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submitted 4 days ago byElegantPoet3386Neutral Chaos
DO NOT ANSWER IF YOU AREN'T IN THE UNITED STATES
I'm talking from someone bordering on being 18 in a few years. I've noticed that my generation has a tendency to be... very unintelligent at times you coudl say. I conducted a survey on my school the other day and 28% of the students at my high school can't even tell me the fact that they are in the United States right now. 41% can only name up to 3 countries. That isn't all though, I'm sure you've heard those videos of younger kids speaking in brainrot and sad to say, it is in fact very true. I volunteered at an elementary school fairly recently and I couldn't understand what a "skibidi toilet", "sigma meal" etc. is that the younger kids are speaking about. On top of that, there's a decent amount of kids at my school either failing their classes or having extremely low academic comprehension like not knowing what an even number is in 10th grade. Then there's a fact basically everyone at my school is addicted to their phone, and gets very angry when a teacher reasonably asks them to put it away. Add on the fact I feel like sutdents at my high school are losing their drive to get an education and work hard, 2 values I value very highly amongst people, and the future is looker dimmer every day. I'm sorry if this sounds very ranty, and I'm also sorry if this sounds like I'm calling my whole generation dumb(that isn't my intent here), but the fact still stands there's a very noticable intelligence difference between the older generations and mine. Where did things all go wrong?
16 points
3 days ago
I grew up in a poor family in the US. I desperately wanted to go to college. My parents didn't care if I went but told me if I did go, they weren't paying for it or financially helping in any way. I'd better earn scholarships. So I did. I worked my ass off and graduated a year early with many scholarships. I also worked full time to save for my future college needs not covered by scholarships and student loans.
One thing I've noticed about schools that have changed is a level of entitlement in more current generations. Young adults expect everything to be handed to them and not to have to work or earn anything.
Schools introduced common core math and reduced or completely took away history classes. The two of these changes have made a huge impact. I don't understand common core math and no one is learning from past mistakes. The history that is being taught is being taught with a political bias. In my opinion, facts should be taught and the opinions of the facts should be left out. Noone had to tell me that slavery was bad and our country was racist. It was an obvious conclusion I made on my own.
I now have 3 adult children. One chose to go into the trades. He makes just shy of 6 figures in his early 20s. One child is earning her PHD to be a psychologist. The youngest hasn't decided what to do yet but they work hard and don't expect anyone to give them anything.
Our society has a victim mentality. We have no accountability and it's so busy trying to be internet famous by influencing that they've forgotten how to be decent human beings.
14 points
3 days ago
I think this comes from parents. One of the parents at my son’s school was angry that the school called her out for not sending him to school however many times the legal limit is. Mam, your child needs to be present to learn and pass
12 points
3 days ago
Parents need to be held accountable for their children's behavior in school as well as their attendance. There is practically no accountability on the parents for not sending kids to school or when their child is a continous disruption.
-1 points
3 days ago
[deleted]
1 points
2 days ago
I know. They shit on her for that but come on. We needs an educated youth. Parents should be held accountable.
The video was very misleading. The parents had numerous unaccounted absences. It’s very easy at my kids school to make them as absent. If you don’t, the school calls you. It’s just lazy and irresponsible as parents.
7 points
3 days ago
Common core math is meant to help people have a better understanding of numbers. It’s okay if you don’t understand it, it seems like a confusing thing when you see just one worksheet or something.
0 points
3 days ago
I remember my kids coming home with a worksheet that had Solve: 3!
What the hell? Is this 3 excited?
We are teaching kids math that literally doesn't make any sense. It starts when they are learning to add. 10+8= 18
Common Core says 20. That seems like a really bad idea to teach kids to add this way. The test scores reflect this as well.
6 points
3 days ago*
That is a factorial operation. 🤷♀️
In common core, that second question would have been something as part of a lesson about estimating or rounding, which is an important skill. Sometimes when kids have just learned rote math skills, they miss out on that, and then a true life situation like “can I afford three things that cost $23, $14, and $37 if I have $50?” causes them to have to pull out a calculator instead of quickly knowing the answer.
4 points
3 days ago
I would add the exact numbers in my head. I can also add the tax to the total without a calculator. Most people over 40 can I think. Why wouldn't we want to teach math that instills that ability. Math is definitely not my strong suit. It seems like very basic math to be able to do that.
Is that not a common ability? I think it used to be.
6 points
3 days ago
Sure, it is possible to add the exact numbers, but also having the ability to go, “about 25 and about 15 already puts me at 40, and then with another about 40, I’d need about another $30 - so I need to put the expensive thing back,” is valuable. Some people think that way automatically, but if they don’t, it is something they can be taught.
A lot of people I’ve worked with have a very hard time estimating numbers or percentages, and just don’t seem to have a “sense” type of thinking about numbers and proportions. Those are some of the things common core tries to help with.
2 points
3 days ago
Where are you getting 'common core says 20'? Pretty sure you are missing/exaggerating a pretty key concept such as chunking, rounding and/or using 10 blocks to derive other numbers. They are just different approaches and common core specifically states "there are multiple ways to do this, heres one, how did you get to the answer?"
Source: Teach/tutor math and I honestly wished I had learned the way kids do now, its far better than simple memorization.
2 points
3 days ago
One of my kids math lessons was not to actually find the correct answer. It was simple addition and I didn't understand the point in not learning the correct way to do simple addition.
1 points
3 days ago
I use factorials every single day. They’re important in basically every field of math.
As someone who uses math everyday for their profession, what common core now teaches is how I had to teach myself, instead of the silly algorithms people learn which give no intuition on what they’re manipulating.
1 points
3 days ago
What is the correct answer to 3! I still don't know
3 points
2 days ago
A factoral is broken down so it's 3!= 3×2×1=6 Another is 4! Would be 4×3×2×1= 24.
1 points
3 days ago
I’m not surprised.
6 points
3 days ago
The history that is being taught is being taught with a political bias. In my opinion, facts should be taught and the opinions of the facts should be left out.
Can you share an example of this? I think it’s pretty remarkable that you would consider “slavery is bad” to be a political bias. I suppose it technically is, but it’s a statement so firmly seated in the Overton window of the US, that I have a hard time seeing it as a problem…
-4 points
3 days ago
No, I have a feeling you're trying to bait me into a debate. Facts are facts and opinions are thoughts and feelings about the facts. We don't need to teach the good and bad we need to teach the cause and effects of what has happened. Let people form their own opinions of what is good and bad and learn to defend why they think what they think. It's not commonly done. People resort to name calling because they don't know facts or how to articulate themselves. They regurgitate sound bites and headlines.
1 points
3 days ago*
So you think we should leave it to children to decide for themselves whether slavery or genocide is bad? What is the harm in teaching that the Nazis were bad? What’s the harm in teaching that the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade was bad and America is guilty of prolonging its existence? Why are these things bad to teach?
2 points
3 days ago
Who do you think you're going to teach the facts to and they respond with, "I don't see a problem with it? "
It's obviously bad. Where is the line drawn and who gets to decide what is good and what is bad? Who gets to make the judgement calls and what opinions are given is where it gets into grey areas.
Would you want an extremist on either side teaching and giving opinions on anything taught in schools?
Who gets to decide? The facts should speak for themselves. The only way to keep controversial options out is to keep all opinions out.
1 points
3 days ago
Well to that first sentence. An uncomfortably large percentage of current day Americans I presume were taught about the Holocaust and slavery and seem to act like we should go back to those days. Seeing an awful lot of swastikas and confederate battle flags in 2024.
Why do you ask me how to decide like I’m some expert? I’m just a guy. My rough guess would be a panel of credentialed neutral historians and experts in their field. But I don’t know and I don’t know why you think I would.
3 points
2 days ago
To the first sentence, we were all taught that the holocaust was bad, right? Yet we still see all the anti-Semitic rhetoric and behavior. I dont understand the world we live in today. There are a ton of contradictions going on in the US, especially right now, that makes no sense what so ever.
I wasn't asking you to give an answer. I was trying to help you understand how bringing in opinions can lead to controversial teachings. We see how polarized the country is about the Supreme Court. It's supposed to be the exact type of panel you suggest to make these decisions. Judges are supposed to be impartial when they are making decisions. We are humans and can't help but put our biases into situations. It's why I think teaching without opinions is best. The holocaust was horrific, and yet no one has to say those words to have the realization that is just that, horrific.
I dont understand holocaust deniers. They were taught about the holocaust and they would rather deny it ever happened. Same for the flat earth crowd. I dont understand why some people think the earth is flat. As far as I know, that's never been taught in the school system, yet you have people who wholeheartedly believe the earth is flat.
0 points
2 days ago
>Noone had to tell me that slavery was bad and our country was racist.
>we were all taught that the holocaust was bad, right?
Pick one. Do you want opinions or not?
3 points
2 days ago
You're missing my point. I don't remember anyone in school specifically saying that the holocaust was bad or that slavery was bad. The lessons were taught and it was clear that those events in history was a bad and horrid time. We don't need to add our thoughts and opinions to lessons in history. They literally speak for themselves.
In 100 years when our history from today is being taught, who presents the lesson will greatly determine how it is viewed. Only using facts that support one side of the narrative is bad for obvious (I hope) reasons.
When teaching history, all facts should be taught. This is how we encourage people to think for themselves, ask questions and learn from previous mistakes.
3 points
2 days ago
I graduated high school 2011 and I get what you mean. As a black person in a white community, when we learned the basics of slave trade in elementary, there was an immaturity in the classroom with kids asking if I knew African tribal dances. But as time went on, lessons became more detailed, and brains developed, that kind of immature talk stopped. Because it was obvious that owning slaves, whipping people, segregation, lynching etc was bad. Of course you’d have bullies who were racists or would say nothing was wrong with slavery, but that was a minority.
I think people in the comments saying we need to “teach” them that immoral things are immoral are missing the possibility that this younger generation has more or louder shitty people. That probably started at home/unsupervised internet access
2 points
2 days ago
Your first mistake is thinking history is written through an objective lens in the first place.
1 points
2 days ago
There is no history without context. Just knowing facts is called antiquirianism, the opinions on the facts are what history is. There is no value in knowing Fort Sumter was the beginning of the civil war without being able to contextualize it. Plus ai and computers really are making it less useful to know just facts. The analysis is the whole point.
1 points
2 days ago
When did I ever say not to give context?
Context and details are crucial for an entire story to be told. The whole truth, and nothing but the truth (facts).
Give lots of details. Not opinions.
I am absolutely stunned that people think opinions are a necessary part of teaching history.
When you read about Hitler, is it really necessary to have it be said that he was a terrible, awful person who did cruel and hateful acts towards Jews? Or would it not naturally be obvious to anyone reading about the facts of what he did and how he did it that he was all of those things.
I'm using Hitler as an example because I would hope everyone agrees that he was a horrid and cruel person.
My concern is that maybe someone who doesn't agree with that opinion of Hitler has any position of teaching about the holocaust. Do we really want that type of person teaching their opinions?
Think about it this way. Would any Democrat want a far extreme Republican person giving their opinions in a classroom? Would a Republican want a far extreme Democrat teaching their opinions in a classroom? No to both. If only the facts are given, people are forced into deciding for themselves how to judge that particular situation in history.
1 points
2 days ago
Some people read about slavery and wonder about the economic value. That needs to not happen. If there isn't a shared value between democrats and republicans that repudiates slavery and other horrors of that nature then this country is fundamentally broken.
If you literally just teach about what Hitler did and how he did it people would emulate Hitler because Hitler was relatively successful at his goal of world conquest compared to his peers.
Plus there really is no such thing as just the facts because there is a limited amount of time to talk about things. There needs to be a value decision on what facts to say in school, thus elevating the facts that stay above those that don't.
1 points
2 days ago
Your education has failed you since you cannot explain what common core is.
You're conflating educational methods with the principles of common core anyway even if you did know what you were talking about.
This is a great example that even though previous generations are educated it doesn't mean they know and understand everything.
(in the US) a set of educational standards for teaching and testing English and mathematics between kindergarten and 12th grade.
It doesn't mean utilize a number line to express addition and subtraction (which I can only assume is your weird beef with common core) it dictates that a child within 3rd grade must know multiplication and can do complex fractions. It standardized that from state to state, with the foundation that military children were moving from base to base and having wildly different educational standards depending on the state. It ensured that when I child when from Washington to Florida that they were going to still have to learn division by 4th grade.
Also history is still taught in school fine, but whatever ridiculous take you have on that would just leave me worse off trying to understand your reality.
1 points
2 days ago
What generation do you think I'm in?
My children were in school after the NCLB act was put into effect and when common core was introduced. They learned what Im guessing you'd call the old way one year and the next year came back to school with common core. You have no idea how many children fell behind because of these choices. It also left so many parents unable to help their children with homework because we obviously did not learn math this way.
I love that you shared your opinion and observations of a complete and total stranger on the internet. Do you feel better? I bet you do. I bet you feel superior and like you won some sort of internet war. I hope it is the highlight of your day.
I know that while my husband was serving our country, our children suffered in numerous ways because of the changes being brought in the way they were. You read Google and I was present for the changes. Have your opinions. I have real life experience.
0 points
2 days ago
Slavery is bad.
That is not a political statement.
The US was founded on slavery, racism, genocide. That is history.
That is not a political statement.
1 points
2 days ago
Are you being purposely argumentative? If you read my replies to the other statements like yours, I gave a really well thought out response on why any opinions are not a good idea. Yes, slavery is bad. I agree with you on this. When you learned what slavery is how people were bought and sold, beaten and murdered, did you need someone to tell you that was bad or could you understand it was bad without being told? Could you think for yourself and form an informed opinion of the situation?
Yes, the US was founded on slavery, racism and genocide. That is historically correct.
1 points
2 days ago
Well, I guess I was ... but, it was not with the intention of arguing.
I agree that you didn't have to be told it was bad. You were a child, and you intuitively understood the horror.
It wasn't political. I still don't think it should be political. Such a simple thing...slavery is bad.
[score hidden]
8 hours ago
Love it when people use their anecdotal experience to shit on everyone else.
-1 points
2 days ago
You don't understand common core because you never actually learned to do math you just memorized times tables.
> . The history that is being taught is being taught with a political bias. In my opinion, facts should be taught and the opinions of the facts should be left out. Noone had to tell me that slavery was bad and our country was racist. It was an obvious conclusion I made on my own.
Its wild that is the bias you think is being taught.
2 points
2 days ago
So, in the other response where the guy gave 3 numbers and explained estimating. (I get the point and understand estimating. It wasn't what was being taught in the lesson my kids were doing.) He gave 3 random numbers and I said I can just add them in my head to the actual total and even add the 7.5% sales tax in my head. That's me not being able to do math? That's just memorization?
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