peppamint Wrote:I’m sure I’ll get plenty of disagreement, but I believe the overarching theme of Obama’s education plan is not to give things away for free, but to make higher education more appealing to the masses. One need only turn to some of this “reality tv”, for one shining example, to see that currently, the appeal is not there. People in the academic field whose job it is to prepare young people for higher education realize this. So, coupled with a severely damaged public school system in many places (which “the masses” attend) is a perceived (if not necessarily real) notion that college will be too expensive with each passing year. So the attitude becomes “what’s the point?”, and the manifestation of that is found on the Maury Povich show and elsewhere. Every student is not a super duper Farmerboy. And every parent is not one of these wonderful home-schooling parents on this board. You all get your kudos and such for being motivated, assertive and educated enough to achieve these accomplishments.

My roommate is a teacher in a public school system - yeah, down in the trenches -- and from what he tells me it’s unbelievably bad. These teachers are having a hard enough time actually teaching around discipline issues that they really can’t stop. (It's gone waayyy beyond just talking in class.) And on top of it all they pretty much have to sell the idea of proper education to these kids and their parents. (Oh the parents ! ) It might not be right, but it is the reality. Houston, we definitely have a problem. When I was in (public) high school – a little more than a decade ago, I didn’t have to be sold on education – it was an expectation set before me. But things are very different now.

When I hear about what goes on in high schools now, I am truly amazed. I want to be a ____ when I grow up. HA! That’s an ancient sentiment nowadays in many public school systems. A lot of kids don't have any motivation; they don't know what to be motivated about. Said all that to say umm… there’s got to be a solution or we’re all going to heck if uneducated people keep getting “processed” into the real world and the solution needs to be from all angles – forward (from the school systems) and backward. So don’t hate on Obama’s plan because there needs to be a plan to make education appealing again.

creationstory Wrote:honestly blame the parents. opporunities exist in the world. there are enough programs for people who want to make it in the world. if anything they can always pursue vocational education in america. that is what i believe should also be emphasized.

peppamint Wrote:Yes... I blame a lot of these parents. I live here, in a microcosm of what some would say is the problem with blacks in America. DC!

I just happen to be black myself, and I can call it in my own family as well -- and we all grew up in the cushy suburbs... one of the finest public school systems in the US at the time. How come all of us aren't shining examples of scholastic achievement. Because some of our Parents ! were too busy trying to keep that boyfriend around or get that fix.


I don't necessarily believe in handouts... who knows, maybe if I had gotten a few when I needed them, I might... But I do believe in getting my assets up and going to work every day, paying my bills on time and keeping my nose clean. And I don't think Obama's plan amounts to a handout. A hand out would be: if you are between the ages of 17 and 19 and need some dough, here - take up to $4000. If community service is the consideration for receiving additional "aid" to attend college then that's a good thing. I think that community service could even lead people to explore different trades or vocations.

Professor_Adam Wrote:peppamint,
You really hit some things on the head in your posts. Students and young people seem especially lazy in this generation. There's a certain entitlement mentality -- not talking about welfare here -- that says hey I shouldn't have to work hard for this or I shouldn't have to pay for this. They want things handed to them in the workforce instead of starting at the bottom and working their way up.

I say this because in the military my peers (senior NCOs) and I see this in the new privates that have been coming in the Army over the last 4 or 5 years. Their lack of discipline and work ethic is appalling. It seems that the standards have really come down. Kids come in the military expecting things to be easy or to be handed to them -- and in some ways now they are! Many standards (PT, height/weight, customs and courtesies) aren't being enforced like they used to be. It's a sad state of affairs. We practically have to beg soldiers to study for promotion boards and make sergeant!

creationstory Wrote:i can only agree...... with all these huge bonus' being delved out to indiviiduals who haven't earned them... they simply feel they are better than others and dont have to try. it should just be given.

Professor_Adam Wrote:Yeah the bonus issue had been (until the recent economic turmoil) a bid hinderance to retention. In other words, people were demanding high bonuses or waiting it out until bonus money went up, or simply just not reenlisting. Thanks to the economy this is no longer an issue. ;-) Hopefully it will bring more balance and discipline to the ranks. At least that's what we're hoping.

creationstory Wrote:for good the bad economy has done wonders for the military enlistments. for bad the economy has been bad for the nation. when the jobs on the civilian side aren't around who can really turn down a job where its hard to get fired, with so many perks!

creationstory Wrote:I can understand Farmerboys point of view. I believe it is based on the fact of his limited exposure to the black community as a whole. The vast number of blacks live in urban area's as well as the deep south. Which is not where he is from. He simply hasn't been exposed to many blacks. It's just what he knows....