PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum - View Single Post - Rise up, and join the revolution. It begins today at noon.

mgburg · #89 02-28-2011, 12:16 PM

A parent, this past Saturday, related how a discussion went with his daughter (I think he said she was 15) about her own homework...She got the assignment finished just using Wikipedia...no other source...no cross-checking any information, no "critical thinking" (as you stated MS Fowler), just TYPE, CUT, PASTE, REGURGITATE.

Here's the gist of the conversation:

DAD: "How's the homework coming?"
DAUGHTER: "Finished it."
DAD: "Already?"
DAUGHTER: "Yep."
DAD: "Well, what did you think about the subject? Are you for or against the Bill?" (Obvious topic up here...go figure...the schools are asking the kids to write down what they feel about the budget bill...maybe setting up a "blacklist" of some sort...eh? This is my thought, not his...BTW, he's a union-worker with an electrical outfit...)
DAUGHTER: "Whatever."
DAD: "Waddayoumean Whatever? What did you write about? Anything?"
DAUGHTER: "Yah. I wrote some stuff."
DAD: "And....?"
DAUGHTER: "Dad! I did the homework! Just leave it be! OK?"
DAD: "Whatever..."

He mentioned later that his daughter came in on the side of the State Union workers, but only because she THINKS that's the only way she'll be excepted in the classroom with the teachers. So, at least, she has some survival instincts intact...yet. The critical thinking part? Works hand-in-hand with the survival part.

As for being able to express it? Once (if ever) she's on her own, maybe...then it looks like it's a single shot at life.

After that?

Bottle, pills and handouts...she'll be just another wounded gazelle on the plain of life...'til she's eaten alive.