Wednesday, May 31, 2006

This is the crap I think about....

Last night I was listening to the radio on my ride home and they were doing a story on a local kid (one of 5 from Massachusetts) that is going to be in the National Spelling Bee. Like most of the kids (it seems) he is home schooled.

That is a subject for another day....

Anyhow, if a child goes, say K->12 being home schooled are they allowed to put on their resume they graduated as Valedictorian?* Think about it..you could have a C+ average and still be #1 in your class.

*for my non US and Canadian readers you can read what a Valedictorian is here

To quote George Carlin..."Thinking up stuff like this is what kept me out of the really good colleges."

7 Comments:

At Wednesday, May 31, 2006 3:36:00 PM , Blogger Mr. A said...

I find that most kids that are home schooled are little tiny FREAKS!

It seems the main reason they are taught at home is religion. Evolution is wayyyy too scary to learn outside the home.

Anyway, I'm sure the finish #1 in their class.. lol

However, their graduation speech sucks!

 
At Wednesday, May 31, 2006 8:55:00 PM , Blogger Dee Paolina said...

Well, annoyed, you obviously haven't met too many home educated kids. There are plenty of folks who choose homeschooling precisely in order to teach real science. Have you not been following what's happening in the public schools in Kansas or in Dover, PA?

 
At Wednesday, May 31, 2006 10:47:00 PM , Blogger Mr. A said...

Fair point!


However, PA overturned that science bullshit. Kansas is still a backward state.

I stand by my claim that the majority of home schooling parents would offer Religion as a reason

 
At Thursday, June 01, 2006 12:13:00 AM , Blogger Rusty said...

Oooh, Annoyed! Someone's starting stuff with you! Ha!

I'm a public school teacher, and I'll never be anything but - homeschool education will NEVER be as good as the eduction and social skills received in a public school. Daryl can fight it out with me all he wants. I think that if we need to be arguing over it this much, then each form of "true" science should be taught as a theory and the student himself can figure it out on his own time. That's all I have to say about that.

HA! on your valedictorian musings, March! I know a family who homeschools all their kids - I guess they'll have a whole family of valedictorians, huh?

When I went to the state bee in 8th grade, the absolute most annoying kid I've ever met was there, too...he was homeschooled. The winner that year was homeschooled as well. I must say, though, I knew how to spell his words, so I don't figure that his education was any better than mine. Who knows why they always end up winning the bees?

 
At Thursday, June 01, 2006 3:18:00 AM , Blogger Mr. A said...

Not sure what you mean by "each form" of true science.

To treat the bible's story as a acceptable, alternative "theory" of evolution is where all the problems come from.

Again, 2000 years ago, before the science caught up I would have said any story would have done.

However, teaching relegious theory as science is all at once dangerous and short sighted in my opinion.

I say, teach the FACTS and let the student explore alternative "truth" on their own time... Not at the expense of American tax payers money. Money that is supposed to be protected by the constitution and kept seperate from church and religous ideas.

If we teach "intelligent" design for these right wing whackos then we have to "teach" reincarnation for the budists and any and all alternative ideas based on the MANY forms of religion. Slippery slope and way too broad to cover them all. If we just stick to the scientific FACTS we would all be better off in schools.

When you coming to NYC Rusty?

:-)

 
At Thursday, June 01, 2006 9:10:00 AM , Blogger Rusty said...

Hey Annoyed - I put the "true" in parentheses for Daryl, not you. :) I meant that I don't even know what's true myself, but that dude referred to true science. There are too many ideas about science floating around, and too much controversy. I almost wish that part didn't have to be taught at all!

I was merely saying that every one of them is a theory (including evolution!), so none should be taught in school as "true" fact. I wasn't disputing you, I was disputing Daryl up there. :) And your idea is a good one - but which facts are the only true ones? Who the hell knows, when it's all clouded by folks either desperately trying to make it as far from religion as possible, or closer to a religious idea than people are comfortable with?

I can't wait to come to New York! I think you and I could really have some great discussions. I'm not a right-wing Christian fundamentalist whacko, I promise. I may go to church, but I form my own opinions and don't blindly agree with everything. I'm not afraid to share my thoughts on things. Although, when we sit down to have a drink, I don't know if I want a Corona now...the 8 I had last weekend kicked my ass.

March, I'm sorry we hijacked your comments. :)

 
At Friday, June 02, 2006 12:20:00 PM , Blogger March2theSea said...

no worries..i saw 6 and said ,,,whoa something good is going down!

 

Post a Comment

Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]

<< Home