Dumber than a Rock

[Tim_T]

I just returned from a local store where I made a purchase that totaled $7.88. I had a pocket full of change so I handed the young cashier a Ten Dollar Bill and Ninety Cents in change. He looked at it and tried to hand the change back to me, saying: "Sir, the Ten Dollars will cover this." I told him that I knew that but I already had a pocket full of change and didn't need Twelve Cents more. He was still lost and said: "But, Sir, this is more than I need for this purchase." I told him to "just enter $10.90 as the amount tendered and it will tell you to give me, $3.02 in change." That is what he finally did.

Mind you, I am not an expert on education and I wouldn’t want to be. But I just cannot understand why, with all of the money, effort, and technology that are going to educate our children, they are still coming out of high school unable to read, write or do simple arithmetic.

I hear all of the excuses about a lack of Federal funds, buildings, computers and teaching materials; about 25 kids being an over crowed class; about poor teachers & unconcerned parents; about drugs, promiscuous sex, & violence; and all of the mental health problems, like Attention Deficit Hyper-Activity Disorder and a whole bunch of other initials used to provide a reason for medicating children so that they won’t act like children.

I have no doubt that, to one degree or another, there is some validity to all of these excuses. On the other hand, kids are starting their schooling at younger ages than ever before and have less to show for it. I have seen where some places have “pre-preschool to prepare children for Kindergarten.” Yet, almost every time I pick up a newspaper I read a story trying to either explain or question why “Johnny can’t read.” I also see all of the stuff about failing schools as well as whether kids should be tested or not.

The amount and kind of education I received was not unusual for the times. There wasn’t any Kindergarten where I was at, although they may have had it in the larger cities. I don’t remember my parents every teaching me anything before I started the first grade. After all, that is what school was for – to teach reading, writing and arithmetic.

We didn’t have computers, television, visual aides, or even teacher’s aides, nor so many of the other supposed advancements of “modern education.” From the first grade, all the way through High School, all we had were teachers and textbooks in classes as large as fifty kids each. In spite of those large classes, I don’t ever remember any kids being disruptive – A SECOND TIME!!

This is already longer than I had intended and I really don't expect any answers. I have heard them all, but the kids still can't read, write or do simple math.

I realize that is a very broad generalization but that is my opinion and i just had to rant a little.

Grumpy

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I am so sick of hearing about how "how kids can't do this" or "Kids can't do that" or (my personal favorite) "Kids are influenced by all these negative movies and music!"

C'mon man, you got one stoner kid that couldn't add and it is an indictment against today's society.

Following that logic, I am a satanist because I was a member of the KISS Army back in the day and will probably be a menace to society.

Also, if you don't think kids from single parent families are more prone to seeking attention in one way or another, you have not spent time around kids other than your own.