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Thanks for the tip, Jim. I'll be sure to watch it!!

07/08/13 03:39 PM

#1151

What used to be called "Civics" is now folded into American History. Right now there is a nationwide push to adopt "Common Core Standards" for education, which - from all I've read/heard about it are very good. Not the usual "now the pendulum swings this way, tomorrow it will go the other way" kind of change we usually see. The CCSs emphasize using one discipline (i.e. reading, writing and literature) to solve/analyze practical problems in other subject areas, i.e history, citizenship, science, math - so these subjects should not be left out for the sake of emphasizing reading and writing.

But my main question about the article from the ABA is that they claim test scores on "Civics" and American History are higher than ever among middle to upper class students, and it's just the underprivileged kids who are so far behind - which is true for ALL subjects taught. And yet every state teaches the same curriculum in public schools to all kids, with the same textbooks, etc. They don't omit teaching history/civics to students who are underprivileged ("All poor kids leave the room, we're teaching American History now.") It has to be again a matter of how much importance is placed upon learning in the students' homes and cutures.

07/08/13 05:17 PM

#1152

Wow, Terri!

You make great points, especially in your second paragraph! Too bad the general public doesn't "get it." But, the general public is always eager to place blame on whom it doesn't belong--the teachers!

07/08/13 06:27 PM

#1153

Thanks, Jeanne. There are certainly many underprivileged families who instill an importance for education in their children, but generally speaking, the greater the disparity becomes in this country between rich and poor, the worse school achievement will be.

07/08/13 11:40 PM

#1154

Jim Cejka

"I know of no safe depository of the ultimate powers of the society but the people themselves; and if we think them not enlightened enough to exercise their control with a wholesome discretion, the remedy is not to take it from them, but to inform their discretion by education."

Thomas Jefferson

07/09/13 12:13 AM

#1155

Excellent quote!

07/09/13 07:02 AM

#1156

Amen, Jim!

07/09/13 07:10 AM

#1157

Jeanne, I agree. Here I will repeat myself from a previous note to Terri (and I'm now at the age where I'm permitted, no - even EXPECTED, to repeat myself....):

And I think we blame too much on the schools. Send a child to school when he is not print literate, has never had any semblance of structure at home (sometimes the fault of the parent - drugs/alcohol; sometimes unfortunate circumstances - homelessness/two-parents with 5 jobs between them, etc.), high levels of stress/cortisol from living conditions at home or in the neighborhood, and may or may not have had a decent breakfast. Then, when he doesn't learn what's expected, blame the school? I think not.

07/09/13 10:55 AM

#1158

Right on, Nancy!

07/09/13 07:30 PM

#1159

I took the test - 17 out of 20: I can NEVER remember numbers! But, hey, I was educated at Custer, with great teachers, and raised with a family highly interested in current affairs and politics. I think the new Common Core Standards, if all states adopt them, will lessen the problem of putting one subject ahead of another. They try to integrate subjects: i.e. if you're studying American history, you're also experiencing and doing analysis that involves the literature, music and science knowledge and beilefs of the time. It's an old, but good, approach. It seems as if the high-stakes testing is on its way out, thank goodness. This was the last year California took the hated, dreaded Star test. The testing fully occupied two weeks or more of school time, that should have been used for instruction.

07/11/13 09:47 AM

#1160

Lauren Dieterich

Regarding Sally's 'war/tech' games comment; see Ender's Game movie when it comes out; then read the book . I always try to see the movie before reading the book. That way, the movie isn't a disappointment. My Navy corpsman daughter said that Ender's Game is recommended reading for the Marine Corp and Navy Corpsman serving with the Marines. Especially for the corpsmen going for their FMF badge.

07/11/13 04:42 PM

#1161

Right on, Jim!

07/13/13 07:28 PM

#1162

Garry Sellers

Damn it! I respect all of your views and opinions. I wonder if you do mine!!! But if you guys want to play "ain't it awful" with today's society, education, or the family unit ... why not get your own blogs or do it on a FaceBook page? Or write to each other directly. Why here? This is a meeting place for old friends to share old memories and build new ones. I don't come here to listen to Rachel Maddow or Bill O'Reilly. I want to know how Rod is doing, smile at Nancy standing in her kitchen saying "Dah!", stuff I never knew behind the scenes of "The King and I", and your memories of watching "Watch Mr. Wizard". Sorry if that makes me shallow. I wouldn't want to surprise you after all of these years.

If I'm out of step, you need to tell me so you guys can get a new webhost.

So what was Mr. Wizard's real name? And what degree did he get from which Wisconsin school?

07/14/13 06:36 AM

#1163

You're right, Garry. I just get sucked in when teachers are dissed. And I wasn't even a teacher!

Speaking of teachers, have we talked about Miss Kapp? She had about three strands of hair on her head, considerably more on her chin, always a crumpled hanky in her sleeve, and (we all swore) a flask of some spirit or another in her desk drawer.

07/14/13 09:04 AM

#1164

Lauren Dieterich

Does anyone remember Miss Emma Rock ? She was a substitute teacher, in I think her 90's. She always wore a green or blue Kate Smith type of dress; and, was extremely absent minded. Also, for those of us who had our Freshman year at Edison Junior High; Miss Allen who taught English. I had a cousin, who was 20 years older than me, who had Miss Allen for English; when Edison was the old Custer. My cousin said that Miss Allen looked to be in her 60's then; which would have put her in her 80's in 1959. If she was; she sure didn't look it.

07/14/13 10:26 AM

#1165

Okay, okay Garry! I have the same problem as Nancy - get sucked into anti-education (especially anti-public education) arguments, which are paraded around and "bought" by so many; or else they wouldn't get the ratings on those TV shows you mentioned. I really remember Miss Kapp; she and I just didn't get along. I spent more class times than I like to remember sitting under the shrunken head. But I do remember she played the violin for us. I think her methods were just to get our attention - and they did! And I thought I had Miss Allen for American History - can that be? She used to refer to the heads of Communist states as "Mr'." - as in "Mr. Castro". But probalbly because of her, I still know my American government.

07/14/13 05:37 PM

#1166

Garry Sellers

So no guesses about Mr. Wizard's real name, Wisconsin school or degree?

07/14/13 05:42 PM

#1167

Mr. Wizard = Don Herbert

UW-LaCrosse/Science and English

Knew his name; looked up the rest on Wikipedia.

07/15/13 08:40 PM

#1168

I hope this isn't too controversial :-) but just wanted to let my Wisconsin classmates know that "Leinies" has come officially to Northern California. The commercial features pictures of beautiful Wisconsin summer scenes, and the whole Leinenkugel famiy from Chippewa Falls, WI introducing themselves and their Summer beer to us! Have to bring a 6-pack to an event tomorrow, and it will be Leinies!

07/16/13 01:42 AM

#1169

Melody Jones (Parker)

Now a question for you, Garry, or anyone. Where did the cardiac drug commadin originate? (It's a good story) No fair peeking at Wikipedia, either! (They may no even know the story, for that matter)

07/16/13 06:09 AM

#1170

Melody:

Do you mean "Coumadin?" If so, it started out as a rat poison. It's also known as "Warfarin." Learned about this when both my father and father-in-law needed to take it to prevent blood clots. We always joked that they were the "rats" being poisoned.

07/16/13 06:54 AM

#1171

Hi Terri,

Have any of the "Pure Michigan" ads reached you? No families in the ones I've seen, but my favorite ad features one of the two lighthouses which are just a few miles north of us. The Old Lighthouse was built before the Civil War, and the "new" one just after. As all you French students know, "presque isle" (where we live) means "almost an island" and aptly describes the area. I don't know which we have more of - rocks, or water - but the combination makes for treacherous sailing, and we have many wrecks.

07/16/13 10:54 AM

#1172

Lauren Dieterich

To backup a little bit. Mr Wizard was Don Herbert. I knew his first name; but, I had to think for a bit, for his last name. Most people don't know that the UP was originally supposed to be part of Wisconain; until politics got into the way. I'm a bit of a history nut. I have several books on the Great Lakes; shipwrecks and carferries in particular.

I also have an interest in Lt. Col. Custer. Mostly because my family history ( on my Dad's side ) has been traced; and, my Great, Great Grandfather called Custer ' George' He was supposed to have been on a first name basis with Custer. And BTW; Custer High was not named after Col. Custer; but, after Henry Custer; who was rather prominent in North Milwaukee, in the early 1900's.

07/17/13 01:06 AM

#1173

Melody Jones (Parker)

Jeanne, yes! I am not a good speller. You get a gold star for today. It was done right there at the University of Wisconsin! Karl Paul Link is credited with the discovery of the drug. We can be proud of the contribution by the scientific team at the University of Wisonsin. Go Wisconsin!!!

07/17/13 01:25 AM

#1174