frenchconnection - 23 February 2008 11:58 AM

CM - 08 January 2008 06:45 PM

Not all distractions are equally as dangerous.

That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever read from you.  Were you making a joke?

A distraction is a distraction.  There is no such thing as kind of pregnant!  That is why I say that it is a slippery slope that you’re getting into.

Explain how being distracted for 0.5 second by something says on the radio is likely to have the same ramifications in terms of vehicle safety as your phone ringing and you attempting to find it, answer it, and carry on a conversation while driving a shift with one hand.
There is a continuum in terms of the levels and impacts of distractions while driving. Being pregnant or not pregnant is not a continuum.
That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever read from you.

I wouldn’t classify the GW chant as “lies.” More like “unconfirmed science” being taught as gospel.

Would you support it being taught as unconfirmed science?
Isn’t it too large an issue (irrespective of the level of accuracy of the many different aspects) to ignore? Wouldn’t it actually be negligent for schools to leave it out completely? It would end up being the elephant in the room. You’d start a black market in AIT dvds in the schoolyard!

Wouldn’t it better that they have a forum to discuss this issue, as opposed to it just being a one-way bombardment from the media?

Of course. That’s not, of course, what it’s going to be. It’s going to be reaffirming what the media is bombarding them with. Not my idea of “a forum to discuss the issue.”

Ok, so you’re objection is just to they way you believe it will be taught.

Besides, why does the only forum have to be a public school setting? Can’t kids discuss things with their parents? Oh wait - I forgot… We don’t let parents raise their kids any more… ESPECIALLY in California…

Agreed. Parents should be exercising personal responsibility to be their kids’ first and primary educator.

Would you support it being taught as unconfirmed science?

Sure. That’s not what California will do, however. They will pound the same “we know for sure that this is exactly what and how everything is happening, and we know because we say so” crap that the media is shoving down our throats.

Ok, so you’re objection is just to they way you believe it will be taught.

Close… My primary objection is the way I know it will be taught. Correct me if I’m wrong, but you’ve never lived in California, have you CM? There is very little “this is what might be” being taught in the schools - they must appear as being authoritative and all knowing on just about every topic. There is no middle ground.

Case in point - my girlfriend has related a story to me from when she was in school. Her teacher had said that because the moon reflects the sun’s light, you cannot see the moon in the sky during daylight. This, of course, is completely wrong. My girlfriend had seen the moon in the sky on her way to school that very morning, and told her teacher as much. Her teacher “corrected” her, saying that it was impossible. Things escalated and her mother ended up visiting the school and giving the teacher a piece of her mind…

That’s kind of an extreme example, but the attitude presented by the teacher in that story is pretty typical of the public education system in California (if not the entire nation).

swagger - 23 February 2008 09:40 PM

That’s kind of an extreme example, but the attitude presented by the teacher in that story is pretty typical of the public education system in California (if not the entire nation).

I had a similar experience in jr high regarding how many stars could you see in a square inch at night.

Being in urban southern California, umm, maybe one or two (too much light, smog, et cetera to see them).

Teacher kept ‘correcting’ me and I just told him off… when was the last time you actually looked? So how do you ‘know’ I’m wrong.

bah…

But anyway, I know your right. It won’t be presented with any balance. Pure indoctrination.

I’ll bet Californians know exacly how many states the US really has.

biafra - 23 February 2008 10:24 PM

I’ll bet Californians know exacly how many states the US really has.

heh, yeah, 52.

That certainly sounds dumb then. If they took it from the science and presented the uncertainties, then the media could be cut out of the equation.
Perhaps the kids could learn about the concept of uncertainty in science at the same time. Seems like a good topic to explore that.
(I’m saying could because I acknowledge your firm belief that it won’t happen like that).

CM - 23 February 2008 11:44 PM

That certainly sounds dumb then. If they took it from the science and presented the uncertainties, then the media could be cut out of the equation.
Perhaps the kids could learn about the concept of uncertainty in science at the same time. Seems like a good topic to explore that.
(I’m saying could because I acknowledge your firm belief that it won’t happen like that).

I’d be happy (umm, satisfied) if they just taught what the science says vs what Al Gore says it says and/or some spun distorted version of what it says. Sea levels up 28 feet (while leaving out how long it will take) is going to be the new 52 states… :)