Fucking the next generation with a pineapple (3021 hits)
Category: NoneLabels: crap:non-fiction
Rating: 1.88 on 80 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by Circe <fickle.muse.at.gmail.com> (View user info) at 2005-11-01 09:23:57 EST
Ranting now.
The Witches, by Roald Dahl. If you haven't read it, read it; if you have, you know it's probably one of the first genuinely frightening books children are likely to read. It's scary. It's supposed to be scary.It's written to be frightening - adults can't be trusted, children are killed, there's a visceral detail about bald heads and sores and blisters that's really kinda repulsive. It's a scary book; it's the precursor to the horror genre for most people.
So. Myself and some other mothers were having a discussion about promoting literacy in preschoolers. You want to know why kids are illiterate? Not because their parents don't care - it's because their parents want to make it easier for them to learn to read. Apparently teaching them to read with an actual book - sound out the letters, piece the words together, string them into sentences, then paragraphs, then a story - is too hard for their little learning disabled darlings.
They need flash cards! They need puzzles! They need stimulating literacy promoting activites! I shut up after ten minutes, because I was afraid of being lynched. You can't just give them a book, because - gasp - some books are UNSUITABLE. And this is where we come back to "The Witches".
The Witches is unsuitable. It's a simply dreadful book, you see, because it makes children scared.
My question is simply "So what?" So what if they get scared? It's a scary book. They should be scared reading it. It's creepy. It scared me when I read it, and I was 10 by that time.
Why can't kids be scared? Or sad? Because books with a sad ending are, of course, UNSUITABLE as well. We're not supposed to give them sad books. Or scary books. Or books with a sick sense of humor.
It's a book. It's supposed to frighten the reader. And yet, we're supposed to limit their access to anything that causes "negative emotions." They have to be happy happy little vegemites all the time or they'll end up killing cats. And I swear, if I hear "Harry Potter" touted as "literature for the primary school child" one more fucking time, I'm going to start shoving objects in asses.
Another clue as to the illiteracy of kids is this: phoenetic spelling is acceptable. Apparently learning the correct spelling of English words is, again, too hard for these nintendo-plagued, DVD-addicted little retards. Little Johnny writes "I sore mi kat", and Little Bruce writes "I saw my cat", and they both get the same tick on the page.
"They'll learn the correct spelling later." When is later? High school? University? They're not allowed to be corrected, because their egos are too fragile. They have to be endlessly encouraged no matter how fucking stupid and lazy they are. "Well, he did his best." Well, his best isn't good enough. Don't congratulate him for being slow.
Don't make them scared.
Don't make them sad.
Don't tell them they're wrong.
Don't teach them to do it right.
We're so busy protecting kids from anything not 100% wholesome and candy-coated that we're ruining them. The people that will run the world are being taught that nothing negative exists.
Okay, I'm done.
User Reviews
Submitted by orph (user info) at 2007-12-14 11:31:23 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by fried-green-potatoes (user info) at 2005-11-08 05:20:15 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I would hire you in a heartbeat if I owned my own newspaper. But first, I would hire a good lawyer because you'd probably get me sued by your third column.
Submitted by apollo88 (user info) at 2005-11-06 19:51:58 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
hahahahahah i see what you did there sacreligious!!!
it's like why is the word abbreviation so long??!!!!
ahhahahahahaa
YOU FUCKING SPASTIC CUNT.
Submitted by Sacrilicious (user info) at 2005-11-06 19:47:59 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I agree- protecting kids from the risk of 'negative' emotions is detrimental to them. My parents were fairly strict, but allowed me to read well above the 'age-suggested' in many cases and I'm a better person for it.
And furthermore, why isn't the word 'phonetically' actually spelled phonetically?
Submitted by apollo88 (user info) at 2005-11-06 19:24:10 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
here fucking here.
Submitted by Ainkara (user info) at 2005-11-04 11:14:21 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
You're right, that book is creepy. Maybe it's a good thing that I had a lot of books in my house (especially from my older brothers) and my parents didn't actually restrict my reading at all. There was none of this 'you're not old enough to read that' stuff. If I picked up a novel when I was 9, about the premature death of children and how this impacts their parents and society, my parents probably woudln't have noticed.
Submitted by jimmiss (user info) at 2005-11-02 12:12:48 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I couldn't have said it better.
Submitted by ooQueso (user info) at 2005-11-02 09:42:06 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Good post. Teh wurld is dooomed.
Submitted by thecaes (user info) at 2005-11-02 07:35:49 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Agreed. Most parents make me angry. The whole culture behind parenting is fucking infuriating, especially in America for some reason.
Submitted by Xcuses (user info) at 2005-11-02 06:20:40 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I couldn't agree with you more!
Submitted by pandora (user info) at 2005-11-02 02:27:28 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Horror stimulates the imagination, and teaches lessons. The Brothers Grimm were no idiots.
I can't believe that phonetic spelling is considered acceptable in any school. Spelling phonetically is what school is supposed to correct, by TEACHING US TO SPELL.
Submitted by jeveuxgagner (user info) at 2005-11-02 01:06:06 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
hear hear
Submitted by Dead_0hi0_Sky (user info) at 2005-11-02 00:20:52 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
i think a pinecone would hurt more, but oh well.
Submitted by shitfuck (user info) at 2005-11-02 00:09:25 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Submitted by Shlongy (user info) at 2005-11-01 20:28:13 (#)
Ranking: 2
We are the lazy generation
No more standing out in line
So good at wasting our time
We are the lazy generation
We are the lazy generation
We are the lazy generation now
We are the lazy generation
We are the lazy generation
We are the lazy generation now
Stand up and shout
We wont be there for you
Hey hey hey hey hey hey lets go
We are the lazy generation
They call us social mutations why
You can just drop dead and die
Nothing we do ever seems to matter
Just like shit on a silver platter shines
Yeah you know just where we stand
Stand up and shout
We wont be there for you
Hey hey hey hey hey hey lets go
Stand up and shout
He wont be there for you
Hey hey hey hey hey hey lets go
We are the lazy generation We are the lazy generation We are the lazy generation now We are the lazy generation We are the lazy generation We are the lazy generation We are the lazy generation
We are the lazy generation We are the lazy generation We are the lazy generation
-----------------------------------
Too lazy to write decent lyrics?
Submitted by LadyPlural (user info) at 2005-11-01 23:21:29 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Thank you for doing your part to stop the pussification of future generations.
And get on AIM. I feel a need to impart to you the kinkiest 'children's story' that I can remember ever reading. You might actually have read it or own it. But still. DISCUSS.
Submitted by Bigmike (user info) at 2005-11-01 23:03:11 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Don't get me fucking started.
Submitted by joedaddy (user info) at 2005-11-01 22:54:33 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
ETS is correct
With all the 'mind-numbing' consumer goods available since the advent of the radio,
and all the 'glue-your-ass-to-the-couch' entertainment devices manufactured since,
TV stands alone, as the major replacement for reading.......
and for doing anything else productive, for that matter.
Submitted by starshine (user info) at 2005-11-01 22:07:45 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Yeah were you aware that it's illegal to grade papers in red pen in some places in America? It's crazy, they have to use *lavender* because red's too *harsh*. Jesus.
Submitted by firefly (user info) at 2005-11-01 21:30:49 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by Shlongy (user info) at 2005-11-01 20:28:13 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
We are the lazy generation
No more standing out in line
So good at wasting our time
We are the lazy generation
We are the lazy generation
We are the lazy generation now
We are the lazy generation
We are the lazy generation
We are the lazy generation now
Stand up and shout
We wont be there for you
Hey hey hey hey hey hey lets go
We are the lazy generation
They call us social mutations why
You can just drop dead and die
Nothing we do ever seems to matter
Just like shit on a silver platter shines
Yeah you know just where we stand
Stand up and shout
We wont be there for you
Hey hey hey hey hey hey lets go
Stand up and shout
He wont be there for you
Hey hey hey hey hey hey lets go
We are the lazy generation We are the lazy generation We are the lazy generation now We are the lazy generation We are the lazy generation We are the lazy generation We are the lazy generation
We are the lazy generation We are the lazy generation We are the lazy generation
Submitted by Captain_Cool (user info) at 2005-11-01 20:24:49 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by williamson (user info) at 2005-11-01 20:12:23 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
It's bloody painful, ain't it?
Submitted by TigerLilly (user info) at 2005-11-01 15:48:19 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by Yes (user info) at 2005-11-01 15:36:33 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Submitted by JonnyX (user info) at 2005-11-01 15:17:22 (#)
Ranking: 2
Phonetic spelling is acceptable???
Since when?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My nephews' 2nd grade stuff needs to be spelled right, thats the point of their homework, to learn how to spell... your school system needs some help.
Submitted by JonnyX (user info) at 2005-11-01 15:17:22 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Phonetic spelling is acceptable???
Since when?
There is no 'later', cause there is LOTS of other stuff they have to learn.
Lyn, seriously, is this the policy in your school district?
Do you guys have PTA (Parent Teacher Association) over there?
Because I would get with them to start raising hell.
I'm involved with the PTA here in California - email me directly if you wish to discuss more.
Submitted by Kopesh (user info) at 2005-11-01 14:46:25 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
AMEN!
Submitted by congo (user info) at 2005-11-01 13:58:43 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Rant good.
and this review is one of my all-time favorites now:
---------------------------------------------------------
Submitted by Spam (user info) at 2005-11-01 10:16:23 (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by Circe (user info) at 2005-11-01 10:15:02 (#)
Ranking: 0
It's okay, Spam. Once the crying stopped and the numb acceptance seeped in, freezing my soul and stopping the pain, I was fine with it
--
The last girl I had sex with said EXACTLY the same thing.
----------------------------------------------------------
Submitted by smoke_in_my_lungs (user info) at 2005-11-01 13:43:43 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I'd like to bone you. You speak nothing but truths.
Submitted by RamJetMax (user info) at 2005-11-01 13:35:17 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by Orgasmatron (user info) at 2005-11-01 13:26:42 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Fuck coddling. If these kids don't at least get a sampling of fear, reality and fantasy in their young lives they'll turn out to be idiots who dry hump chicks on a packed subway car and can't figure out the intricacies of daylight savings time.
You know, the sort of person who, at 34, has to call their dad to ask "So why is it getting dark earlier now? I thought we just set the clocks back, not the sun forward."
Submitted by FWFIV (user info) at 2005-11-01 13:02:46 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by MyTeeOne (user info) at 2005-11-01 12:21:30 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Amen to that sister. Scary things happen in life. Bad things happen. Sometimes you lose. It's how you learn and grow and by protecting are kids from "negative emotions" we're raising a generation of kids who will not be prepared to live in the real world.
Submitted by CookieLass (user info) at 2005-11-01 12:05:28 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Sure, I might offend a few of the blue-noses with my cocky stride and
musky odors -- oh, I'll never be the darling of the so-called `City
Fathers' who cluck their tongues, stroke their beards, and talk about
`What's to be done with this Homer Simpson"'
-- Homer Simpson
Lisa's Rival
Submitted by ruthless (user info) at 2005-11-01 11:43:00 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
My stepson loves to read. If we aren't sitting and reading with him, he'll look at the books on his own, although he can't actually read the words yet.
My favorite books to read with him are Harold and the Purple Crayon and Where the Sidewalk Ends.
People do protect children too much.
Submitted by Berty (user info) at 2005-11-01 11:12:34 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by Circe (user info) at 2005-11-01 10:34:41 (#)
Ranking: 0
Sorry Bertie. Won't happen again.
---------
*starts renewing passport*
That's it. In 6-12 weeks I'm going to paddle your ass raw.
Submitted by PokeyPecker (user info) at 2005-11-01 11:05:05 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Personally, I beat my kids, then send them into Detroit, alone, to read select passages from Mein Kompf.
Sure, they come home bloody and broken, but their self-esteem is tremendous.
Submitted by iddqd (user info) at 2005-11-01 10:55:23 EST (#)
Ranking: -1
my cats breath smells like cats food.
yeah, no shit kids are being ruined through overly soft treatment. however, even though this is a waaay overdone topic, there is still shit to talk about - but this post just didnt go into enough detail or enough ranting.
ive seen better.
Submitted by ozzy (user info) at 2005-11-01 10:44:35 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by Spam (user info) at 2005-11-01 10:16:23 (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by Circe (user info) at 2005-11-01 10:15:02 (#)
Ranking: 0
It's okay, Spam. Once the crying stopped and the numb acceptance seeped in, freezing my soul and stopping the pain, I was fine with it
--
The last girl I had sex with said EXACTLY the same thing.
--------------
AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!! Gold!
Nice rant btw Circe.
Submitted by Coyote (user info) at 2005-11-01 10:44:23 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by Circe (user info) at 2005-11-01 10:30:28 (#)
Coyote, remind me later to post out that book for your daughter tomorrow. She's going to love it.
-----
Awesome.
Just don't send any hardcopy downloads from that necrobabes link... wait til she's 8 for those.
Submitted by Anansie (user info) at 2005-11-01 10:35:09 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Oops.
Submitted by Anansie (user info) at 2005-11-01 10:34:57 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by electrictoothsyndrome (user info) at 2005-11-01 10:25:33 (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by Anansie (user info) at 2005-11-01 10:19:10 (#)
Ranking: 2
On a semi related note my boyfriend gave some little brats two pieces of candy apiece last night, and as they walked away, one of the little fuckers said, "He only gave us two pieces!" Spoiled little fucks. When I was a kid two pieces was standard and you felt lucky if you got three or more. Not everybody feels the need to go out and buy ten goddamn bags of candy at 3.50 a pop just so little TommyFatFuck can gorge himself. Fuck your parents for you and your sickening nine year old sense of entitlement. Didn't anyone tell you you're not supposed to feel entitled until you're a teenager?
I don't particularly like children.
----------------------------------
It's not the kid, dude; it's the parents who haven't taught them better - who've allowed the plastic world to raise their kid for them.
There is a whole generation of children being raised on the idea of 'more is better'. It's up to the parents to show them a different way. If people would just TALK to their kids about people's feelings, that would be a big help.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yes, I definitely agree. It's the parents fault. It's just that the children are often the emissaries of their parents fucking idiocy. I shouldn't blame the messengers, though.
Submitted by Circe (user info) at 2005-11-01 10:34:41 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Sorry Bertie. Won't happen again.
Submitted by Berty (user info) at 2005-11-01 10:34:10 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by Circe (user info) at 2005-11-01 10:30:28 (#)
Ranking: 0
Bertie, your email is sent.
Coyote, remind me later to post out that book for your daughter tomorrow. She's going to love it.
I'm just sittin' here, watching the fights.
Sorry, "highbrow debates".
I have popcorn.
--------
DAMMIT WOMAN IT'S BERTY! WITH A 'Y'!
DON'T MAKE ME COME OVER THERE AND SMACK YOU UPSIDE YO' STOOPID HEAD!
Submitted by Circe (user info) at 2005-11-01 10:30:28 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Bertie, your email is sent.
Coyote, remind me later to post out that book for your daughter tomorrow. She's going to love it.
I'm just sittin' here, watching the fights.
Sorry, "highbrow debates".
I have popcorn.
Submitted by Berty (user info) at 2005-11-01 10:27:44 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Spam.
*wags finger*
I am not a commie. I hate communists. Berty simply believes in living for you and yours. Berty believes that distractions from this crucial and simple goal promote misery.
Submitted by Coyote (user info) at 2005-11-01 10:26:11 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
We regularly read Edward Gorey's little ABC book "the Gashlycrumb tinies" to my 4 year old. She can't (quite) read yet, but she knows "A is for Amy who fell down the stairs".
Submitted by electrictoothsyndrome (user info) at 2005-11-01 10:25:33 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by Anansie (user info) at 2005-11-01 10:19:10 (#)
Ranking: 2
On a semi related note my boyfriend gave some little brats two pieces of candy apiece last night, and as they walked away, one of the little fuckers said, "He only gave us two pieces!" Spoiled little fucks. When I was a kid two pieces was standard and you felt lucky if you got three or more. Not everybody feels the need to go out and buy ten goddamn bags of candy at 3.50 a pop just so little TommyFatFuck can gorge himself. Fuck your parents for you and your sickening nine year old sense of entitlement. Didn't anyone tell you you're not supposed to feel entitled until you're a teenager?
I don't particularly like children.
----------------------------------
It's not the kid, dude; it's the parents who haven't taught them better - who've allowed the plastic world to raise their kid for them.
There is a whole generation of children being raised on the idea of 'more is better'. It's up to the parents to show them a different way. If people would just TALK to their kids about people's feelings, that would be a big help.
Submitted by Anansie (user info) at 2005-11-01 10:23:33 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by Pentameter (user info) at 2005-11-01 10:12:44 (#)
Ranking: 2
This pretty much sums it up:
http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FWE/is_11_8/ai_n9543851
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
That article is so full of it. That generation is the next "great generation?" Well how bout I just shit myself and call it the greatest piece of artwork the world has ever known. Maybe we can all start flinging it at each other and create the world's greatest sport. Fuck.
I'm really irritable this morning.
Submitted by Berty (user info) at 2005-11-01 10:22:28 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by Anansie (user info) at 2005-11-01 10:19:10 (#)
Ranking: 2
On a semi related note my boyfriend gave some little brats two pieces of candy apiece last night, and as they walked away, one of the little fuckers said, "He only gave us two pieces!" Spoiled little fucks. When I was a kid two pieces was standard and you felt lucky if you got three or more. Not everybody feels the need to go out and buy ten goddamn bags of candy at 3.50 a pop just so little TommyFatFuck can gorge himself. Fuck your parents for you and your sickening nine year old sense of entitlement. Didn't anyone tell you you're not supposed to feel entitled until you're a teenager?
I don't particularly like children.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Children confuse and scare me.
Lyn! Can you email me telling me why that is?
Submitted by skrapmetal (user info) at 2005-11-01 10:21:16 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I have a friend who is blind, has been since she was 6-ish. She reads a lot. Some of the most readily available Braille books are Harry Potter stories, so she has many of them.
Her descriptions of the characters, scenes, and circumstances in the stories are wildly different from what is in the movies or the print books with pictures. She gets to use her imagination to create the world because she isn't being fed it by seeing it. Reading stimulates other areas of her brain, and so she probably gets more out of a Harry Potter book than most people do.
That is why parents should read to their kids and why kids should occasionally read books that don't have pictures. It encourages the use of many different parts of the brain to comprehend, contextualize, and superimpose imagery on the words they are hearing or reading.
There's nothing wrong with video games and television per se; what you see there is the product of someone else's imagination just as is a Harry Potter story. Video games and television are, however, not a substitute for your child's imagination.
Submitted by Spam (user info) at 2005-11-01 10:20:36 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by Berty (user info) at 2005-11-01 10:16:20 (#)
Ranking: 2
Now listen all of you, with your claptrap about 'competition'.
For starters, school isn't about who's better than who. Life is not about who is better than who. It's about learning skills. It's not a race. It's a journey.
Secondly, in the words of Homer Simpson "Whatever you are good at they'll be a million people who are better than you". Not wanting to be too defeatist, but if you're wanting to strive for the top spot then you're probably going to be dissapointed and even if you do get there it will be through luck and not skill.
Now I expect this sort of competetive nonsense from ETS, what with him being a muscican and all, but the rest of you have no excuse.
--
Commie.
Submitted by Berty (user info) at 2005-11-01 10:20:30 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by Spam (user info) at 2005-11-01 10:13:07 (#)
Ranking: 2
I wasn't challanged enough as a child.
------
I fear we are straying from what is good and tasteful.
Suffice is to say that all the children I knew who where 'challenged' grew to become emotionally disadvantaged. They either had difficulties forming long term relationships or where plauged with a never ending feeling of frustration.
Submitted by Anansie (user info) at 2005-11-01 10:19:10 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
On a semi related note my boyfriend gave some little brats two pieces of candy apiece last night, and as they walked away, one of the little fuckers said, "He only gave us two pieces!" Spoiled little fucks. When I was a kid two pieces was standard and you felt lucky if you got three or more. Not everybody feels the need to go out and buy ten goddamn bags of candy at 3.50 a pop just so little TommyFatFuck can gorge himself. Fuck your parents for you and your sickening nine year old sense of entitlement. Didn't anyone tell you you're not supposed to feel entitled until you're a teenager?
I don't particularly like children.
Submitted by Spam (user info) at 2005-11-01 10:16:23 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by Circe (user info) at 2005-11-01 10:15:02 (#)
Ranking: 0
It's okay, Spam. Once the crying stopped and the numb acceptance seeped in, freezing my soul and stopping the pain, I was fine with it
--
The last girl I had sex with said EXACTLY the same thing.
Submitted by Berty (user info) at 2005-11-01 10:16:20 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Now listen all of you, with your claptrap about 'competition'.
For starters, school isn't about who's better than who. Life is not about who is better than who. It's about learning skills. It's not a race. It's a journey.
Secondly, in the words of Homer Simpson "Whatever you are good at they'll be a million people who are better than you". Not wanting to be too defeatist, but if you're wanting to strive for the top spot then you're probably going to be dissapointed and even if you do get there it will be through luck and not skill.
Now I expect this sort of competetive nonsense from ETS, what with him being a muscican and all, but the rest of you have no excuse.
Submitted by electrictoothsyndrome (user info) at 2005-11-01 10:15:42 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I personally think that TV is the single biggest distraction in development. Kids who are being taught by TV are being fed the ideas of consumerism, materialism, and laziness. On the other hand, to simply forbid your child to watch TV is not helping either. It's about balance, I guess.
The main thing is kids need to be shown that there are more important things in life than commercialism, and there are better ways to have fun than sitting in front of a TV with a Playstation. Again, I'm not saying be one of these fanatical homeschooling Christians who try to teach by separating and sheltering their children from 'all things bad', but a little moderation is good.
Submitted by Circe (user info) at 2005-11-01 10:15:02 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
It's okay, Spam. Once the crying stopped and the numb acceptance seeped in, freezing my soul and stopping the pain, I was fine with it.
Submitted by Spam (user info) at 2005-11-01 10:13:07 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I wasn't challanged enough as a child.
Submitted by Pentameter (user info) at 2005-11-01 10:12:44 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
This pretty much sums it up:
http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FWE/is_11_8/ai_n9543851
Submitted by Berty (user info) at 2005-11-01 10:11:05 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Yet another one of the hidden things about England that makes me thank GOD I don't live there. Healthy competition is good for children to understand winning and losing, and to understand the consequences of hard work and diligence. On the other hand, if the competition in FORCED upon them by an adult because they are trying to live vicariously through them or some shit, then it becomes unhealthy....but that's why fucking teachers are supposed to be there in the first place - to make sure it doesn't become unhealthy.
WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH PEOPLE!?!?!
I read the other day that some hospital in England forbade people from cooing at the babies in their maternity ward because it was infringing somehow upon the baby's rights. :|
Again...WHAT THE FUCK!?!?!
---------
It's a blatent lie, the mindless cooing was probably just giving a staff member a headache and they manufactured some excuse.
Submitted by Berty (user info) at 2005-11-01 10:09:42 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
This from a social misfit who has never done a decent days work in his life.
--
because I left school with the impression that I wouldn't have to.
--------
Sammy, we both know that you left school with a sense of hopeless apathy and that that is why you've never done a decent days work.
Now why would you have such apathy? What could make an otherwise talented and intelligent lad become so?
Now in all fairness, those reasons are yours alone and I respect them. At the end of the day though, I think it's fair to rule out the countries educational policy.
Submitted by Spam (user info) at 2005-11-01 10:06:30 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
fuck.
sorry Circe, didn't mean to fuck the ratings up - I swear I scroled all the way to +2. Being all cynical and hardened by the real world and shit though, I'm sure you'll be able to handle the disapointment.
Submitted by electrictoothsyndrome (user info) at 2005-11-01 10:05:31 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by Spam (user info) at 2005-11-01 09:54:37 (#)
Ranking: 2
Full agreement.
It's like the whole bloody sports day fiasco. Sports day has now been banned in the english educational system and replaced with 'non-competative games day', instead of sack races, 100m sprint, egg n spoon races etc, kids in school have see how many times they can jump rope - there are no awards or prizes and the scores aren't even recorded or tallied because that would be too competative and hence destructive.
What the fuck?! The real world is one big seething mass of competition where the guy that plays best and plays hardest wins - whats the fucking point of lieing to our kids that it's any different and hence raising an entire generation of lethargic hippies that get stomped all over when they reach the point were you HAVE to be BETTER then the next man to get anywhere at all?
-------------------------------
Yet another one of the hidden things about England that makes me thank GOD I don't live there. Healthy competition is good for children to understand winning and losing, and to understand the consequences of hard work and diligence. On the other hand, if the competition in FORCED upon them by an adult because they are trying to live vicariously through them or some shit, then it becomes unhealthy....but that's why fucking teachers are supposed to be there in the first place - to make sure it doesn't become unhealthy.
WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH PEOPLE!?!?!
I read the other day that some hospital in England forbade people from cooing at the babies in their maternity ward because it was infringing somehow upon the baby's rights. :|
Again...WHAT THE FUCK!?!?!
Submitted by Spam (user info) at 2005-11-01 10:04:41 EST (#)
Ranking: 1
Submitted by Berty (user info) at 2005-11-01 09:56:48 (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by Spam (user info) at 2005-11-01 09:54:37 (#)
Ranking: 2
Full agreement.
It's like the whole bloody sports day fiasco. Sports day has now been banned in the english educational system and replaced with 'non-competative games day', instead of sack races, 100m sprint, egg n spoon races etc, kids in school have see how many times they can jump rope - there are no awards or prizes and the scores aren't even recorded or tallied because that would be too competative and hence destructive.
What the fuck?! The real world is one big seething mass of competition where the guy that plays best and plays hardest wins - whats the fucking point of lieing to our kids that it's any different and hence raising an entire generation of lethargic hippies that get stomped all over when they reach the point were you HAVE to be BETTER then the next man to get anywhere at all?
------
This from a social misfit who has never done a decent days work in his life.
--
because I left school with the impression that I wouldn't have to.
Submitted by Berty (user info) at 2005-11-01 10:00:26 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Don't listen to ETS, he's a dangerous subversive who's perspective and judgement is coloured by cynical disestablishmentarialism (sp).
Asking his opinion on education is the equivilent of asking a Dickins charachter to look after a child.
Submitted by Berty (user info) at 2005-11-01 09:56:48 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by Spam (user info) at 2005-11-01 09:54:37 (#)
Ranking: 2
Full agreement.
It's like the whole bloody sports day fiasco. Sports day has now been banned in the english educational system and replaced with 'non-competative games day', instead of sack races, 100m sprint, egg n spoon races etc, kids in school have see how many times they can jump rope - there are no awards or prizes and the scores aren't even recorded or tallied because that would be too competative and hence destructive.
What the fuck?! The real world is one big seething mass of competition where the guy that plays best and plays hardest wins - whats the fucking point of lieing to our kids that it's any different and hence raising an entire generation of lethargic hippies that get stomped all over when they reach the point were you HAVE to be BETTER then the next man to get anywhere at all?
------
This from a social misfit who has never done a decent days work in his life.
Submitted by electrictoothsyndrome (user info) at 2005-11-01 09:56:02 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I agree with you completely.
Children are wiser than we give them credit for, and the earlier they learn not only to read properly, but also learn life's lessons about the pain, fear, and suffering the better. Then, maybe they can understand it and form a healthy attitude about it, instead of coming to a point in their teen years where they feel that everything around them is one big facade and rebel against that.
Stick to your guns, Lyn. You're right. They're wrong. Children can be allowed to be children and still be perceptive and responsible and bright. They don't have to be suppressed by OUR fears. They have enough of their own to worry about without being subjected to ours too.
By the way: teaching kids to spell phonetically if you're Australian is NOT a good thing. ;)
Submitted by Berty (user info) at 2005-11-01 09:55:39 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
And being unexposed to fear or sadness is, I feel, dangerous. The first time they get scared or sad they're going to blow it all out of proportion and it'll be a big drama fest. No-one needs that.
---------
What about Buddha? Look what he went on to achieve.
Anyway, if I'd had more confidence building as a child I'd be in a much better position than I am today. Or if I'd been more violent, same thing when you think about it.
Seriously though, I didn't start reading in any serious way until a very late stage and it did me no harm whatsoever.
And I wasn't an active child, Duplex was my toy. No footballs for me.
(*sidenote: even though I played with loads of duplex and mechano and stuff I have almost no mechanical or engineering smarts at all. If I where to try and put up a sheld un aided I'd probably burn the house down. Makes you think eh>)
Submitted by Spam (user info) at 2005-11-01 09:54:37 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Full agreement.
It's like the whole bloody sports day fiasco. Sports day has now been banned in the english educational system and replaced with 'non-competative games day', instead of sack races, 100m sprint, egg n spoon races etc, kids in school have see how many times they can jump rope - there are no awards or prizes and the scores aren't even recorded or tallied because that would be too competative and hence destructive.
What the fuck?! The real world is one big seething mass of competition where the guy that plays best and plays hardest wins - whats the fucking point of lieing to our kids that it's any different and hence raising an entire generation of lethargic hippies that get stomped all over when they reach the point were you HAVE to be BETTER then the next man to get anywhere at all?
Submitted by stardamage (user info) at 2005-11-01 09:49:56 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Aah, okay. Good times.
That book teaches good lessons about individuality, you see. As in, if you make your own decisions, next thing you know you'll have to be scraped off the asphalt with a spatula.
Important thing to know. The nail that stands up gets hit by an eighteen wheeler and split in half on a guardrail.
Submitted by wookie (user info) at 2005-11-01 09:48:13 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by precision (user info) at 2005-11-01 09:43:14 (#)
Ranking: 2
All I can say is AMEN.
Submitted by Caulaincourt (user info) at 2005-11-01 09:45:51 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
The kids are all right
Submitted by freebie (user info) at 2005-11-01 09:44:59 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I blame fathers. If dads would do more reading of scary stories, death, destruction and in general real world experiences, kids would be better prepared for scary story reading. Letting mommies raise kids on sugar coated happyhappy fluffy snuggle bunny stories truly is fucking up the next generation.
Submitted by Circe (user info) at 2005-11-01 09:43:51 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Stardamage - "The Bad Book." Every kid should read it. Aloud. To his grandparents.
Berty - Look here, white boy. Now I ain't saying that the little hellraisers can't beat up other children and enjoy other wholesome and character building physical activities like "Push the little four-eyes off the bridge" and "Lose your sister on the way home because she's annoying." They're an important part of childhood and that should be protected.
But not being able to communicate properly will be a detriment to most people later in life. Not being able to accept criticism, the same.
And being unexposed to fear or sadness is, I feel, dangerous. The first time they get scared or sad they're going to blow it all out of proportion and it'll be a big drama fest. No-one needs that.
Submitted by c1ndy (user info) at 2005-11-01 09:43:38 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I'm an English teacher (yes really) and I always tell parents to let kids read anything. The kids that do best in English are always the ones who read a lot.
Submitted by precision (user info) at 2005-11-01 09:43:14 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
All I can say is AMEN.
Submitted by SiskelandFatboy (user info) at 2005-11-01 09:42:48 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
obviuslee u send yor kidds 2 publik skools. c, us in teh privat sistem learnt korecktly.
Submitted by Berty (user info) at 2005-11-01 09:38:02 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Now Lyn, you know full well you are my perfect woman and all but this is alarmingly poor judgement for you.
Yes, reading is fun but I didn't enjoy or even bother to read a book until I was about 13. I just didn't care. The most important things back before then where the things that built up my confidence.
I can't remember long division, I can't remember the difference between where and were and I can barely remember the correct use of a comma but I do remember me and a load of other kids kicking John on the tennis courts. That was a more useful lesson than any other.
Submitted by stardamage (user info) at 2005-11-01 09:34:46 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
If and when I ever have kids, first book they read on their own is going to be that book you were talking about earlier with the kids wanting to run across the highway or something. You know, the one that all kinds of librarians and such wanted to ban over there.
You should bring up that one next and count the heart attacks.
No, but seriously. Even since I was a kid (I'm 18 now) it seems like kids are getting more and more protected, overly so. It's ridiculous - if children don't learn to deal with stuff while they're still under the watchful eye of their parents to make sure nothing REALLY goes wrong, then what happens when they're on their own?
I don't think an eighteen year old with no maternal instinct should be able to point this out. Not to you, because you already know, but to idiots.
Submitted by WildcatMcGee (user info) at 2005-11-01 09:30:52 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I understand your sentiment. My mother was raised by nuns and the family coined her as the 'school nazi'. I read Lord of the Flies when I was 10 years old and many other books of this manner. 8 years later I go off to college and find that my peers hadn't read 10% of the books I was forced to read as a child. I see kids walking around with video games in hand and it disturbs me. I used to walk around with a book in my back pocket and whenever we were somewhere that was boring I'd sit and read. It's a sad thing these days, a sad sad thing.