Posted by Hugh Nations Signing Agents of Austin on 1/14/07 3:26pm
Msg #170784

OT ('orrible Tale): On public education

The state of public education in this country is abysmal. I don’t know the reason for that, but I got some indisputable evidence a couple of days ago that it is.

My daughter grew up with a single father who has three degrees, one of them at the doctoral level. She graduated -- with honors -- from a high school where a large fraction of the student body was from homes headed by college professors from an internationally known university of 40,000 plus students. In college, she earned a degree in Asian studies and economics from the University of Texas, no slouch of a pedagogical institution itself, and took a degree in nursing from another college.

Friday we were talking about some computer problems I’m having.

“I guess I could just unplug my Monitor and plug in a Merrimac,” I quipped. There was a brief pause.

“What’s a Merry Mack?” she asked.

She really didn’t know; had not the foggiest notion, not only of the significance of the battle of the Monitor and the Merrimac, but that such a battle ever took place or two such ships ever existed.

Now I’m afraid to ask her if she recognizes the names Geo. Washington and Tom Jefferson. She''ll probably ask me what rock groups they're with.

Reply by hcampersFL on 1/14/07 5:32pm
Msg #170797

I can't believe with all of your higher education you didn't teach her any better than that.
Hugh do you know everything? I'm impressed.

Reply by MistarellaFL on 1/14/07 5:35pm
Msg #170798

He made me look it up n/m

Reply by PL on 1/14/07 5:56pm
Msg #170800

Maybe she didn't recognize the name, mabye she knew it as

The CSS Virginia and didn't want to make her "old pops" feel bad. Also if you look through Navy records and such you'll find that the spelling "Merrimack" is actually the preferred spelling. Don't ask me how I know this, but I did spend quite a bit of time in my youth in NC studying the war of Yankee aggression.

Reply by Hugh Nations Signing Agents of Austin on 1/14/07 6:37pm
Msg #170802

Re: Maybe she didn't recognize the name, mabye she knew it as

No one weaned on pot likker and corn fritters would ever refer to that hallowed ironclad as the "MerrimacK." There are about 4,000,000 place names north of the Mason-Dixon Line that use the "K." Down here where 'possums roam -- and sometimes provide breakfast -- it's the "Merrimac." Which, it might be added, was only about a quarter the size of the Monitor, but kicked her butt.

Reply by PL on 1/14/07 7:00pm
Msg #170804

Do you know what a hillbilly 7 course dinner consists of?

a possum and a six pack.

Reply by RickinVA on 1/14/07 6:21pm
Msg #170801

Hugh, don't beat her! Resist the temptation. She just has a logical mind. You were speaking about
something and she couldn't switch gears to realize you changed topics without warning. I fight this
all the time. Someone mentions something and I answer with the most logical answer based on
the current topic, when, as it turns out they were really trying to trip me up! Well. it usually works!
That's why I beat them unmercifully. Usually, I use a wet noodle, but I have been known to try
a wet towel. Works great! (Until they also get a wet towel! I have a heck of a time getting out of their way unless I remember to put on my artificial leg.) <g>

Rick

Reply by Lisa Prestegard on 1/14/07 7:24pm
Msg #170805

Rick, you are welcome to use my trusty 'wooden spoon' for said beatings whenever you wish, should your wet noodle or towel unexpectedly dry up.
Your response to Hugh is spot-on. Like you, I am the logical sort and find myself tripped up frequently when someone switches gears during conversation. Not that I can't follow along, mind you. Just that I focus on the subject at hand quite intensely.
Being a member of Mensa guarantees you only one thing....that friends and family will go out of their way to make you look foolish and/or uneducated at any cost.

Reply by Elizabeth Soliday on 1/15/07 9:35pm
Msg #170961

Honestly? I didn't know about it either

I don't think that's such a big deal. Some people know a lot about history, others know more about literature, science or something else. Maybe she had a boring history teacher in high school like I did. I hated history until I got to college and had an interesting professor.

I think it's a bigger problem that here in Oregon, the 3rd grade math assessment exam (at least the sample) does not have any multiplication or division on it!!! I am homeschooling my son (3rd grade) and had him do a sample assessment test and couldn't believe that they left out basic math skills and instead focused on geometry and probability. It's no wonder some of my husband's welding students can't even make a decimal (a basic math skill they must have in order to fabricate parts).