Kids in Florida Are Dumb

pandora

So is knowing your own phone number or friends numbers... one would think.
Guess again... the numbers are no longer memorized they are stored
in the phone. If they need them they are shit out of luck.

Obviously camels are not common knowledge anymore and that doesn't bother me.
We might be pleasantly surprised at what the kids in 4th grade do know.
On a positive note... kids are pretty advanced now pertaining to technology.

Maybe camels aren't video game heros

I wonder if they can tell time the old fashioned way with all the digital clocks now?

mikepegg44

pandora wrote:

So is knowing your own phone number or friends numbers... one would think.
Guess again... the numbers are no longer memorized they are stored
in the phone. If they need them they are shit out of luck.

Obviously camels are not common knowledge anymore and that doesn't bother me.
We might be pleasantly surprised at what the kids in 4th grade do know.
On a positive note... kids are pretty advanced now pertaining to technology.

Maybe camels aren't video game heros

I wonder if they can tell time the old fashioned way with all the digital clocks now?

you make a good point,

but it isn't the knowledge of a camel that worries me, it is the lack of imagination it takes to fail a question asking you to imagine. There is literally almost no wrong answer as long as you use the word camel

this is why I started the thread on our current education delivery model being way out of touch. Standardized testing and everyone being the same isn't a good thing. Education isn't one size fits all.

Good luck Florida...your future looks bright :idea:

If anyone is looking for a great recap of all things florida check out the podcast UHH YEAH DUDE. Not sure if they still do it often, but the first 50 to 75 episodes have a segment about crazy shit that happens in florida

it is pretty great

drewdawgq

Kids in Florida don't know what a camel is.

50 Cent doesn't know what a grapefruit is.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=waCF81HdKAA

brianlux

hedonist wrote:

Yeah, I kinda agree with chadwick on his three points.

I'd also toss in that the whole social media clusterfuck has an effect too - online rumors, back-and-forths, tweeting that you're taking a shit, stupidass abbreviations of words and the butchering of language, self-absorption - these and so much more have an impact.

And unfortunately, California is in a similar state. Lack of basic knowledge is almost a trend now.

A woman I used to work with HAD NO IDEA WHAT LEAP YEAR IS. She was in her 40s. The fuck?

If all of this wasn't so sadly pathetic I'd have to laugh.

Oh fuck it, I have to laugh anyway...

ComeToTX

After I posted this I asked my FOUR year old what a camel is. She went and got crayons and drew one. Then on the way to daycare she told me the difference between boy and girl cardinals.

My point is that every one of these kids is twice her age. They should know what a camel is!

pandora

Again most kids can't imagine if they don't know what something is
add test into it and the fear of failure grows quickly.

Imagination starts with the knowledge of something then expands as to
where, what, how, when, etc to a story.

Often it is from something they love or at the very least can relate to.

Also factor in that creative writing is not all children's excelling point,
maybe sadly even most these days.

mikepegg44

pandora wrote:

Again most kids can't imagine if they don't know what something is

and that worries me.

redrock

chadwick wrote:

hedonist wrote:

pandora wrote:

kind of hard to imagine, to be creative, if you have know idea what it is ...

a camel ... really why :?

Aside from my stunned reaction that camels aren't common knowledge...really, why not? In fact, I'd think NOT knowing what it/anything is would spur creativity. It's all wide open! My god, imagination and children go hand in hand; it's a natural, I believe, unless a kid is specifically discouraged to do so.

Maybe I'm naive, but given paint, crayons, pencil and paper, books, documentaries...my mind and sense of wonder were wide open and I got in there.


(and know1, me too. And it sucks.)

yes, knowing what a camel is is common knowledge. and everything you wrote here i agree with 100%

Stunned myself about this camel business. 9 year olds not knowing about camels? Anyway.. as hedonist said, imagination is a kid's creativity. What kid doesn't play 'make believe' (in a way adults sometimes have a hard time following!) with all kinds of crazy, off the wall scenarios? One doesn't need to 'know' to unleash creativity. I was a teaching assisant in reception/primary school for a while - kids from 4 1/2 to 11. The infant school ones (to 7) didn't need much to get them going with their writing (the older ones ones obviously - 6 & 7) and their stories. Imagination is just that - ability to be creative and 'see beyond'. Not having to base one's self on current, acquired knowledge!

What I find a bit disconcerting is lowering the performance standard to the lowest common denominator instead of upping the standards in class...

Now the title of this thread might be a bit flippant because I don't think the kids are dumb but it sure does reflect negatively on parenting, lifestyle and the education system.

justam

I moved to Florida from New York. (Specifically from one of the best school districts in the country btw.) I've noticed that the schools aren't as good down here.

I teach children and young men and women in Florida all the time.
They are not dumb.
The private school students are excellent.
The ones that are home schooled can be well-educated (or not) when they come into college.
The ones that attend public schools can be well-educated (or not) when they enter college.

Once they get there though, they either live up to the challenge or don't. The way they enter college is a reflection of their previous experiences.

When they start to move forward from there though, they learn just as quickly as everyone else.
Don't call the kids dumb. They aren't!!

Johnny Abruzzo

I can't stand Florida - so much about that state bothers me whenever I'm there. Can't really cite specifics - just a feeling I get when I'm down there that "this place is a shithole." Sorry Floridians, but that's how I feel.

Probably not the best general statement to say that "kids are dumb" but Florida is known for having mediocre schools, which can only be expected from decades of piss poor education funding. Companies that want to set up shop in Florida are stymied by the lack of qualified job applicants because the state, as mentioned previously, is only interested in tourism.

pandora

ComeToTX wrote:

After I posted this I asked my FOUR year old what a camel is. She went and got crayons and drew one. Then on the way to daycare she told me the difference between boy and girl cardinals.

My point is that every one of these kids is twice her age. They should know what a camel is!

Perhaps these children did not go to qualified daycare and preschool
where most of the animal recognition is learned before kindergarten.
Perhaps their parents didn't read books identifying animals...
with camels included

pandora

Johnny Abruzzo wrote:

I can't stand Florida - so much about that state bothers me whenever I'm there. Can't really cite specifics - just a feeling I get when I'm down there that "this place is a shithole." Sorry Floridians, but that's how I feel.

Probably not the best general statement to say that "kids are dumb" but Florida is known for having mediocre schools, which can only be expected from decades of piss poor education funding. Companies that want to set up shop in Florida are stymied by the lack of qualified job applicants because the state, as mentioned previously, is only interested in tourism.

It's an awesome printing state!

Johnny Abruzzo

pandora wrote:

ComeToTX wrote:

After I posted this I asked my FOUR year old what a camel is. She went and got crayons and drew one. Then on the way to daycare she told me the difference between boy and girl cardinals.

My point is that every one of these kids is twice her age. They should know what a camel is!

Perhaps these children did not go to qualified daycare and preschool
where most of the animal recognition is learned before kindergarten.
Perhaps their parents didn't read books identifying animals...
with camels included

I think you're harping on the camel thing too much. I imagine the poor scores were more related to poor grammar & spelling than knowing what a camel is.

hedonist

redrock wrote:

What I find a bit concerting is lowering the performance standard to the lowest common denominator instead of upping the standards in class...

Now the title of this thread might be a bit flippant because I don't think the kids are dumb but it sure does reflect negatively on parenting, lifestyle and the education system.

Oh lordy, this - first part, especially.

And pandora, I think imagination starts with a spark, not necessarily knowledge - probably likely not, as a child. Like laying in the grass as a kid and looking at the clouds - seeing something in them, describing it, getting excited about it. That doesn't come from knowledge, it comes from a totally different place - though it can spur the desire to learn more. This should be encouraged.

As far as creative writing, it saddens me that this is going by the wayside. "wat r u doing?" "dtf!" This shit stifles the process of thinking, of true communication.

"what are words for, when no one listens anymore?"

pandora

Johnny Abruzzo wrote:

pandora wrote:

ComeToTX wrote:

After I posted this I asked my FOUR year old what a camel is. She went and got crayons and drew one. Then on the way to daycare she told me the difference between boy and girl cardinals.

My point is that every one of these kids is twice her age. They should know what a camel is!

Perhaps these children did not go to qualified daycare and preschool
where most of the animal recognition is learned before kindergarten.
Perhaps their parents didn't read books identifying animals...
with camels included

I think you're harping on the camel thing too much. I imagine the poor scores were more related to poor grammar & spelling than knowing what a camel is.

really oh great end of debate
perhaps some here thought they were dumb for not knowing what a camel was
I never thought they were dumb ... still don't.

pandora

hedonist wrote:

redrock wrote:

What I find a bit concerting is lowering the performance standard to the lowest common denominator instead of upping the standards in class...

Now the title of this thread might be a bit flippant because I don't think the kids are dumb but it sure does reflect negatively on parenting, lifestyle and the education system.

Oh lordy, this - first part, especially.

And pandora, I think imagination starts with a spark, not necessarily knowledge - probably likely not, as a child. Like laying in the grass as a kid and looking at the clouds - seeing something in them, describing it, getting excited about it. That doesn't come from knowledge, it comes from a totally different place - though it can spur the desire to learn more. This should be encouraged.

As far as creative writing, it saddens me that this is going by the wayside. "wat r u doing?" "dtf!" This shit stifles the process of thinking, of true communication.

"what are words for, when no one listens anymore?"

I agree but then given the assignment what do you see in clouds
you'd have to know what clouds are first to know what you saw imaginary or otherwise

Johnny Abruzzo

I read an expression that said: "Florida is a great place to keep Floridians."

hedonist

pandora wrote:

I agree but then given the assignment what do you see in clouds
you'd have to know what clouds are first to know what you saw imaginary or otherwise

How does a kid not know what clouds are??

This is my point - rudimentary knowledge that children can / should have at some point.

...and actually, it's not my only point. What about babies with those colorful mobiles hanging above their cribs? Pointless since they have no clue what it is, or useful in that it gets that little teeny-tiny "hey, what the fuck is this spinning above me" thought going?

redrock

... double post

redrock

hedonist wrote:

This is my point - rudimentary knowledge that children can / should have at some point.

Even if you don't have this rudimentary knowledge (in this case what a camel is). Creative writing is just that - someone already said there is no 'wrong answer' here. A kid may not know what a camel is but it was about a 'ride' on something and a trip. I'm sure one can image what it would be like and what one could see during this trip. There are all kinds of creative ways around this. I think this focus on the camel is just a 'diversion' and maybe an excuse for poor standards.