Education

[Possum]

17 minutes ago, craftbeerlover said:

We should never lose sight of that, but it is our responsibility to pass on whatever wisdom we have.   Staying relatively immature, as is my case, helps a lot

Works for me too. When we lived in Florida my daughter invited a bunch of her friends over to swim. I peeked out the window and it being Florida there were enough nationalities out there to represent the UN. I went out to pay my respects, as I was walking away my age was noticed by one of the girls and she asked my daughter, 'How old is your Dad?" She replied,"I'm not sure but he is not very mature." I took that as a compliment of sorts.

[Lee]

4 hours ago, hk blues said:

But, as I said above, his general knowledge is well beyond mines as a 12-year old

I can't imagine what general knowledge a 12 yr old might have obtained as compared to most 12 yr olds from our time who had to learn the basics or they simply don't pass to the next grade.

FB, TikToc, shoot-em up games for sure---it would be tough to earn a living with these things on your resume.

Edited June 26 by Lee

[Jack Peterson]

3 minutes ago, Lee said:

it would be tough to earn a living with these things on your resume.

 OH? I am sure Silicon valley may be interested 

[Mike J]

17 hours ago, hk blues said:

The younger generation simply don't see those as necessary life skills no matter how much we think they should be.

Your comment really caused me to rethink the whole brain vs calculator.  As I read the previous comments my thoughts were "do you REALLY know/understand math if all you do is use a calculator".  Your comment made me realize my life experiences are vastly different than the kids in school now.  It is just not math and calculator.  Many years ago I could change my own oil, rebuild a carburetor, put in new points, change plugs, etc.   I can still do plumbing, electrical, lay tile, frame and put up drywall.  I know how to lay sod, build a fence, pour concrete.  But that is because I am a dinosaur!   When we dinosaurs grew up we were, to a large degree, generalists not specialists.  Our teachers, fathers, uncles, neighbors, etc. taught us skills they had learned over the years.  I think my thoughts and words are wandering a bit but I suddenly realize that many of those skills I learned are obsolete, no longer needed, or so specialized that they require highly skilled individuals with special training.

So I agree that it would be nice if kids could do math in their heads but it is not really a requirement today.  What still bothers me a lot is the lack of comprehension at the basic level of reading.  Youth who are not able to read and comprehend what they have read are doomed when it comes to finding employment in an increasingly automated world.  How in world can you LEARN if you cannot COMPREHEND the written word?  

[Tommy T.]

13 hours ago, Lee said:

shoot-em up games for sure---it would be tough to earn a living with these things on your resume.

I think the military might want them for the present and future drone wars that seem now to be realistic "games?"

[scott h]

12 minutes ago, Tommy T. said:

think the military might want them for the present and future drone wars that seem now to be realistic "games?"

We thought the same also.........for awhile. About 20 years ago the army came out with tank simulators. Top of the line, called simnet. Linked several simulators together and you could run individual, platoon and company tactics, it was really cool.

Anyway we took the new kids into them and they just blew everything away, these kids were good, and we said "boy, I guess those computer games are good after all!" BUT, once we got them on the real "iron" they just plain sucked. The noise, the movement, the smells just proved to much for them and they were just like every other tanker, had to be taught from scratch. 

Moral of the story, nothing beats real life experience

[craftbeerlover]

3 hours ago, Mike J said:

So I agree that it would be nice if kids could do math in their heads but it is not really a requirement today.  What still bothers me a lot is the lack of comprehension at the basic level of reading. 

This boggles my mind.   Both of these are the result of a piss poor education system, and shitty parenting.   Amazing you so easily justify mathematical ignorance, while at the same time admonish an inability to read and comprehend.  just wow.   Then others seemingly justify having ones face in tiktok, mobile legends and FB all day by saying things like, silicon valley or the military would want them...   Just NO.... It is not we are dinosaurs, the education SUCKS here...  I dont see silicon valley setting up Job Fairs here.     When I see a cashier using a calculator to subtract 20 pesos from 100 pesos, and does it three times to make sure she is correct, I do not say to myself, 'its ok, I am sure she is very cell phone savvy"   For fck sake, just learning how to solve math problems boosts your cognitive skills, problem solving skills, attention to detail etc...  We are talking basic math, skills that people do and will use on a daily basis, unless of course they have no hope of a future, never have to plan a family budget, never have to budget for vacation,  shop for food more smartly, or ironically enough, plan for their children's education.  

[GeoffH]

1 hour ago, craftbeerlover said:

It is not we are dinosaurs, the education SUCKS here...  I dont see silicon valley setting up Job Fairs here.     

<SNIP>

We are talking basic math, skills that people do and will use on a daily basis, unless of course they have no hope of a future

Manual math skills not being taught is not just a Philippine thing, in Australia little is taught as well.  In fact it's common for teachers (albeit not maths teachers) to lack these skills as well.

It's going the way of cursive writing and shorthand.

 

[craftbeerlover]

2 minutes ago, GeoffH said:

Australia little is taught as well.  In fact it's common for teachers (albeit not maths teachers) to lack these skills as well

WOW, it is still being taught in the USA, and I bet in China, Korea and Japan as well.     Maybe Australia is using the Filipino model for an education system. 

[hk blues]

15 hours ago, Lee said:

I can't imagine what general knowledge a 12 yr old might have obtained as compared to most 12 yr olds from our time who had to learn the basics or they simply don't pass to the next grade.

FB, TikToc, shoot-em up games for sure---it would be tough to earn a living with these things on your resume.

You have missed my point - with the internet and access to information it's entirely reasonable that kids today will have a wider range of knowledge.  Now, that may or may not be the knowledge you think is worthwhile but...

Times have changed - we can either accept it. embrace it or reject it but whatever path you choose won't change that.  I choose to accept it but perhaps not embrace it.

Read Jack's message which pretty much hits the nail on the head.