Do you notice a 'dumbing down' of children today, on what they aren't learning in school, compared to us?

Question

There is a growing trend, to not teach longhand, or Cursive, in schools.

The teachers are feeling that it won't be necessary when children reach

adulthood. And yet many colleges still require it for entrance. I have

learned that in Britain, children are taught what we seniors were taught.

And they are required to write in long hand, or Cursive. Could this only

be happening in America?

Answer 1

My pet peeve is that first graders are learning how to use calculators.  None of them can add or subtract (forget multiplication and division.)  Teachers don't have time to teach them basic arithmetic.

Even the kids on Jeopardy - who were perfect in every other way - missed two simple math questions!  Unbelievable!

It is no longer important to learn basic math, as we have calculators.  I think this is serious dumbing down and already having serious consequences for our children in lower SAT and ACT scores.  I know teachers who cannot add or subtract without "the gadget".

My own 15-year-old grandson can work thru complex algebra and trig problems, but MUST have that calculator.

Why is it so important to take time in the first grade to teach algebra concepts, but not basic, rote functions??

I quit teaching because, as an English teacher, I was not allowed to correct spelling or grammar (and that was the Seniors Honors class) in Maryland!  These kids could not even construct a coherent sentence.

I've been a substitute teacher in four different states and they all have the same problems these days, whether public or private school.  Exception:  Catholic schools.

Answer 2

My sister received her teaching credential a couple of years back - and yes, things are different from a while ago. She says they ( as teachers ) were instructed to "allow" children to write however they wanted as long as it was somewhat legible. There is no push to form the letters a specific way.

As far as the dumbing down.....when I was in high school you didn't get held back if you weren't proficient. You simply got pushed along because the schools were so crowded. When your senior year came along you were told how far behind you were and given opportunities to "catch up". Didn't happen to me, obviously, but there were some kids.....

Answer 3

All of the fore going are good responses. It is true and you can see the result in young workers... they simply are not prepared with the basic education to begin work. For those stuck in this system one possible fix is to go to a community Jr college between high school and college and enter as a transfer student from community college into the university. Much of the problem can be fixed in the Jr college by taking remedial courses to get the skills to pass the college level work.  

Answer 4

Seems like it. Here in OZ children are  first taught printing and then cursive but having said that the standard of most children's writing is deplorable.

When I went to school learning to write was very strict and people often comment on how beautiful my handwriting is. However I noticed as my kids were in school that the standards accepted by the teachers would never have passed in my day.

Most kids use computers these days and so do most adults at work so I guess that's the education systems reasoning. Still I think handwriting is still very important. Its becoming a lost art I'm afraid which is a great pity.

Answer 5

You re right..my daughter printed her way all through school..they don't teach spelling anymore either. And why don't they have to diagram sentences anymore..not that i thought it was important...but I had to do it!

Answer 6

I was discussing this with my sister the other day.  The best way to demonstrate this to everyone is contrast the books used in elementary schools today with the McGuffey Readers used for decades.  Students today would have a difficult time reading, thinking and understanding the diversity of subjects explored in this series used widely until the 1940s.

Answer 7

I noticed a major difference in grade and high school than in college.

In K-12, you're required to learn exactly what the textbooks say. Even if they're wrong.

In college, you're allowed to question what you're learning and correct the professor if the material is wrong or outdated. I think public schools should be more open minded in this manner.

For example, does anyone remember that bullsh*t taught in grade school that during the first Thanksgiving pilgrims and Native Americans feasted together, and didn't fight?

Or that c**p that our founding fathers were christian?

I think children should be allowed and encouraged to think objectively.

Jan: They recently passed the same laws here in Illinois. High school students are now required to pass 4 years of math and english to graduate. Which is a good thing!

Answer 8

I sure have!  They can't write or spell or do math without a calculator which should not be allowed in classes. How do you learn anything ? Our young people are babied to the extent of ridiculous. They have no respect  for others . I too saw a test from the early nineteen hundreds and couldn't believe it. Yes  we learned and it has stayed with us. It is only happeneing in America, that's why the other nations are way ahead of us in science and technology

Jan  those "new rules" are old. That's the way it used to be.

Answer 9

There is a tendency to not teach a lot of things today on the theory they won't be needed.  Basic math for one.  We will all be using calculators I guess they reason,  and do not consider how good learning such things can be for the mind.  The brain need exercise even more than the body.

But, I work with children at this community center; and, it may be just an "underprivileged" children thing, but I suspect not.  And that is that children today do not know how to listen.

My parent's told me "Do not make me repeat myself!"  They didn't have to.  Today, I have to constantly repeat myself and sometimes make them pay the penalty before  they learn their lesson.

Example: we recently had a pizza party, but only for children than had read three books and provided documentation of this fact, the exact documentation depended upon the age group.

We constantly reminded the children of the pizza party and what they had to do to attend it.  We did everything possible to help them read the three books and get the documentation.

Still many children turned up that day, expecting to attend the pizza party, children who had come to summer lunch and had been told... but they did not read the three books.  They were turned away.

Some of them cried, but next time... bet they will read those books.

On the positive side, we did have twenty who read the required books.  One read nineteen and got a special award.  We plan on making it a regular event.

Bet more will read the books.  I hate it; but sometimes, you have to make it hurt before they listen.

P.S.  Some of the children at the pizza party left right after the pizza, not staying for some of the other activities of the party, including the prizes and goody bags.  Later they were surprised that there were prizes and goody bags.  They were told, but they did not listen.

Answer 10

Heavens yes! Just watch Jay Leno's "Jaywalking" when he's out on the street interviewing college aged kids. Half of them can't even name our vice president!

What irritates me is that in our school system, Driver's Ed is not mandatory. And if you want to take it, the class is $225. Kids can still get their license with no classroom experience. In our high school alone, we lost seven students to fatal car crashes in one year.

Yet, Greek Mythology (a totally useless subject) is mandatory. Where is the logic?

Answer 11

I was required to write in cursive for maybe... 5th grade? Then it stopped. My last English teacher talked in slang. I mean for heavens sake, speak correctly what you teach. I think we are becoming too lax in teaching. Nevermind the No Child Left Behind Act.

Answer 12

Its the failings of public schools, parents and the influence of the media:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bx4pN-aio...

Nichole

Answer 13

Children in British schools are being taught cursive writing. In all other areas of education they are certainly not being taught the same things that you were taught when you were young. The fields of mathematics, biology, physics, chemistry, geography, business, psychology, economics, information technology, design technology etc have advanced greatly since the time you were in school.

Are students being dumbed down? No. Are teachers apprehensive about providing the best for students? Possibly. Is society as a whole being encouraged not to think for themselves? Yes

The age of cursive and longhand are over. Different skills are needed to cope in this day in age. Did you get a better education than me? Not likely but I am willing to put it to the test.

Answer 14

American children are spoiled rotten!! Everything is on the internet, they have cellphones and ipods. Why do they have to write that would be difficult.:) Plus you would have to grade the papers and children can't fail in today's society.  

Answer 15

I've noticed a difference moving from PA to FL. The educational standards were higher up north. I was just answering a question about stereotypes, but some of it is true. I have a teaching degree. The kids here are being taught "the test" so their schools get funding. These kids are not getting an education. They are cutting out all other programs: music, art, etc. It's a shame.

Answer 16

Have you heard of no child left behind created bu out pres? The teachers do not have time to teach things as geography, life lessons , etc... They are too busy teaching math, english and reading so the students pass a test so the school keeps Fed. money. A well rounded education is now nonexistent thanks to this program!

Answer 17

There are a lot of problems in the public school system.  This is just one of them. They have so many students they have to do what they can just to keep control and get through the day.  

Answer 18

Here in Michigan they are passing all these new rules,  In order to get  your diploma,  You must have like 4 years Math, 4 years English 2 years foreign language,   I don't exactly  know   what all the requirement's  are,  But how will they know all of this if it'.s  not taught early  in the elementary  school Years?