It's our culture. Kids don't want to learn; they are not interested in history, literature, sociology, psychology, etc. They are interested in Facebook, MTV, what celebrities are doing, "reality" TV, idiots on the beach in Jersey, etc. It is our culture.
I teach at a university, and the courses I teach are mostly made up of freshman and sophomores. Last semester, I was happy to see that out of 32 students the large majority were not going into a business-related field. Most were going into the sciences, or the medical field. I know this may change, but it was nice to see - we need more doctors, we need more scientists. We do not need more hedge fund managers; we do not need more Goldman Sachs drones. Unfortunately, I feel that a handful, or more, of these students will change their minds when they see where the $$ is. $$$ is God.
I cannot believe that I am at the point of asking students, and reminding them, to put the fucking phones away, or to not check their facebook pages every minute if they use a laptop. I see a lack of personal responsibility; I see a false attitude of entitlement; I see a lack of accountability; I see a lack of awareness; I see a lack of civic engagement. I asked my classes if anyone watched or read the State of the Union: only 4 or 5 students did. They do not have any clue as to what is going on in this country, nor does anyone else. And why should people be aware of what is going on in their own country? Why would they be when celebrities are dancing on TV? Why would they be when a handful of morons are parading around a beach town? Why would they be when there is a sale at the mall?
I know some of you might say, "well, it's not all their fault." Of course it isn't, but I wanted to inform everyone on what I see. The youth of today - mainly those in high school and college - are the result of a culture so saturated with materialism, consumerism, gluttony, selfishness, a warped sense of individualism, docile behavior, and so on.
We are all to blame. This is the culture we have created, or better yet, this is the culture we have allowed to be created for us. We blindly follow because we can accumulate all the wealth and materials that we desire and that is all that matters. We feed our insatiable appetites with material possessions without once thinking to check the tag to see that every damn thing we buy is made in China, or Thailand, or Indonesia, etc., likely in sweat shops.
The obesity rate in this country is a staggering and disgusting 32%, and this is in direct correlation to our lazy (physically and intellectually) culture. (By the way, obesity related illnesses count for roughly 200 billion health care costs wasted per year). It makes me sick.
It is OUR fault.
While I agree it's our fault for being distracted with being a consumer over being simply human, it's the societal norms, consumerism and digital ways of the current age that is bluffing kids into thinking that "belonging" means more than thinking for one's self. It's not just what we've created, it's about being content with who we are, over trying to "fit in". I think that's what the true bottom line is: conformity vs. being true to one's self.
you can do the quick version, I have a degree in sociology. I understand and have read many of the same things you do. The issue I have always had with sociology as a "science" is that the generalizations that come from studying the group rarely apply to the individual. That being said it is hard for any sociologist to accurately discuss the American dream...myth or not...anyone who works hard can achieve better things than if they were to give up, and that is just a universal rule.
I am sorry you think the US purposely makes people stupid...and there is no excuse for the US to not lead the world...but I can guarantee you we differ on why we think it trails behind. It certainly isn't funding, the countries ahead of the US have a different CULTURE when it comes to education, they value it and it shows in their work. That is why I asked the question to begin with, is it the individual participants fault or the system itself...there are definite problems but those can certainly be overcome(to a limit that is for certain) if one works hard enough at their education...
but as judge smails put it, the world needs ditch diggers too.
haha ... i don't think there is a quick version ... but lets say race, class, gender dynamics play a role in opportunities ... is the glass ceiling a myth for women? ... i don't think so ...
no need to apologize for what my beliefs are ... it's how i see it ... you can't continue to send people overseas to ruin other countries if the populace was aware ...
but to your point ... i would put much of the blame on the system ... every child at the very least should be afforded the same base level of education that should allow them to attend post-secondary institutions ... sure, how far they get should be proportional to the work they put in ... but as you know ... that isn't the reality i am seeing ...
now, i may not live in the US ... but I do and have spent a lot of time there ... i've been to well over 40 states ... from big cities to small nowhere towns ... north, east, south, west ... all over ... and my observations have formed my beliefs ...
no I think the glass ceiling was/is a real thing. I am not denying that socioeconomic class puts you at a disadvantage, I think that is very real. But you cannot apply a group dynamic to an individual thing. the american dream cannot be realized by groups of people. If you work hard at anything you do in life, your place will almost always be better off than when you started. do crappy things happen to people, yes, but that doesn't mean the american dream is a myth. There are only a few countries in the world where a person can be born as a poor kid from the country and grow up to be president. Applying the American dream dynamics to a group is like measuring how fully your stomach is because of what other people ate. I hope that makes sense to people, it does to me!!
that’s right! Can’t we all just get together and focus on our real enemies: monogamous gays and stem cells… - Ned Flanders
It is terrifying when you are too stupid to know who is dumb
- Joe Rogan
In an effort to close a yawning budget deficit, Michigan has approved a proposal to drastically shrink Detroit's troubled school system over the next few years.
The plan calls for the closure of 70 schools, which would cut the number of schools in the district in half by 2014, leaving only 72 public schools in Detroit. The closures would be on top of the 59 that were shuttered last year.
As a result, high school class sizes would jump to 60 students each over the next few years.
In an effort to close a yawning budget deficit, Michigan has approved a proposal to drastically shrink Detroit's troubled school system over the next few years.
The plan calls for the closure of 70 schools, which would cut the number of schools in the district in half by 2014, leaving only 72 public schools in Detroit. The closures would be on top of the 59 that were shuttered last year.
As a result, high school class sizes would jump to 60 students each over the next few years.
my first history class in college was 400 people, didn't stop me from learning the material.
It certainly is not ideal for those kids involved but Detroit is slowly turning into thunderdome...
MasterBlaster for Mayor? anyone?
that’s right! Can’t we all just get together and focus on our real enemies: monogamous gays and stem cells… - Ned Flanders
It is terrifying when you are too stupid to know who is dumb
- Joe Rogan
In an effort to close a yawning budget deficit, Michigan has approved a proposal to drastically shrink Detroit's troubled school system over the next few years.
The plan calls for the closure of 70 schools, which would cut the number of schools in the district in half by 2014, leaving only 72 public schools in Detroit. The closures would be on top of the 59 that were shuttered last year.
As a result, high school class sizes would jump to 60 students each over the next few years.
my first history class in college was 400 people, didn't stop me from learning the material.
It certainly is not ideal for those kids involved but Detroit is slowly turning into thunderdome...
MasterBlaster for Mayor? anyone?
i think there is a significant difference between elementary/high school and university though :shock:
Comments
While I agree it's our fault for being distracted with being a consumer over being simply human, it's the societal norms, consumerism and digital ways of the current age that is bluffing kids into thinking that "belonging" means more than thinking for one's self. It's not just what we've created, it's about being content with who we are, over trying to "fit in". I think that's what the true bottom line is: conformity vs. being true to one's self.
no I think the glass ceiling was/is a real thing. I am not denying that socioeconomic class puts you at a disadvantage, I think that is very real. But you cannot apply a group dynamic to an individual thing. the american dream cannot be realized by groups of people. If you work hard at anything you do in life, your place will almost always be better off than when you started. do crappy things happen to people, yes, but that doesn't mean the american dream is a myth. There are only a few countries in the world where a person can be born as a poor kid from the country and grow up to be president. Applying the American dream dynamics to a group is like measuring how fully your stomach is because of what other people ate. I hope that makes sense to people, it does to me!!
It is terrifying when you are too stupid to know who is dumb
- Joe Rogan
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9M4tdMsg3ts
good for her!
http://money.cnn.com/2011/02/22/news/ec ... um=twitter
my first history class in college was 400 people, didn't stop me from learning the material.
It certainly is not ideal for those kids involved but Detroit is slowly turning into thunderdome...
MasterBlaster for Mayor? anyone?
It is terrifying when you are too stupid to know who is dumb
- Joe Rogan