Let's End Adolescence

Post by lunchbox » Mon, Nov 10, 2008, 3:40 PM UTC

Dilpil wrote: post #98

mynameishere wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

and as such cannot fathom why kids need to be learning things like calculus and biology I'm pretty sure that Gingrich who is a professor, and every other republican who has ever considered the question in any way, recognizes the use and purpose of calculus and biology. But don't let reason get in the way of your mindless contempt. The real purpose of education is to turn people into intellectuals No, it isn't, unless…

If software engineering jobs want a skill set, then why are technical schools regarded as useless while highly theoretical schools are regarded as top tier?

Post by LogicHoleFlaw » Mon, Nov 10, 2008, 3:50 PM UTC

nazgulnarsil wrote: post #97

unalone wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't think it's fair to assume specific phases of life whatsoever: people don't automatically grow up. Some people seem to skip the adolescence phase and go right to adulthood, for better or for worse. However, it IS fair to say that society reacts to people of certain ages as if the sheer fact of getting older meant instant change in mood and personality. And that's harmful.

maturity has little to do with age and everything to do with responsibility. I remember of hearing about a couple who adopted an orphan from Russia. the kid made people uncomfortable because he acted like an adult. Why? he was the oldest kid at his orphanage and had been looking out for younger kids for years.

Post by hugh » Mon, Nov 10, 2008, 3:55 PM UTC

omouse wrote: post #82

mynameishere wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

and as such cannot fathom why kids need to be learning things like calculus and biology I'm pretty sure that Gingrich who is a professor, and every other republican who has ever considered the question in any way, recognizes the use and purpose of calculus and biology. But don't let reason get in the way of your mindless contempt. The real purpose of education is to turn people into intellectuals No, it isn't, unless…

No it doesn't. Period. Even the relatively "creative" jobs like software engineering want a fundamental skill set and raw intelligence, not the ability to quote Chomsky. Right, but the people who have the ability to quote Chomsky may be able to transfer that skill and quote Knuth or Sedgewick instead.

Post by thras » Mon, Nov 10, 2008, 4:26 PM UTC

jimbokun wrote: post #90

tomjen wrote: post #63

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't believe that a low birth rate says anything about when people grow up. If it did, teenage mothers would be the most responsible people in society.

You know, a teenage mother raised a man who was just elected to the most powerful position on Earth. Anecdotal, yes. But your comment relies on a stereotype. How do we know that teenage mothers do not quickly start maturing from the point they become teenage mothers, relative to their peers? They almost have no choice. (I say that knowing of some concrete counter-examples to what I just argued. But that's just anecdo…

Post by crabapple » Mon, Nov 10, 2008, 5:28 PM UTC

mnemonicsloth wrote: post #2

Adolescence was invented in the 19th century to enable middle-class families to keep their children out of sweatshops. But it has degenerated into a process of enforced boredom and age segregation... The fact is, most young people want to be challenged and given real responsibility. They want to be treated like young men and women, not old children. Where have we heard this before? http://paulgraham.com/nerds.html