[Grovenet] No Child Left Behind?

Thu Jan 10 12:48:46 PST 2008

Ron,

I can agree with most of what you say.

However, when you and others use the term "undereducated,"  I  believe that 
you are making some unfounded assumptions. I assume that you use the term to 
describe a situation where a person has not been served well by the 
educational establishment and has not been educated to a level that matches 
their potential. When I hear the term "undereducated," I question  the 
nachievement level in relation to  potential of the person in question. 
Using Ms. Pickler as an example,  I wonder if she is a victim of poor 
parenting, inadequate schools or, conversely, if she were afforded the best 
of both and just isn't very bright.  In that case, she may be educated to 
her potential and it may be an amazing testimonial to her parents and 
teachers that she is able to speak and reason as well as she does.

It is very easy to observe someone in her condition and assume that they are 
poorly educated. We tend to not be very honest about the level of potential 
of many of  the people we observe. We observe cashiers at the local hardware 
store that don't seem to have even a basic command of mathematical concepts, 
and jump to the conclusion that the schools are deficient. We never seem 
open to the possibility that the person in question may have an I.Q of 95 
and is incapable understanding, much less utilizing basic math.

I am not saying that the school system is never at fault. I was one of the 
most critical of our prior administration and the practices that they 
implemented. to this day, I feel that many of our children were 
short-changed here during the nineties.

There are still many kids that are truly "under-educated,' not reaching 
their full potential. But, in my opinion, this is a societal problem, and 
our schools in many ways are a reflection on what we as a society expect. I 
agree with your 'ignorance is good' comment. I have observed parents that 
admit in front of their children that they weren't very good at math (or 
writing, or social studies, etc.) and wink and chuckle, giving tacit 
approval to their children to strive for mediocrity.

Steve

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ron D'Eau Claire" <ron at cobi.biz>
To: "'Forest Grove local interests list'" <grovenet at rdrop.com>
Sent: Thursday, January 10, 2008 8:26 AM
Subject: Re: [Grovenet] No Child Left Behind?

> But she was in schools shaped by the Clinton years, David, while the young
> boy who knew the answer immediately is in school under an administration 
> of
> "compassionate conservatives".
>
> Still I don't think that's significant.
>
> Leaving at least one, and probably more generations of children behind has
> taken the combined efforts of Democrats and Republicans alike, all with 
> the
> tacit approval of an American public preoccupied with other things. I can
> think back on countless ways we - a large segment of the American people -
> have programmed our children to believe that 'ignorance is good' with a 
> wink
> and a nod. It's a process that's gone on for decades now, at least.
>
> What's alarming to me is that we seem satisfied to allow the development 
> of
> this ever-growing under-class of the under-educated while we no longer 
> offer
> a way for them to make a living. There is no niche in our society where
> someone without basic education can make enough to pay for decent room and
> board. They become wards of the state, a drain on all of us in a lifestyle
> as social pariahs that's destructive to their spirit, isolating and
> alienating them from the rest of us.
>
> Such people have little choice but to become our enemies. They steal, 
> cheat
> and do whatever it takes to get along. After all, they don't have a border
> they can sneak across to find a land of opportunity and plenty; they 
> already
> live here and they are left out.
>
> I agree that this young lady is exceptional, not because she's so poorly
> educated but because she's so public about it. She's a loud and clear
> warning for all of us, not about the future, but about our present.
>
> Never forget that a large number of people like her go to the polls and
> vote. They shape the future of our nation based on mass-media messages 
> while
> not understanding anything about the world in which we live.
>
> Ron D'Eau Claire
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: grovenet-bounces at rdrop.com [mailto:grovenet-bounces at rdrop.com] On
> Behalf Of David Morelli
> Sent: Thursday, January 10, 2008 1:18 AM
> To: Ed Davie; Forest Grove local interests list
> Subject: Re: [Grovenet] No Child Left Behind?
>
>
> Remember how the Compassionate Conservatives want everyone to be
> responsible for their own actions, and that the families should take
> care of their children's education?
>
> This young lady lives with her grandpa because her mother bailed on
> her at age two, and her dad is a convicted drug user in prison.  I
> guess her parents had other priorities, and she didn't get an
> education on her own.
>
> Maybe children don't learn as much when they are left dangling by the
> adults in their lives.
>
> By the way, the girl was ignorant of geography, but she was aware of
> that shortcoming.  She didn't freeze or collapse when she knew that
> she absolutely didn't have a clue, and she didn't try to bluff her
> way through the process.  I can think of at least one President who
> isn't that wise.
>
> David
>
> On Jan 9, 2008, at 2:48 PM, Ed Davie wrote:
>
>> Unbelievable!
>> Ed
>>   ----- Original Message -----
>>   From: Ron D'Eau Claire
>>   To: 'Forest Grove local interests list' ;
>> Tosca at prodigy.net
>>   Sent: Wednesday, January 09, 2008 2:38 PM
>>   Subject: [Grovenet] No Child Left Behind?
>>
>>
>>   Behind what??
>>
>>   This is more embarrassing than Iraq, and just
>> about as painful!
>>
>>   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lmgNqFuXwc
>>
>>   Ron D'Eau Claire
>>
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