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Valedictorian Speaks Out Against Schooling in Graduation Speech

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Re: Valedictorian Speaks Out Against Schooling in Graduation Speech

#111

Post by temphn »

Ardit20 wrote: post #109

It is ironic that she is condemning an institution which made it possible for her to write so well and be able to think so originally and creatively. Perhaps she has forgotten, or is unaware, that without the schooling she received, without the need to complete those assignments, or prepare for those tests, she would hardly have been so motivated for the future and full of passion because whatever she might say, she…

She writes well because of her DNA. Both directly (because of her brain itself) and indirectly (because she's innately curious and was hence driven to seek intellectual stimulation just as a beaver builds a dam).

Re: Valedictorian Speaks Out Against Schooling in Graduation Speech

#112

Post by Twisol »

edw519 wrote: post #110

Oh come on now, Valedictorian, you can find plenty of important life skills to be learned in school if you only look hard enough: kindergarden - learn how to play nicely together first grade - learn how to read and write second grade - learn how to add, subtract, multiply, & divide third grade - learn how to spell fourth grade - learn how to play a musical instrument fifth grade - learn how to appreciate great litera…

Computers are all the way up at eighth grade? Egads.

Re: Valedictorian Speaks Out Against Schooling in Graduation Speech

#113

Post by brlewis »

Ardit20 wrote: post #109

It is ironic that she is condemning an institution which made it possible for her to write so well and be able to think so originally and creatively. Perhaps she has forgotten, or is unaware, that without the schooling she received, without the need to complete those assignments, or prepare for those tests, she would hardly have been so motivated for the future and full of passion because whatever she might say, she…

"We have been teaching for two millenia" is no way to defend an educational system that developed during the industrial age. The Montessori method was published in 1912, and experience has shown its effectiveness. It is our current public education system, not its critics, that ignores experience.

The nearest public Montessori school to me has a waiting list larger than its student body. As a result, I'm sending my kids to private school and making lots of sacrifices to do it.

I don't want to say about my kids, "As for the creative part, that happens in university."

Re: Valedictorian Speaks Out Against Schooling in Graduation Speech

#114

Post by shadowsun7 »

izendejas wrote: post #71
abecedarius wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Someone makes that point every single time, more like. It strikes me as a rationalization: would you design schools the way they are, to teach grit? They seem better adapted to produce submission: showing up for the job every day and doing what you're told. This is related to the discipline to finish your own projects, but like with a sign change along important dimensions.

I beg to differ. People that develop a grit are the ones telling those that didn't what to do. If they couldn't get the work done, how else do you expect them to lead? You can't define a submissive person as simply as above. A submissive person is also one that didn't have the grit to develop his communication skills, his people skills, his critical thinking skills, and his creativity, etc.

Let's put that grit argument another way:

Surviving prison develops grit. Therefore it is beneficial to go to prison.

Counting the grains of sand on the beach develops grit. Therefore, it is beneficial to count the grains of sand on a beach.

Point: not all activities that develop grit are beneficial. The implication of the grit argument is that any tedious activity has some benefit - if not for anything else, then at least for the development of 'grit' itself. Which is a ridiculous argument; some tedious activities are tedious because they are pointless. A better lesson to learn is to spend your time wisely - on activities that are tedious for a reason.

So is school tedious for a reason? The answer is no, not really - but to prove that to you would likely take some time. I recommend you read up on John Taylor Gatto, which the speaker references above. See: http://www.cantrip.org/againstschool.html and http://www.cantrip.org/gatto.html

Re: Valedictorian Speaks Out Against Schooling in Graduation Speech

#115

Post by nimms »

yason wrote: post #98
pavelludiq wrote: post #87

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I can spend 8 hours programming a computer with just 1 or two 20 minute brakes for eating or a mug refill, but i found it impossible to concentrate for a 40 minutes high-school chemistry class. Could it be that school is just BORING? I can read a thick book on a hard subject(programming, philosophy, history), but could never finish a fucking chapter from a high-school text book, without falling asleep. Could it be th…

If school taught me anything is that unless im working for myself on what i want, its better to just half ass everything, and not do your best, because all it takes is to not be your worst This is so true. I realized this very thing myself in the second year in high school. I thought: what the hell am I doing trying to get good grades—from every subject? I had been doing precisely that just because I could and with t…

careful on dismissing which European country invaded which European country etc. Unless people have a good understanding of history, they're doomed to repeat it. Something that becomes very clear in times of strife such as the recent world financial crisis.

One thing that school is good for is exposing you to ideas that are normally outside your sphere of interest, thus attempting to give you a balanced view of the world.

Granted, they're not completely successful at this but I think a lot of that has to do with our immaturity and privileged upbringing as much as it has to do with boring subjects.

"Why do I have to learn this", "I'll never use this", etc etc. The catch cries of a generation of students who have never had to fight for an education and don't have the awareness of how tough life can be to be grateful for the chance to gain one.

Re: Valedictorian Speaks Out Against Schooling in Graduation Speech

#116

Post by tel »

edw519 wrote: post #110

Oh come on now, Valedictorian, you can find plenty of important life skills to be learned in school if you only look hard enough: kindergarden - learn how to play nicely together first grade - learn how to read and write second grade - learn how to add, subtract, multiply, & divide third grade - learn how to spell fourth grade - learn how to play a musical instrument fifth grade - learn how to appreciate great litera…

Man, sophomore is a doozy. Are you sure kids can handle all that at once?

Re: Valedictorian Speaks Out Against Schooling in Graduation Speech

#118

Post by barredo »

edw519 wrote: post #110

Oh come on now, Valedictorian, you can find plenty of important life skills to be learned in school if you only look hard enough: kindergarden - learn how to play nicely together first grade - learn how to read and write second grade - learn how to add, subtract, multiply, & divide third grade - learn how to spell fourth grade - learn how to play a musical instrument fifth grade - learn how to appreciate great litera…

If someone starts learning a foreign language at 7th grade something is wrong I think.

Question: Is this the general case for US Education?

Re: Valedictorian Speaks Out Against Schooling in Graduation Speech

#119

Post by Khroma »

barredo wrote: post #118
edw519 wrote: post #110

Oh come on now, Valedictorian, you can find plenty of important life skills to be learned in school if you only look hard enough: kindergarden - learn how to play nicely together first grade - learn how to read and write second grade - learn how to add, subtract, multiply, & divide third grade - learn how to spell fourth grade - learn how to play a musical instrument fifth grade - learn how to appreciate great litera…

If someone starts learning a foreign language at 7th grade something is wrong I think. Question: Is this the general case for US Education?

Depends on the school. One that I went to in AZ had a Spanish class in 7th grade, which many people took, whereas another on in IN did not have foreign language classes. High schools usually do.

Re: Valedictorian Speaks Out Against Schooling in Graduation Speech

#120

Post by ComputerGuru »

barredo wrote: post #118
edw519 wrote: post #110

Oh come on now, Valedictorian, you can find plenty of important life skills to be learned in school if you only look hard enough: kindergarden - learn how to play nicely together first grade - learn how to read and write second grade - learn how to add, subtract, multiply, & divide third grade - learn how to spell fourth grade - learn how to play a musical instrument fifth grade - learn how to appreciate great litera…

If someone starts learning a foreign language at 7th grade something is wrong I think. Question: Is this the general case for US Education?

I went to a public elementary school in Sacramento, CA, and in 2nd grade we began basic spanish.
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