...the even half?
LoL. No, I didn't mean even as in "even and odd". I meant 50%... any 50%. Kids apparently can only name their own state, those immediately neighboring and obvious ones like California, Florida and New York... and any others regularly in the news (say Maryland after all the sniper shootings). This one is confirmed by the two educators I know as well, but the problem has been around for a while. I think the trend started in during my generation (I was in middle-school in the early 80s) and has steadily gotten worse.
Quote:
And how much slavery figured into the Civil War (or the Great Unpleasantness for my southern friends) is debatable.
The point is, the war was not started on account of freeing slaves, even if it may have ended with that as part of the scenario. That fact is virtually undisputed, yet kids today don't have that context in mind.
The larger point is, public schools in America seem to be more concerned with teaching politically correct social behavior and feel-good learning methods than with teaching American history or geography (or even science) with any real depth and rigor. Many things seem to be glossed over at a higher level than was previously the case and the result is kids who have a very superficial knowledge of the world around them, but who are of course very sensitive.
Private schools seem to do a little better in this neck of the woods, as I can observe conversation and thought-process on a regular basis via my two nephews and their buddies, but I don't know about anywhere else in the US.
At school, I collected teachers bloopers but unfortunately, I cannot find them anymore. But one thing I still can remember:
While talking about the population growth rate in Africa, the teacher asked about methods to avoid pregnancy. A girl wanted to explain the "Knaus-Ogino-Method" with the following statement: "It is an abort of the intercourse before the erection". Some of the boys (including me) broke out in laughter. We got a warning by the teacher for our childish behavior, but she had obviously totally overlooked that this girl just told nonsense:
- the Knaus-Ogino-Method is something different than coitus interruptus
- the girl didn't know the difference between erection and ejaculation
At least the described method is rather effective to prevent pregnancy 8)
P.S.: Carol, it seems like you end each line with a carriage return which causes the forum software to put each line in its own paragraph.
Hi GS -
Though I try to watch what I say VERY carefully, I know that I have had bloopers - but I 'try' to forget them at the first opportunity. I actually have a story I copied for the students where I went through later and blacked out the words 'balls' and 'head', after one reading aloud produced smirks from the boys. It's hard enough to keep a suitable learning environment without mentioning balls and head! Which reminds me, we had a substitute teacher once whose name was Miss Dyck (pronounced Dick). Life must be hell for this woman, substituting for teenagers! I can't even bear to think about how her days must go, period after period. Cringe...
Try teaching the irregular verbs 'come' and 'blow'!! I actually had to resort to writing small sentences for 47 irregular verbs that I make the kids memorize, just to avoid laughter with the verbs come and blow.
For example, "I blow the whistle now, I blew the whistle then, I have blown the whistle many times." This obviously prevents the recitation of I blow, I blew, I have blown; or I come, I came, I have come. Life is WAY too short to deal with daily smirks and laughing-up-sleeves for five straight class periods. So I try to circumvent what I can. Someone said something the other day that was SO funny that even I had to laugh about it. Naturally I can't remember what it was.
We have sex education classes where the teachers are forced by the school district to read 'word by word' from a script. They are not permitted to deviate from the script. But then at the end, the students are allowed to write anonymous questions on cards which are sent up. The teacher chooses which to discuss (undoubtedly skipping the ones to which he doesn't know the reply ). I think the kids eventually get most of their questions answered...at least, the ones they had courage enough to ask.
Two recent questions: "What if you get the wrong hole?" and "Can a girl get pregnant if she swallows cum?" These are from 13-yr.-old students. I really do wish those teachers would save a list of the most memorable questions.
I remember being asked (this was in English class) if a girl could get pregnant if she had never had a period. At first I said no; but with second thoughts, I then explained what must have disconcerted a few of them, that 'yes' this 'could' happen, if she had sex in the fertile time right before her very first period, which she would not KNOW was getting ready to occur. I wonder how much sexual activity I put a damper on with that answer... hehe
.. I know most can't name the even half of the 50 states, much less describe their geographic relationship to one another.
Reminds of the time, 21 years ago, when I went to San Francisco as a HS senior for speech and debate nationals. My mother insisted that I take all my money for the trip in the form of travelers' checks.
So there I was, on Fisherman's Wharf, buying a t-shirt with traveler's checks. The sales clerk looked at my driver's license (for ID) and said "Nebraska ? What's that?"
Back on topic - we bought the DVDs - Band of Brothers is absolutely incredible.
Comments
Originally posted by SDW2001
....as is the guy who plays Winters.
Yeah, he's very good in it. I was also surprised to find out that he's british.... I didn't catch any hint of an accent until I saw the bonus disc.
I'm sure we could have a few laughs / cries over a case of beer sometime were the opportunity to present itself.
Some years ago, I found these student bloopers.
I don't doubt it. I know more than I want to already. Aside from lack of historical knowledge, I know most kids today can't tell time from an analog clock or watch... I know most can't name the even half of the 50 states, much less describe their geographic relationship to one another. I know most think the Civil War was about slavery when it wasn't.
Most kids can't read 12-hour analog clocks? URL?
As for the 50 states...the even half? I think most people who aren't historians wouldn't be able come up with a chronological list other the first (Delaware), last couple Hawaii and Alaska) and their home states.
And how much slavery figured into the Civil War (or the Great Unpleasantness for my southern friends) is debatable.
Originally posted by GSpotter
Some years ago, I found these student bloopers.
Hi GSpotter -
Thanks so much for the bloopers. I had a copy that I
haven't been able to find. So it has been a while since
I read all that.
I started laughing hysterically when I got to "500 wives and
500 porcupines"... and it was a scream from there on.
Laughter really is good for the soul!
Thanks again.
Carol
Originally posted by Carol A
Hi GSpotter -
Thanks so much for the bloopers.
You're welcome
At school, I collected teachers bloopers but unfortunately, I cannot find them anymore. But one thing I still can remember:
While talking about the population growth rate in Africa, the teacher asked about methods to avoid pregnancy. A girl wanted to explain the "Knaus-Ogino-Method" with the following statement: "It is an abort of the intercourse before the erection". Some of the boys (including me) broke out in laughter. We got a warning by the teacher for our childish behavior, but she had obviously totally overlooked that this girl just told nonsense:
- the Knaus-Ogino-Method is something different than coitus interruptus
- the girl didn't know the difference between erection and ejaculation
At least the described method is rather effective to prevent pregnancy 8)
P.S.: Carol, it seems like you end each line with a carriage return which causes the forum software to put each line in its own paragraph.
Originally posted by Eugene
[B]Most kids can't read 12-hour analog clocks? URL?
No URL this time. I got my information first hand, from two middle school teachers, one of whom teaches in an urban area in Chicago another of whom teaches in fairly wealthy suburb. Both have told me that other educators in the area complain about the same kinds of things during conferences as well, so I doubt it's isolated.
Today's kids have grown up depending on digital clocks and watches (and computer clocks obviously), so it's not surprising even though it IS pathetic in my book. That's not to say all kids can't tell time on an analog, but rather a large percentage can't (according to these educators anyway... I have no reason to doubt them).
As for the 50 states...the even half?
LoL. No, I didn't mean even as in "even and odd". I meant 50%... any 50%. Kids apparently can only name their own state, those immediately neighboring and obvious ones like California, Florida and New York... and any others regularly in the news (say Maryland after all the sniper shootings). This one is confirmed by the two educators I know as well, but the problem has been around for a while. I think the trend started in during my generation (I was in middle-school in the early 80s) and has steadily gotten worse.
And how much slavery figured into the Civil War (or the Great Unpleasantness for my southern friends) is debatable.
The point is, the war was not started on account of freeing slaves, even if it may have ended with that as part of the scenario. That fact is virtually undisputed, yet kids today don't have that context in mind.
The larger point is, public schools in America seem to be more concerned with teaching politically correct social behavior and feel-good learning methods than with teaching American history or geography (or even science) with any real depth and rigor. Many things seem to be glossed over at a higher level than was previously the case and the result is kids who have a very superficial knowledge of the world around them, but who are of course very sensitive.
Private schools seem to do a little better in this neck of the woods, as I can observe conversation and thought-process on a regular basis via my two nephews and their buddies, but I don't know about anywhere else in the US.
Originally posted by GSpotter
You're welcome
At school, I collected teachers bloopers but unfortunately, I cannot find them anymore. But one thing I still can remember:
While talking about the population growth rate in Africa, the teacher asked about methods to avoid pregnancy. A girl wanted to explain the "Knaus-Ogino-Method" with the following statement: "It is an abort of the intercourse before the erection". Some of the boys (including me) broke out in laughter. We got a warning by the teacher for our childish behavior, but she had obviously totally overlooked that this girl just told nonsense:
- the Knaus-Ogino-Method is something different than coitus interruptus
- the girl didn't know the difference between erection and ejaculation
At least the described method is rather effective to prevent pregnancy 8)
P.S.: Carol, it seems like you end each line with a carriage return which causes the forum software to put each line in its own paragraph.
Hi GS -
Though I try to watch what I say VERY carefully, I know that I have had bloopers - but I 'try' to forget them at the first opportunity.
Try teaching the irregular verbs 'come' and 'blow'!! I actually had to resort to writing small sentences for 47 irregular verbs that I make the kids memorize, just to avoid laughter with the verbs come and blow.
For example, "I blow the whistle now, I blew the whistle then, I have blown the whistle many times." This obviously prevents the recitation of I blow, I blew, I have blown; or I come, I came, I have come. Life is WAY too short to deal with daily smirks and laughing-up-sleeves for five straight class periods. So I try to circumvent what I can. Someone said something the other day that was SO funny that even I had to laugh about it. Naturally I can't remember what it was.
We have sex education classes where the teachers are forced by the school district to read 'word by word' from a script. They are not permitted to deviate from the script. But then at the end, the students are allowed to write anonymous questions on cards which are sent up. The teacher chooses which to discuss (undoubtedly skipping the ones to which he doesn't know the reply
Two recent questions: "What if you get the wrong hole?" and "Can a girl get pregnant if she swallows cum?" These are from 13-yr.-old students. I really do wish those teachers would save a list of the most memorable questions.
I remember being asked (this was in English class) if a girl could get pregnant if she had never had a period. At first I said no; but with second thoughts, I then explained what must have disconcerted a few of them, that 'yes' this 'could' happen, if she had sex in the fertile time right before her very first period, which she would not KNOW was getting ready to occur. I wonder how much sexual activity I put a damper on with that answer... hehe
Carol
Originally posted by Moogs
.. I know most can't name the even half of the 50 states, much less describe their geographic relationship to one another.
Reminds of the time, 21 years ago, when I went to San Francisco as a HS senior for speech and debate nationals. My mother insisted that I take all my money for the trip in the form of travelers' checks.
So there I was, on Fisherman's Wharf, buying a t-shirt with traveler's checks. The sales clerk looked at my driver's license (for ID) and said "Nebraska ? What's that?"
Back on topic - we bought the DVDs - Band of Brothers is absolutely incredible.