This is still crap. The reason you are seeing the argument repeated is that you aren't refuting it, you are denying it without evidence. If this is an example of your "reasoning" it is another argument for higher standards in vetting educators. I repeat, you don't have to be a musician to recognize a sour note, you don't have to be a doctor to recognize some classes of malpractice (scalpel left in after an operation), and you don't have to be a teacher to recognize some of the problems in the system.
If the point you are TRYING to make is that nonteachers are adocating unrealistic solutions because they don't understand teaching and don't have experience in teaching or managing a classroom, you don't have to persuade me, I agree. However, that isn't what you are saying.
As it happens, I homeschooled my children for 7 years, taught classes as a graduate student, and still write training materials and conduct professional education as part of my job, for whatever that is worth. However, none of that is necessarily relevant. When I see a gifted teacher removed from a challenging science class, and subsequently being replaced by a basketball coach who has more seniority, and whose idea of teaching is showing videos and passing out worksheets 165 days of the school year, I don't have to be a teacher to realize the system has a problem.
As a whole, I don't have a problem with the teaching profession, I think parents are the root of most problems. My major issue is that teachers are not self-policing, and just circle the wagons and attack anyone who wants accountability in the profession. Seniority is a not a sufficient measure of excellence or even of competence.
This is crap. I don't have to be a musician to hear a sour note from the orchestra. And I have been an active participant in our education system as a student and a parent of students, which very much gives me the right to comment on that system.
I agree that the education "professionals" should lead the charge in these matters. However, since they seem more concerned with acting like teamsters to avoid being held accountable for their teaching performance than acting as "professionals", you'll just have to deal with parents and school boards taking a crack at it.
Despite the negative tone of the preceding paragraphs, I think the biggest problem with education in this country is parents who don't value education, don't teach their children to value education, don't work with their children, and who then expect the schools to make up for all that neglect in 180 7 hour school days.
I have to agree with this. I was a typical nerd, with the exception of being 6'2" and 200 pounds (and in reasonable condition) in high school, and I had no difficulties with being bullied. This was not true of my smaller nerdly brethren.
I have ended up doing "scientific" software sorts of jobs for the last ten years (as opposed to doing business applications or web stuff) and in those positions we have always been concerned about the mathematical proficiency of applicants, and have NOT found that a C.S. degree by itself guarantees the ability to handle even simple calculus, linear algebra, or numerical analysis. Many schools seem to be cranking out graduates who are destined for no math more complex than computing a payroll. Having the math major on your resume would probably get you past the first sifting of resumes for positions and into an interview, at least at the places I have worked. If you are interested in jobs where your math skills are needed, the credential could well be an asset to you and worth the small amount of trouble you describe it requiring.
Perfect for the chocolate loving geek of your choice. In dark, milk, or white chocolate.
http://www.chocolatebymueller.net/Merchant2/mercha nt.mv?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=CBM&Category_Code=EAW CM
Look at Mathematics : From the Birth of Numbers by Jan Gullberg for an excellent introduction to math, up through calculus and a bit of differential equations. Written by a physician who pursued math as a life-long hobby, it is quite accessible to the interested student, and brims with the author's obvious enthusiasm for the material. My father-in-law (a math professor) loved it, I loved it (a software guy with a couple of engineering degrees), and my 11 year old homeschooled son loves it. You could spend many moons profitably working through this material.
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If the point you are TRYING to make is that nonteachers are adocating unrealistic solutions because they don't understand teaching and don't have experience in teaching or managing a classroom, you don't have to persuade me, I agree. However, that isn't what you are saying.
As it happens, I homeschooled my children for 7 years, taught classes as a graduate student, and still write training materials and conduct professional education as part of my job, for whatever that is worth. However, none of that is necessarily relevant. When I see a gifted teacher removed from a challenging science class, and subsequently being replaced by a basketball coach who has more seniority, and whose idea of teaching is showing videos and passing out worksheets 165 days of the school year, I don't have to be a teacher to realize the system has a problem.
As a whole, I don't have a problem with the teaching profession, I think parents are the root of most problems. My major issue is that teachers are not self-policing, and just circle the wagons and attack anyone who wants accountability in the profession. Seniority is a not a sufficient measure of excellence or even of competence.
This is crap. I don't have to be a musician to hear a sour note from the orchestra. And I have been an active participant in our education system as a student and a parent of students, which very much gives me the right to comment on that system. I agree that the education "professionals" should lead the charge in these matters. However, since they seem more concerned with acting like teamsters to avoid being held accountable for their teaching performance than acting as "professionals", you'll just have to deal with parents and school boards taking a crack at it. Despite the negative tone of the preceding paragraphs, I think the biggest problem with education in this country is parents who don't value education, don't teach their children to value education, don't work with their children, and who then expect the schools to make up for all that neglect in 180 7 hour school days.
I have to agree with this. I was a typical nerd, with the exception of being 6'2" and 200 pounds (and in reasonable condition) in high school, and I had no difficulties with being bullied. This was not true of my smaller nerdly brethren.
I have ended up doing "scientific" software sorts of jobs for the last ten years (as opposed to doing business applications or web stuff) and in those positions we have always been concerned about the mathematical proficiency of applicants, and have NOT found that a C.S. degree by itself guarantees the ability to handle even simple calculus, linear algebra, or numerical analysis. Many schools seem to be cranking out graduates who are destined for no math more complex than computing a payroll. Having the math major on your resume would probably get you past the first sifting of resumes for positions and into an interview, at least at the places I have worked. If you are interested in jobs where your math skills are needed, the credential could well be an asset to you and worth the small amount of trouble you describe it requiring.
Perfect for the chocolate loving geek of your choice. In dark, milk, or white chocolate. http://www.chocolatebymueller.net/Merchant2/mercha nt.mv?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=CBM&Category_Code=EAW CM
Look at Mathematics : From the Birth of Numbers by Jan Gullberg for an excellent introduction to math, up through calculus and a bit of differential equations. Written by a physician who pursued math as a life-long hobby, it is quite accessible to the interested student, and brims with the author's obvious enthusiasm for the material. My father-in-law (a math professor) loved it, I loved it (a software guy with a couple of engineering degrees), and my 11 year old homeschooled son loves it. You could spend many moons profitably working through this material.