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Textbook learning
I couldn't agree more. I think you've hit the nail on the head. Best wishes from Serena
posted by
Tiddlypush
on July 27, 2008 at 3:01 AM
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hehe very cool - children have the key to Gods soul - it is man who forgets
posted by
Smittenheimer
on July 25, 2008 at 11:16 PM
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Having been fortunate enough to have a problem with concentration in school I can attest that many of those who knew the prescribed stuff well were very parrot like. I was never really in with any academically prestigious peer group, although I enjoyed watching them display their thinking styles in class and elsewhere, but found that many "washouts" and "hopelessly lost" kids had some very real and practically useful knowledge of the world that never got taught via the official stream. Great post as usual Afzal.
posted by
AardigeAfrikaner
on July 25, 2008 at 2:06 PM
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Terrific! Similarly to free form poems free form education from life follows schooling! Take care, BCA , “Top of the Stairs” 
posted by
BC-A
on July 25, 2008 at 5:29 AM
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Afzal
Your last paragraph is such a message in a capsule. Children haven't a clue about their heritage, geography of their country the common everyday things they should learn at home. Common sense is the missing factor in so many lives before and after the costly education.
posted by
Justi
on July 25, 2008 at 4:42 AM
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The Hidden Curriculem
there is a theory that the purpose of state education is not to teach facts or skills, but that it's purpose is to teach certain habits, something it does alongside various other media, the habits it attempts to teach are: obedience to authority, acceptance of stated "fact", competition with your peers. Any additional knowledge gained outside of these habits is entirely accidental.
I don't entirely agree with the theory, but you have to wonder if it has something....
posted by
lionreign
on July 25, 2008 at 2:05 AM
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Then there's hope for my 19 yr. old son after all. He's musically talented, a thinker(reader) and
kind. What more could a mom ask.
Enjoyed reading this Afzal.
posted by
yellowrose55
on July 24, 2008 at 8:39 PM
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Great post Afzal...Excellent
posted by
Sinome2
on July 24, 2008 at 8:17 PM
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Good blog
The problem with public schools is that they don't teach error with truth. Such
as Colombus discovering America when the Indians were already here minding
their own business. And black people were totally left out accept for being slaves
In spite of the fact that they created so many of the comforts we yet enjoy today.
Take shoes for instance, the cotton gin, clothes dryers, air conditioners etc,etc,
etc. Wonder if they still teach that crap. So much brain washing has gone on
down through the ages. I appreciate the info give us on your blogs. Thanks for
your visits to mine.
posted by
Kolekshuns
on July 24, 2008 at 7:37 PM
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haha, I am a teacher, so it is a little hard to answer - but I do try my best to teach them real life values as I teach because I do understand what you mean. Life is not paperwork, tests, and essays - but students lose that aspect as their education continues. That is why I try my best to show them how harsh reality can be, as well as teaching them that school is only a piece of paper to show you are versatile.
posted by
NiteTide
on July 24, 2008 at 6:56 PM
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Good blog for all to ponder, write on Afzal ~ Elyse
posted by
elysianfields
on July 24, 2008 at 6:04 PM
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A good balance is what I strive for! sam
posted by
sam444
on July 24, 2008 at 5:19 PM
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Afzal...
Is knowledge of language important or is the knowledge of world affairs important .
I'm not much of a "world affairs" person...so I can't really say about that. Language..is important...to me.
I'm not saying that I'm the greatest in language, but...it really bothers me when people use incorrect grammar. People who were born into this language and don't know how to properly use it.
I'm not talking about people who know how to use it but often use slang and what not, as I also do occasionally as many...but it's really sad when people don't know how to use their own language.
Is it important to gather information on academic learning or is it important to put all the information into practical use to test their utility from time to time.
It's much better, in my opinion to put it into practical use. It serves no purpose to learn many things that one will never use in life...and if you are going to use it, you may as well be using it.
Children are taught to learn and cram as much they can so that they are ready to face the test of the concerned school and university syllabus. Children are given all sorts of input without any proper guidance to sieve them so that they are never put to serious difficulties by using or applying many of the untested materials which simply forces the learners to accept what is right to the author of the syllabus.
True enough. In my opinion, too heavy a weight is put on our children today in public schools. Over and over again I hear about how the parents end up doing a lot of the work for the kids...typing essay papers and stuff for 2nd graders? What is that teaching them?
That they can't be independent...that they will always have a greater workload than they alone can handle? I don't want to live in that world... I've already been there, when others fail to do their part.
It often happens that many of the students of schools and colleges lack common sense and practical knowledge about the society they live in and as a result they find them selves as misfits and usually fail to come up to the mark in the real world tests. How much academic knowledge is useful nowadays is well known to all. Most of the students who are syllabus oriented end up as clerks and managers while those who do not care for what is taught in schools are the one’s who break records of learning and success .
It's really hard for me to say about this... I feel that there has always been those that have crammed through book knowledge, and others who have common sense...and a rare few that seem to be able to achieve both.
I don't think this is within our personal power to control, but something we are born capable of or not.
Personally, I have always been more on the common sense side. 
posted by
Afzal_Sunny7
on July 24, 2008 at 11:53 AM
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Confession of a blogger about the futility of textbook learning
Very true. I agree with Harderup's post.
posted by
Oosthuizen
on July 24, 2008 at 6:12 AM
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Very true
posted by
Kayzzaman
on July 24, 2008 at 4:58 AM
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Education is key
I think education is the key to a successful future. In Scandinavia the education system is somewhat different - you attend 9 years of school (age 7-16) and after that you can decide what direction you want to continue on. We are ofc very blessed that education is free - even college - so everybody get a fair chance to persude their dreams, no matter what income your parents have.
I think that language - domestic as well as English - is very important. This gives you the possibillity to understand and be understood, to travel, to work outside the borders. (a great way to get life experience...)
I am amazed that people can come to a new country and live there for 30 years and still not know the language well enough to do a simple task as going to the bank or to the doctor.
I have lived in Sweden for the past 17 years and the first thing I did was to learn the language and learn about the country, the culture, the society. Adapt the Swedish way of doing things, without loosing my heart to my beloved Denmark. You may think that there is no big difference between the Scandinavian countries, if we speak reeeeaaaally slow we actually understand each other, but there is.
My motto is: if you are going to do something - do it well
(sorry for this long post)
posted by
Lotus_Flower
on July 24, 2008 at 4:15 AM
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