Geography, I doubt they can spell it either.

[jeepnik]

I have a young friend that teaches middle school. This year she gave all of her classes a map showing the fifty states. The first thirteen were numbered 1-13 alphabetically. The rest were numbered in accordance with when they became states. All the students had to do was write down the number next to states name.

None got them all. In fact the best one, and I mean only one got 32. The curve dropped like a rock down a well after that. Two only got California right.

Her first instinct was to fail them all. But the administration intervened and told her if she did they would override her grades. Never knew they could do that.

Well, she gave a few C's, mostly D's and a few F's. Imagine that, they don't know the material yet couldn't be failed. Oh, and most of the parents complained.

I told her she should give the same test to the parents. Her response, most can't read, and of those that can, many only read Spanish.

Mind you these aren't kids that were born elsewhere and immigrated. Most were born here and had attended public school from K to present.

Oh, and to add insult to injury, the local school district says they are changing the requirements for a high school diploma. Seems too few were able to meet the minimum requirements.

[Blaine]

Sad.
Keep in mind that standards are being lowered for teachers because a "certain segment" cannot pass the basic tests for teaching.
Ignorant teachers, Ignorant students.

[Chuck 100 yd]

My wife can't read a map let alone know the states. Good thing she is a banker and not a truck driver.

[2571]

What'' the big deal? Think I care if some kid doesn't recognize PRK? I don't myself.

[plowboy 45]

Aaaaaaaaah
I do recognize all the states, but what is PRK

[66GTO]

Aaaaaaaaah
I do recognize all the states, but what is PRK

Peoples Republic of Kalifornia

[plowboy 45]

Ok, thanks for that little lesson there GTO

[jeepnik]

What'' the big deal? Think I care if some kid doesn't recognize PRK? I don't myself.

I resisted as long as I could. Someone from Detroit bad mouthing California is the pot calling the kettle black.

[claybob86]

Even the king (or dictator or whatever) doesn't know how many states there are...

[jeepnik]

Even the king (or dictator or whatever) doesn't know how many states there are...

True, but as I said many if not most were born here.

[Rusty]

I think they should keep the diploma system the way it is. If you don't pass the requirements for the diploma you should get a certificate of attendance to show you at least went to all the classes.

[jeepnik]

I think they should keep the diploma system the way it is. If you don't pass the requirements for the diploma you should get a certificate of attendance to show you at least went to all the classes.

What they should do is fail students if they don't meet the requirements to pass, and hold them back. As it is, students that fail are moved to the next higher grade so they won't have low self-esteem.

[mikld]

Well, I would have failed too. Now be honest with yourself, how many can you (anybody reading this) put in order of entrance into the US?

[bdhold]

My 15yo daughter is getting a great education. She would have certainly blown that curve.
She's in AP everything that's offered, and I think she's made two Bs in her life - my brain and her mother's mitochondria - she's something else.
http://www.neisd.net/johnson/

[claybob86]

Well, I would have failed too. Now be honest with yourself, how many can you (anybody reading this) put in order of entrance into the US?

Sounded to me like all they had to do was recognize the states on a map, not know the order of admission. That was provided on the map.

[jeepnik]

I must not have been clear. The list of state name was by entrance to the union. They just had to match the number on the map to the name.

Having them in order of was just a way of ordering them. A good hint for some. I'd have just listed them alphabetically.

[David]

I resisted as long as I could. Someone from Detroit bad mouthing California is the pot calling the kettle black.

Better be careful that sounds like a micro racist response

I believe you now get fired in Kalifornia for that, in Detroit they just shoot you.

[Ysabel Kid]

Does not surprise me a bit. On either front - the fact they couldn't do it, or that the school made her pass so many.

When I lived in central Michigan for 7 years, from the late 1980's to mid-1990's, I remember the Detroit news station doing a survey of 1,000 graduating seniors from the inner-city. They would ask them basic civics questions; who the President was, VP, Governor, etc . They would show them an unmarked map of the US and ask them to identify the state of MI.

Most - a vast majority - couldn't do it. Come on - the state that looks like a mitten?

And, at 18, if they bother to vote, their vote counts just as much as any of ours...

[jeepnik]

I resisted as long as I could. Someone from Detroit bad mouthing California is the pot calling the kettle black.

Better be careful that sounds like a micro racist response

I believe you now get fired in Kalifornia for that, in Detroit they just shoot you.

At my age, I don't really care what anyone thinks of the old sayings I sometimes spout. And just what the heck is a "micro" racist? A dwarf who's a member of the KKK. Gee, I think I insulted two groups in one sentence.

[David]

I resisted as long as I could. Someone from Detroit bad mouthing California is the pot calling the kettle black.

Better be careful that sounds like a micro racist response

I believe you now get fired in Kalifornia for that, in Detroit they just shoot you.

At my age, I don't really care what anyone thinks of the old sayings I sometimes spout. And just what the heck is a "micro" racist? A dwarf who's a member of the KKK. Gee, I think I insulted two groups in one sentence.

Its the latest liberal sword. If you say something like it's diverse program that's a racially charged statement a "Micro Racist" remark.

[Griff]

I'm so glad I moved from CA. Well in advance of my son completing his primary education... I find it amusing that so many still think it's the land of milk & honey... weather-wise, it might be... but in all other respects it has all the markings of a slum.

So, maybe we should give "kudos" to those that are still attempting to hold their heads up out there... but I fear, in actual fact, I'm saddened by the futility of the attempt in the long run.

[bigbore442001]

Don't worry. Many of them believe they can rap for a living.

[BAGTIC]

cancelled

[Gaucho Gringo]

And we wonder why we are going downhill. They sprout off that we a country of immigrants(6 of my 8 GGrandparents were not born in the US) but at least in the old days they expected their children to go to school to learn something so they could better themselves. Unfortunately, it is no longer that way and we will become a second or third rate country. And I happen to know a thing or two about self esteem as I was born with cerebral palsy. Have lived a fairly normal life, held jobs no problem, homeowner for over 35 years, married for 33 years to the same loving woman and have 2 children and 2 adorable grandchildren. So I do get upset at the whiners and apologists shoot off their mouths about how hard it is.

[KiwiKev]

Where is Noo Zeeland?

A friend of mine went to Paris Texas just to see the place. Sitting on the porch of a store was an old chap chewing tobacco. Being a friendly kiwi he struck up a conversion. My friend's accent through the Southern gentleman. 'Where are you from boy?" He asked. "New Zealand" came the answer. "Hell, I don't think I have been to that part of Texas!" The old man commented before spitting out his tobacco.

But can you?

Name all the protectorates of the United States starting with Eastern Samoa!