DailyDirt: Educations? We Don't Need No Stinkin' Educations!

from the urls-we-dig-up dept

Mon, Apr 18th 2011 5:00pm — Michael Ho

The solution to a variety of problems always seems to point to better education. But what do we do when education itself is the problem? There are folks who are trying to shift schools more towards vocational training camps, but some educators still think that the goal of education isn't just to create more employees. Here are just some interesting links on the topic of learning.

The "default" undergrad degree seems to be a business major -- since about 20% of bachelor degrees given are to business students. The second most popular degrees go to social science and history majors. [url]
Internationally, the US doesn't rank at the top of science, reading or math tests. But if there was a test for arguing the validity of those scores, the US would win hands down... [url]
An editor at The Atlantic points out an interesting discussion over whether students should be forced to read certain books. Perhaps nothing should be forced upon students...? [url]
To discover more interesting education-related content, check out what's currently floating around the StumbleUpon universe. [url]

By the way, StumbleUpon can recommend some good Techdirt articles, too.

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Filed Under: bachelor degree, business major, education, learning
Companies: the atlantic

13 Comments

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Pixelation, 18 Apr 2011 @ 6:15pm

"Internationally, the US doesn't rank at the top of science, reading or math tests"
And we still dominate economically, even in a huge recession.

The problem is we don't test very well...
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- Michael Ho (profile), 18 Apr 2011 @ 6:31pm
  
  Re:
  Pixelation,
  
  I think you've correctly pointed out that there's not a direct causation relationship between a good education and good economic performance... But it'd be nice to have a better educated population, too. :P
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Anonymous Coward, 18 Apr 2011 @ 6:15pm

Hey, Teacher! Leave those kids alone!

(Sorry, someone had to do it)
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abc gum, 18 Apr 2011 @ 6:46pm

"There are folks who are trying to shift schools more towards vocational training camps"

They know best, huh.

Rather than allowing for the pursuit of what one finds interesting, they would force the vocational path which suits them best. I thought this is what happens in N. Korea, not advanced society.
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Anonymous Coward, 18 Apr 2011 @ 6:55pm

http://nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/display.asp?id=1

we are doing much better than they give us credit for

why does the world want an American education?? because it is the best in the world

Japan doesn't require kids to go to high school, the 15-18 year old range, if they don't score well on entrance exams, they don't go

How is that better?? in America every one has a right to go to school, most other countries don't have that

America is the best system, yes it has flaws, but overall, we are the best, hands down
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- Chuck (profile), 18 Apr 2011 @ 8:48pm
  
  Re:
  Please tell me you're being sarcastic.
  
  If you're talking about how Japan doesn't require students to go to school past 15 and therefore their system is worse than your US system, Cuba pays for your med school. Does that mean US is worse than Cuba?
  
  It's not a RIGHT to go to school, it's being pushed as mandatory. Japanese kids still have the right, they just choose not to exercise it.
  
  Most other countries also have a world map and students who can pin 25 countries up. You try doing that with American kids.
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- abc gum, 19 Apr 2011 @ 4:34am
  
  Re:
  Does anyone else get tired of the USA cheerleading squad?
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- Ed C., 19 Apr 2011 @ 3:08pm
  
  Re:
  Not only does your comment get an F, but before class tomorrow, I expect a 2000 word essay on the importance of reading comprehension and critical thinking in secondary education.
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Lawrence D'Oliveiro, 18 Apr 2011 @ 9:42pm

Is Our Children Learning?
I read somewhere that there is a very strong inverse correlation between the level of economic development of a country and the level of interest shown by its younger people in science and technology.

Currently Asian countries tend to be ahead in science on technology compared to Western ones, but if this principle holds true, they, too, will have their interest wane eventually.
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- abc gum, 19 Apr 2011 @ 4:38am
  
  Re: Is Our Children Learning?
  and again ..... correlation != causation
  
  Could an abundant source of wage slaves have anything to do with it?
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Anonymous Coward, 18 Apr 2011 @ 9:53pm

i think for a while now its been clear to most of us, that smart ppl isn't what Governments and larger corporations want as a matter of fact that's the last thing they are looking for, so "There are folks who are trying to shift schools more towards vocational training camps" is exactly what they need to do.

and AC you are correct Pink Floyd warned us about that
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Ed C., 19 Apr 2011 @ 4:00pm

The education monoply
I'd admit that when I was in school, I used to believe in public education, but ever since my state's funding system was found to be unlawful under the state's own constitution, the only solution has been to cut the funding further. Lately, I've seen compelling arguments are a more "free market" system, where schools compete for public funding and/or direct tuition. Schools that fail to make the grade just simply lose funding, and students. Sure, a students can currently use their public tax dollars to attend neighboring districts if the local school is doing badly, but that doesn't help much when those are mostly more of the same. There are private schools too. Most people can't afford the additional expense, however, because their tax dollars were locked into the public system, which of course fought to prevent the current voucher system being extended to private schools. I suppose it's just another classic case of how monopolistic systems originally created for the advancement of society can become coopted by their own self-interest.
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john99 (profile), 19 Apr 2011 @ 10:59pm

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There are folks who are trying to shift schools more towards vocational training camps, but some educators still think that the goal of education isn't just to create more employees.
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