Jump to content

Home

How Stupid Are Americans?


mimartin

Recommended Posts

You are actually right and when the copies were distributed for the 4th only John Hancock and Mr. Charles Thompson's signatures were on it. It took unilt I believe 1871 for the last signature to be obtained.

Are you attempting to embody this thread's title? John Adams, who actually was there, wrote: "The second day of July 1776 will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival."

 

If you feel that the declaration wasn't valid until signed by all 13 colonies, that didn't happen until July 9. (New York abstained from the July 4th signing)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Replies 61
  • Created
  • Last Reply
Ping,

 

I'm an American, too, and I'm rather ashamed to admit that I got 2 questions wrong. "The Federalist Papers?" The title of that document brought up a shadow of a trace of a vaguely blurry memory of learning about that, but the WRITERS? Come on. I also thought that a certain illustrious co-author of the Declaration of Independence was involved. I also misnamed the president of the United States during World War I. 8/10 isn't bad, though, if I do say so.

 

At your school, what do you think of the quality of the teaching there? You're pretty darn intelligent (excuse my Redneckese ), so what's your perspective on the education system today? I'm 31, and haven't been "in the loop" for years when it comes to schools, However, my inquiring mind wants to know! :)

 

My school is ranked second in the county, and I feel like the quality is great, but could be better. For example, the calculus teachers are not exactly competant. Two of them can't teach, and the one I have grades so harshly that my dad even commented that his college professors never graded that hard. Most of the teachers I've had, however, can teach well, are respectful towards the students, and know exactly what their job is. I've also felt like the higher-ups are (or at least, were) putting sports before education. I mean, they built a stadium that most likely costed a million or so (the excuse being we were the only school in the county without one), and yet some of the textbooks we've been given are graffitied, falling apart, and occasionally have half a page missing (my biology textbook had all three of the above listed). Which do you need to spend money on?

 

As for my opinion on the education system, it needs Improvement. After taking the quiz, I'm postive we need to teach more about the government and the laws. The only time I can remember learning about that was in 8th grade, and even then, I don't think we were ever told how many Reps there were in the house. I also don't remember being taught what the Federalist Papers were. We do have have courses about Government and Law in high school, but they're optional, and several (myself included) opt to take AP classes (like European History or Macroeconomics) instead. Therefore, there has to be a way where classes like that are mandatory so we actually know about our country. Also, not to sound ethnocentric or anything, but I think American values, to some extent, needs to be taught. Despite the fact the USA says you can have whatever opinion you want, my classmates, and, to a lesser extent, my friends, continually berate me for not doing or thinking what everyone else does (I'm introverted and a soccer fan, and people think it's okay to mock me or treat me differently for not going to homecoming and/or prom, and for the fact I'm just not into football or baseball).

 

We also need to teach about foreign countries to some extent. The only time I remember learning about other countries is when they got involved with the U.S., and in European History, which was the entire course. This way, we eliminate ethnocentrism (maybe not the best term), which I continually see in school. I've yet to meet someone that hasn't taken something in America for granted; in Macroeconomics, for example, people expressed surprise that the US has rather low taxes compared to other countries.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I mean, they built a stadium that most likely costed a million or so (the excuse being we were the only school in the county without one),

 

Well, if you're still in hs, that sounds like a blatant load of horse**** they were feeding everyone.

 

Despite the fact the USA says you can have whatever opinion you want, my classmates, and, to a lesser extent, my friends, continually berate me for not doing or thinking what everyone else does (I'm introverted and a soccer fan, and people think it's okay to mock me or treat me differently for not going to homecoming and/or prom, and for the fact I'm just not into football or baseball).

 

But you do understand that their berating you for not engaging in "groupthink" doesn't actually violate that concept, right? That really only applies to the govt forcing you into a way of thinking. While I agree that the system needs reforming, throwing $$ at the problem solves nothing. We typically spend more per capita than almost any other country and have little to show for it. Instead of demanding more money, more should be done to demand accountability for how the money has been spent before anyone loosens the purse strings.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

@Totenkopf: Yeah, a couple people are starting to find out the BS about the stadium. As for the second part, what you say is true, but all's I ask for is respect, that's all. And you're right about the money, but I can't exactly think of or know of a better solution.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

@Totenkopf: Yeah, a couple people are starting to find out the BS about the stadium. As for the second part, what you say is true, but all's I ask for is respect, that's all. And you're right about the money, but I can't exactly think of or know of a better solution.

 

Well, one starting place would be teacher competency testing and the ability to fire bad or worthless teachers. If the unions want to find them an internal union job, that's their business. Rid the schools of social promotion, whereby kids who can't pass 5th grade are held back till they can. If they want to claim some kind of stigma......well, embarrassment at the prospect of failure has been sufficient motivation in the past for many to at least pass. Parents also need to make the time to see that their kids are doing their school work. If that means less time in front of a tv/computer for mindless entertainment or less time in the local pub/club and helping their kids.....so be it. A good teacher can only do so much for your kids, a bad one merely exacerbates all the other problems. just a few ideas.....

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Are you attempting to embody this thread's title? John Adams, who actually was there, wrote: "The second day of July 1776 will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival."

 

If you feel that the declaration wasn't valid until signed by all 13 colonies, that didn't happen until July 9. (New York abstained from the July 4th signing)

 

Maybe so but in an interesting book that I found called Signing Their Life Away, there was an interesting bliplit in there that basically said everything I just said. All 56 signers did not sign it July 4 or what have you. It took them quite a bit of time to get their signatures on the paper. So it isn't stupidity but historical fact that I was giving. There's a difference ;)

 

BTW I wasn't talking about validity either.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Honestly by them calling us "Americans" Stupid is just another way to separate themselves from the rest kind of like there better than the rest, We all know there are two types of Americans Rich And Poor no in betweens!!. Maybe if they weren't so power hungry and greedy America might be better than before, But instead the politicians decide to waste lives and money on war when they should be worrying about Health and Education.

 

Seriously it's time for new order get the ones that have been in office since dirt was discovered and let some fresh blood in and get this country back on it's feet.

 

I watch a lot of late night news programs and i laugh at how they sugar coat everything with lies!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Honestly by them calling us "Americans" Stupid is just another way to separate themselves from the rest kind of like there better than the rest, We all know there are two types of Americans Rich And Poor no in betweens!!
I suppose you think grammar/knowledge of English is for rich folks only?

 

Seriously it's time for new order get the ones that have been in office since dirt was discovered and let some fresh blood in and get this country back on it's feet.
Where is this fresh blood?
Link to comment
Share on other sites

No not saying for rich folk only we as a country need to put money towards more important things such as Education English courses being one of them. In my opinion if they spent more on education then our kids would be able to advance in grammar which is one of the most important things to have in life!

 

As for the new blood i really don't know all i know is our politicians are being more corrupt the older they get!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

No not saying for rich folk only we as a country need to put money towards more important things such as Education English courses being one of them. In my opinion if they spent more on education then our kids would be able to advance in grammar which is one of the most important things to have in life!

 

I can put my weight behind this sentiment.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

*looks at the last 5 posts*

 

:ugh:

 

Grammar....

 

Greater age != (does not equal) greater corruption.... Greater Age => (implies) less caring about hiding yourself, corrupt or not.

 

Sabretooth.... you devil :)

 

Answer to the question of the OP: Many are incredibly stupid beyond explanation or metric.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

FOX FOX FOX FOX.......just checking to see if JM's ear stumps are bleeding or her eyes have sunk into her skull. :xp:

 

People here believe and watch FoxNews. nuff said? :xp:

 

Well, I'dve gone for people here voted for and still believe in Obama, nuff said. :devsmoke:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I feel bad for dragging us even more off topic, but I'm of the opinion that many journalists (especially those of Fox and MSNBC, though I'd be hard pressed to think of a news organization without fairly obvious leanings) couldn't be made to report plain, unbiased, non-spun facts even with a gun at their head. They are mentally and physically incapable of not running facts through the filter of their biases.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I know, my keyboard sucks!!!

Fixed :)

 

I don't think Americans have the market cornered on stupid. I do think that American educational value has slipped a great deal, and so the kids are not learning as much as they could, not being pushed enough, etc. That is ignorance though, not stupidity, and ignorance has a cure although some will not take their medicine. The stupidity in American people is trusting and relying on any authority with a voice to do the thinking for them, because that is easier. That sounds like laziness, but the results are stupid.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I feel bad for dragging us even more off topic, but I'm of the opinion that many journalists (especially those of Fox and MSNBC, though I'd be hard pressed to think of a news organization without fairly obvious leanings) couldn't be made to report plain, unbiased, non-spun facts even with a gun at their head. They are mentally and physically incapable of not running facts through the filter of their biases.

 

And that's why they're hired. People like hearing from people on TV what they want to hear.

 

btw, nice avatar - GREAT show!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.


×
×
  • Create New...