This part of the discussion interests me, but I would like to
eliminate groups where it is off-topic. Which group are you
posting from, forahmad? Eliminated rec.**** as it seems
you are not from that group.
On 9 Sep 2004 20:21:56 -0700, forahmad@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
(1MAN4ALL) wrote:
<snip original part about showers as it is not what
is being discussed in this subthread>
>
>Here are some briefs outlines of my Education program:
>
>Education debate in this country has been limited to vouchers (which
>is an admission that some public schools are performing poorly),
>smaller class sizes, and performance tests for students and teachers.
>Little attention is ever paid to what is actually taught in schools.
>
I don't think that is true. People are constantly complaining about
the *gay agenda,* about *secular humanism,* etc., being taught
in the public schools. Imho, neither of these is taught, but they are
a major complaint about the schools by voucher sup****ters.
>1. I would put greater emphasis on teachings basics i.e. English, Math
>and Science and reduce number of electives that students normally
>take. In High Schools, students will be required to take courses in
>English Grammar, Letter Writing, Personal Finances, and Computer
>Science.
>
Eliminating History? Eliminating art, music, gym, etc.? It sounds
like you also want to eliminate literature from the English courses?
Somehow, I don't think this curriculum would educate students for
the real world or broaden their horizens.
Imho, education from the elementary through the high school level
needs to be broad enough to give kids an op****tunity to find out
there interests. And the humanities have a place in that broadening
as well as the study of grammar and math and science.
Also, education in our political system is absolutely essential to
producing people who think about issues and who can choose
people to govern us.
>2. Middle School and High School students will be required to take one
>"Courtesy, Civics and Ethics" course one semester each year.
Who would teach this course and what ethics would it cover? This
would undoubtedly be objected to by those who think that certain
ethics (situational ethics) are a bad thing.
>They will also take an additional course in Logic, Religion or
>Philosophy each semester.
Too much of an either or. I would suggest one course in Logic
and leave out the Philosophy and Religion at this level.
>If they choose to take a religion course, the parent or
>church groups will be allowed to provide volunteer teachers to teach
>religion. So, for example, a Rabbi would teach a religion class to
>Jewish students and a Muslim parent or Imam would be able to teach
>Muslim students. Religious education would be totally optional.
Separation of church and state would come into play here.
No matter how you slice it, this is financial sup****t for religion
from the state.
>Students will be able to take a philosophy class one semester and a
>religion class in another. Atheist students can stay in philosophy
>class or take a logic class. If students wish to take a religion class
>(in which their own religion would be instructed) there would have to
>be a minimum number of students of that religion before that class can
>be offered_ let's say ten. (Students from different grades may also be
>in one class). Parent groups of different sects may also join to have
>a common teacher in order to have the required number of students for
>a class.
>
So what happens in a town where there is only one family of a
given religion? How would you provide for that single student
or several from one family in different grades?
>For religion class the only thing that school would provide is
>classroom space. This would do away with the need to have
>parochial/Sunday schools.
It is unlikely that any religion would give up its schooling of
the children on its own. Despite providing *a class,* for most
really religious people, the idea is immersion in the religion,
not one class *about* it. Faith requires more.
Also, churches don't give up power that easily. I don't think
any of them would agree to such a system. In particular,
certain fundamentalist sects would insist on *all* children
being indoctrinated in their religion, not just their own
children
>Church groups will also be allowed to
>provide donations to the schools rather than spend millions in
>building religious schools. The end result would be a much better,
>more disciplined student population and greater community involvement.
>Note also that I am proposing a separate "Courtesy, Civics and Ethics"
>class once a year. In this class, students will be taught how to
>behave and understand their role in society.
>
I agree with such an idea, but who will determine what *ethics* can
be taught. If you want to teach children to be civil to each other
you need to begin early. This needs to be emphasized in kindergarten
through 5th grade and continued, but a general course in high
school should not be necessary since kids have already set their
behavior by this age.
>
>3. I will start a new government-run volunteer program by which people
>will not have to save money for their children's college education.
>When somebody gets his or her first job or file taxes for the first
>time, they will be able to sign up for a program by which for slightly
>higher taxes_ which will not be refunded_ the government will pay most
>or all of the college tuition fees of their children in future. The
>earlier people sign up and start paying taxes, the lesser the tax will
>be. Once people sign up, they will have to contribute to the fund
>until the retirement age. If somebody's both parents have died without
>contributing to the fund, the government will pay for college. Private
>charities will also be allowed to contribute to the college fund.
>
>4. I will ban quotas in schools and colleges including those for
>alumni and athletic programs. For minority and disadvantaged students,
>I will introduce free pre-college programs which would prepare
>students for college entrance exams.
>
Who pays for the *free* pre-college programs?
Do you really think schools will not recruit athletes or allow
children of alumni to have preference anyway? How would
you enforce this given that many colleges are private and
not subject to government regulations as long as they don't
accept government money?
>5. In the third and fourth year of college, students will be required
>to receive job training in their fields of study. This will also help
>them find jobs once they graduate.
College is *not* a job training program. If you want students to
specialize in jobs, try vocational schools not colleges. And
engineering students today take 5 to 6 years to complete degrees
these days.
--
Dorothy
There is no sound, no cry in all the world
that can be heard unless someone listens ..
The Outer Limits
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