Obama goes back to school

[Talka]

It's really hard to tell, considering the massive pile of fail you post all the time. But I think this just might be the dumbest one you've said so far.

Unless you live in a cave (which I'm starting to think you do with one black n' white tv that only shows fox news), you should have heard the term "Dumbing down of America". Which is EXACTLY what NCLB is doing.

NCLB has made it so that if a student does poorly in your class NO MATTER what, it is the teacher's fault. Doesn't matter if that student is LD (which are being forced to be included into the regular ed classes), doesn't matter if the student never shows up to the class, doesn't matter if the student is high everytime he/she comes into class, doesn't matter if the kid is just very very slow. It's now always always always the teacher's fault.

And now teachers can get fired if a certain amount of their students fail the class, because of NCLB.


So, what happens? Teachers are making their lesson plans easier and easier and easier, to make sure ALL kids pass. Fuck the smart ones that won't have a fucking clue when they reach college because of this, we have to make sure the idiot that goes partying every weekend gets a C so we don't get fired. Instead of pushing students to learn, teachers are going as slow as the slowest student to make sure everyone passes, even if they learned very little.


And no "state tests" are not hard they are lower leveled tiered, so "teaching to the test" is a terrible terrible way to challenge students, and help the bright ones learn.


My advice to Leif, actually do some fucking research outside of Fox News before you open your mouth and let all your green puss come out. You might actually not sound so ignorant.

FUCKING THIS.

Every time I talk to a teacher about NCLB, they say the same thing. "How am I supposed to teach well when I have such stupid restrictions?" NCLB was the dumbest thing to ever hit public education. Teachers are trapped now, because they have to pass even those who would rather be out robbing a store than learning.

Meanwhile, those of us who *like* to learn get shoved to the side, listening to "let's learn to add fractions!" for nearly a month because Snoopdog in the back of the room ain't paying attention. <.<

[kareface]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqwfAjrgcn4

The lesson plans were not even issued by the white house. I really don't understand what he's complaining about..

[wipers]

Maybe the fact that the president has more important matters than "teaching" some damn kids. I'm all for education but the president helping some kids should be low on his priority list.

[kareface]

Maybe the fact that the president has more important matters than "teaching" some damn kids. I'm all for education but the president helping some kids should be low on his priority list.

That's just silly. First off, our educational system has been terrible. Because a large part of a countries economy is based on its level of education it makes sense to focus on something this important. Even that aside, it's not like he's spending weeks on the project, if a small speech motivates even a fraction of a % of the students it would of paid for itself. There's no reason why this speech should make any difference in the other issues at hand.

[Talka]

A nation of dropouts is a nation of welfare and stagnation. If this speech helps even one kid, it was worth it.

[wipers]

Maybe I'm cynical but I can't see how anyone, even the president, speaking to me could motivate me to do better. My only point is that I think that motivational speakers to me are hardly worth the time. I've heard my share of them and I have yet to be motivated to "better" myself. For me if I'm motivated it is because I want to do it not because someone tells me to do it.

[Marootsoobutsu]

There was nothing suggesting the children praise obama or what he's doing. Congrats on thinking for yourself and regurgitating the same unfounded accusations you were told to though.

"What did the President say that inspired you?"
"Write letters for how you can help Obama."

Most of the original list was all about how great Obama was-- the fact of the assumption of inspiration is enough to show that-- or how we should help him, which is praise as well. The phrasing of the original questions were completely Obama-is-praiseworthy in implication and inflection. The altered suggestions are not, and looking at them should show a rather blatant difference in their flavor.

There was an issue; there isn't one now, at least in my view.

But it's cool you think people who don't agree with you aren't thinking for themselves. You might not see it as a problem or concern, but to dismiss others off hand like that... that's splendid. Keep it up chief.

[Amastacia]

So I live about 10 minutes from the King of Prussia mall (1st or 2nd largest in the USA depending on metric).

The fiance and I wandered over that way yesterday to people watch on a holiday weekend, and standing outside the mall by a busy highway protesting was a group of anti-Obama-ists.

Most were bitching about healthcare. A couple had education signs.

All were white. All looked to be upper middle class. All looked to have at least a 4 year college education.

Now, I can understand idiots protesting his healthcare reform (excellent FUD by the industry and GOP), but college-educated idiots demanding he stay out of the classroom? For serious?

[Kerberoz]

So I live about 10 minutes from the King of Prussia mall (1st or 2nd largest in the USA depending on metric).

The fiance and I wandered over that way yesterday to people watch on a holiday weekend, and standing outside the mall by a busy highway protesting was a group of anti-Obama-ists.

Most were bitching about healthcare. A couple had education signs.

All were white. All looked to be upper middle class. All looked to have at least a 4 year college education.

Now, I can understand idiots protesting his healthcare reform (excellent FUD by the industry and GOP), but college-educated idiots demanding he stay out of the classroom? For serious?

Probably Randroids.

[Beckwin]

here's a lovely quote from Lord Reagan addressing a group of students:

And that is a vision that goes beyond economics and politics, it's also a moral vision, grounded in the reverence and faith of those who believe that with God's help, they could create a free and democratic nation ...

Because you see, the taxes can be such a penalty on people that there's no incentive for them to prosper and to earn more and so forth because they have to give so much to the government.

[Sho]

So I live about 10 minutes from the King of Prussia mall (1st or 2nd largest in the USA depending on metric).

The fiance and I wandered over that way yesterday to people watch on a holiday weekend, and standing outside the mall by a busy highway protesting was a group of anti-Obama-ists.

Most were bitching about healthcare. A couple had education signs.

All were white. All looked to be upper middle class. All looked to have at least a 4 year college education.

Now, I can understand idiots protesting his healthcare reform (excellent FUD by the industry and GOP), but college-educated idiots demanding he stay out of the classroom? For serious?

Bless you. I'm seeing this shit a lot more often, and it's pissing me the fuck off. Can't believe people would degrade themselves to telling our President to stay out of the classroom when he's potentially the most influential President this country will ever have.

I mean him just grabbing the Presidency was influential to many minorities in my local area as, "Hey, this guy is black, and became President; I can do whatever I want by going back/staying in school too!" The President having an intimate talk with students to simply stay in school and do good, will touch thousands if not millions.

Thanks for fucking up yet another good thing, GOP (not all of you but most of you!).

[ZarakiKujata]

Thanks for fucking up yet another good thing, GOP (not all of you but most of you!).

No fuck all of them. There is not 1 republican senator/congressperson who has not voted for/said/done something absolutely despicable using the power of their position. Likewise the GOP commentariat is as fucking terrible. If anything theres degrees with how much of a corporate sellout you are as a democrat but the GOP has been nothing but disgusting corporate shills outside of brief periods of less bullshit (TR + Taft mainly).

[Dareus]

"What did the President say that inspired you?"
"Write letters for how you can help Obama."

Most of the original list was all about how great Obama was-- the fact of the assumption of inspiration is enough to show that-- or how we should help him, which is praise as well. The phrasing of the original questions were completely Obama-is-praiseworthy in implication and inflection. The altered suggestions are not, and looking at them should show a rather blatant difference in their flavor.

Those questions are not even outrageous, did you go to school? I can't even count the number of times I got some bogus question that I didn't agree with, but here is the crazy thing; I can write a answer that disagrees with the statement!!!! Oh wait, I forgot that apparently half of the country is under the impression that kids are fucking retarded zombies that will instantly and fervently believe anything they hear and for the rest of their lives carry those beliefs.

Heh, I guess that is why the republicans think like they do!

[Max™]

People who talk like this have never had the immense pleasure of disagreeing with their teacher as a kid.

Good luck doing that no matter what their political leaning.

I got suspended for suggesting that democracy is not the penultimate political system.

In the 4th grade.

lol, quite.

Fun little story about the perils of teaching kids to think:

(Incidentally, my mother taught me that before I can even remember clearly.
I didn't ask "Why is the sky blue?", I asked "Why is there a sky at all?", which is a hell of a question. So she taught me how to research, use encyclopedias, how to think about the ways to find my own answers, thanks mom!)

Spoiler: show

I had already been thoroughly disenchanted with the entire thing by 5th grade, and one day in social studies while reading through the books they gave me, which I happily read... I love books... I noticed that the bill of rights doesn't have an age clause.

I noticed that there were age limits on certain things, but while you don't often get informed of this, you have rights the moment you claim them.

I had already been slacking on busy work, but they couldn't claim I wasn't learning the material with flawless test scores, so I got through 5th having done very little in the last half of the year. Started 6th, read the books, learned anything I didn't know, and then just started reading library books, drawing, helping other kids.

Got in trouble, sent to the principal, explained to him that while they have the right to prosecute my mother if I am truant, they have no rights over me other than to ask me to leave their premises. I do not belong to them, I am a human being.

I got detention, but I pointed out that truancy ends when school is out and they are not allowed to detain me after that point.

Naturally my mom bitched at me, but I was enjoying myself too much, and knew they were wasting my time with busy work.

Next day, they had me leave my last class early to head to detention before school was out... the bell rang, I left.

Next day, the principal came to escort me, bell rang, I went out a side door and over a fence.

They put me in the in-school detention shit, and they told the teacher there I had after school detention, at 3 PM I left, informing them that I will consider it an assault and unlawful imprisonment if I am physically restrained, and I will fight tooth and nail to preserve my freedom and rights as a human being.

Eventually they just sent me back to class, I got my tests when they came up, passed with nothing under an A, went to 7th, did the same, went to 8th and did the same, 9th grade principal told me to cut it out or leave. Went and got a G.E.D. happily.

Was I an unbridled asshole? Yes, do I wish sometimes I had just breezed through with a 4.0 and free college? Would have been wiser for sure, but hey, hindsight and all.

Was I worried about the president brainwashing me when they put him on T.V. in class? No, I thought it was a neat idea.

I was more worried about being brainwashed to think I had no right to question things, to exercise my own rights, to think that repetitive busy work is the best way to learn, as opposed to being subtle training for the sort of mindless labor that comes with most jobs.


The fact that he is passionate about it is great.

The idea that he has even a minute chance at getting the system reformed to teach students to think, to teach them how to learn on their own, and to make sure smartasses like myself don't fuck themselves out of a lot of opportunities... well, that would be wonderful.

As it stands now, I'll be schooling my children, I'd like them to learn something besides how to pass a test which determines the funding that school receives.

[wipers]

Actually a lot of kids are retarded zombies. I mean these are the same kids using cell phones to talk to people that they are standing right next to. If kids are our future we are fucked beyond belief.


Edit: Young kids can be easily influenced by lets say The President of the United States of America. So you are basically saying that if a Republican was a president now him taking time to talk to kids would be a waste, but a Democrat by all means talk to the kids.

[kareface]

"What did the President say that inspired you?"
"Write letters for how you can help Obama."

Most of the original list was all about how great Obama was-- the fact of the assumption of inspiration is enough to show that-- or how we should help him, which is praise as well. The phrasing of the original questions were completely Obama-is-praiseworthy in implication and inflection. The altered suggestions are not, and looking at them should show a rather blatant difference in their flavor.

There was an issue; there isn't one now, at least in my view.

But it's cool you think people who don't agree with you aren't thinking for themselves. You might not see it as a problem or concern, but to dismiss others off hand like that... that's splendid. Keep it up chief.

I would be upset with the president if he was the one that issued the questions. But it wasn't him, it was the department of education. People with ideologies over look little details like that and read into thing what they want. The white house didn't issue the questionnaires, or consult with the DoE on it. It wasn't till after all this retarded drama came out that the white house asked them to redo the sheets. The right is accusing Obama and the white house of doing something wrong, what did they do? In that video I posted before the 2 criticisms were 1) something that the white house wasn't responcable for, 2) something that the right pulled out of their ass. Who in there right minds actually believes that Obama was going to talk about health care with children. What would that have even done? They have no say in the debate.

Maybe I'm cynical but I can't see how anyone, even the president, speaking to me could motivate me to do better. My only point is that I think that motivational speakers to me are hardly worth the time. I've heard my share of them and I have yet to be motivated to "better" myself. For me if I'm motivated it is because I want to do it not because someone tells me to do it.

Edit: Young kids can be easily influenced by lets say The President of the United States of America.

Jesus dude, get your shit straight.

So you are basically saying that if a Republican was a president now him taking time to talk to kids would be a waste, but a Democrat by all means talk to the kids

No one is saying that, stop with the strawmans. I'd love it if any president does something productive for education. I had no problem with bush reading at the schools or Clinton speaking at graduations. Anything that can inspire the next generation to stick with it. People rightly don't want politics in the classrooms. That wasn't what was happening in this case and the quotes about regan are pointing out a prominent republican that did just that. You're so full of it.

[EternityEnd]

Actually a lot of kids are retarded zombies. I mean these are the same kids using cell phones to talk to people that they are standing right next to. If kids are our future we are fucked beyond belief.


Edit: Young kids can be easily influenced by lets say The President of the United States of America. So you are basically saying that if a Republican was a president now him taking time to talk to kids would be a waste, but a Democrat by all means talk to the kids.

He's not talking to kids about his policies you fucking retarded cunt. He's encouraging them to stay in school and prosper.

[zoobernut]

Actually a lot of kids are retarded zombies. I mean these are the same kids using cell phones to talk to people that they are standing right next to. If kids are our future we are fucked beyond belief.


Edit: Young kids can be easily influenced by lets say The President of the United States of America. So you are basically saying that if a Republican was a president now him taking time to talk to kids would be a waste, but a Democrat by all means talk to the kids.

Holy shit you are beyond fucking retarded. People have been saying the exact opposite of this throughout this thread. They have been saying that the president has the right to and has addressed the schools of this nation regardless of party affiliation. It is something that a lot of presidents have done in the past and a lot will do in the future and it is stupid that people are up in arms in any way about this particular situation because it is no different from any other time.

Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Independent it doesn't matter the president is the president and whether or not you agree with the president they can still address the schools in this country, I think it would make more sense if people heard the presidential address to schools and did not agree with what he said and complained after or took the time to talk to their kids about it.

Party affiliation should not be part of this discussion at all in any way and that is why this whole controversy is so irrational and dumb.

[kareface]

I love the way the right wingers play it off like now that they made this huge deal of it, Obama is going to change the speech from something partisan to something neutral. That way they can be right no matter what Obama says or intended to say. It's like saying that a man intends to kill 3 girls, I have no proof that he will, but if he doesn't I'll take credit for the prevention of the killings even tho they were pretty much just made up to being with, GIVE ME A METAL!!!11 It's so strange because what I hear coming from them is so far away from reality that it's hard to even comprehend. A large portion of America has no internal thought process or something. It's like reasoning has been thrown out the door.

[Skjie]

It's like saying that a man intends to kill 3 girls, I have no proof that he will, but if he doesn't I'll take credit for the prevention of the killings even tho they were pretty much just made up to being with, GIVE ME A METAL!!!

http://images4.wikia.nocookie.net/si...250px-Bear.jpg