Amen to that.

I work with a lot of young people, kids who are in their later years of high school or the early years of college. Not one of them can do multiplication or division on paper. Several deny ever having seen a "long" division problem, and are astounded when they see me scribble a problem on a scrap of paper and solve it. They claim to have been given calculators in kindergarten, and have relied on them for all math problems ever since.

A co-worker was surprised when I was able to figure out 10% in my head, and was completely floored when I then was also able to calculate 90%. She had never heard of such a thing, and this girl is a twenty-four year old supervisor!

The vast majority of them cannot spell, cannot write a coherent sentence, and have absolutely no knowledge of American history. Several of them were unaware that President John F. Kennedy was shot to death in Dallas, Texas, a few believed that the Germans had dropped the first atomic bomb on Pearl Harbor, and one argued with me that it was the northern states that fought to keep slavery. This same, seemingly intelligent young girl also insisted that it was George Washington who signed the law freeing slaves in this country.

A number of them are only dimly aware that there was ever a band called the Beatles, none of them had heard of Jefferson Airplane, and several thought all TV sets had alway been full color.

If it's not on MTV and not discussed on FaceBook, it doesn't exist.

Pathetic.

 

In one of my previous lives I was a recruiter for the US Navy. Part of the requirement for enlistment was the score the enlistee attained on the 0-100 test. Those who scored less than 10 were, in no way, allowed to enlist. Those testing between 10 and 30 could enlist, but in a very narrowed program that would allow for the somewhat limited mental acuity.

Long story shortened; a young man came into the office, I sent him for the test and he scored a magnificent 8. This young man had a pretty nice career of 2 years of college. Solid courses and acceptable grades (not 'underwater basketweeving'). I thought it might be nervousness with the pressure so (in violation of the rules) I counceled him to be calm and scheduled him for a re-test. Taking the alternate test, he was really pleased with his score of 9 - I was not.

This convinced me of the idiocy of paying good money to send a perfectly functional young person to an institute of higher learning where they would learn absolutely nothing - after the parents paying such a high price. What, indeed, is taught in school these days?

A subject for discussion far into the night.

 

*chuckles* I knew there was a reason why I liked you Don, or maybe secretly loathed you, I'm going to blame you for Two years in Gitno! I spent 4 years in the navy because of people like you... I think I scored 98 on that test to which your referring. I ended up being a Corpsman, you would have thought I could have gotten into OCS or something. But no I ended up in the ass end of no where with an attitude problem and a certain amount of total disrespect for my superiors... On the whole it wasn't a totally wasted experience, I did tell a Captain (O-6) that he thought he was more important than he really was. Of course he asked the master Cheif what he thought and from that day forward I would never escape his amused playing with me. I did get a letter of commendation for that or at least that's what I'm going with.

 

Sorry-

You guys got in my head. I'm going to type out my enlisted man story and try to cut & paste it here. It'll be long and boring and I apologize in advance.

Steve

 

I read part of your story and would love to read some more of it.

 

have you seen the films yet? they are a bit of a let down as they in my opinion dont show the books in the true light they were written, im just waiting for the last one to arrive at the cinema

 

Speaking of Idiots:

When I was in high school, I always took the honors and accelerated classes. I was use to the teachers giving us an assignment and leaving it at that. When I got to college the first go around, I was not surprised in the least to see professors giving the students their assignments and not mentioning it again until the day it was due. Well, last August I decided at the ripe old age of 34 to go back to college to finish up my degree. What college had morphed into during my 16 year absence was enough to curl my toenails. I was use to being told once what work I needed to get done and the due date and it never being mentioned again. Now the professors treat everyone like it was a freakin preschool. Over the course of just 3 class meetings the professor would tell the class a dozen times that such-and-such assignment was due, followed by e-mail follow-ups and a half dozen announcements on this new-fangled internet classroom portal called "Blackboard" where you access all your classes, take exams, and submit all homework, assignments, and projects. Gone are the days when the professors treated an adult like an adult. Now they follow the students around and constantly remind them of assignments due, projects that have not been turned in, and tests that have not been taken. It makes me wonder what this world is coming to that grown adults in a college environment cannot remember to write down due dates or check their internet calendars that are provided for them. And as if all this was not enough to make you seriously doubt these people's intelligence, they go around whining about how they do not have the time to do the assignments, do not understand the work, and are convinced that the professor has it out for them because they care enough about their students to ride their butts hard enough to force them to pass a class.

Every time I hear one of them make the excuse, "But I didn't have time to study!" I feel like telling them, "Time? You want to hear about someone who doesn't have time? I have a 4 year old, a 7 year old, a 13 year old, a husband, a house to keep clean, people to feed, laundry to do, 4 dogs to take care of, and I STILL manage to find the time to study, do my homework, and pass all my classes with As! Time my ass."

Good thing I'm not a teacher. I'd let their asses fail and they can go work at Burger King since college seems to be outside their intellectual abilities.

 

I watched The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. It sucked, didn't even watch the first half hour of it. I saw the DVD for The Girl who Played with Fire but I refused to take a chance on it. The books aren't available in my library, so I haven't read them.

Speaking of dead authors, here's some useless information. If you have ever heard of V.C. Andrews, did you know that the original author died at a ripe old age but never sought publication? After her death, a family member (can't remember if it was her daughter or granddaughter) discovered all her manuscripts and thought they were great so she took them to a publisher.

 

Sorry Don-

I wrote out most of the story on Notepad but couldn't post it. I didn't save it. If anyone's curious, the basic story can be googled at: 41332 COAST GUARD

I was a student onboard and was awarded the Coast Guard Medal for my pitiful efforts to survive. Three men died.

One was a quiet and capable man, he was washed away when the boat capsized.

I was told that the second man had joined the Coast Guard in order to get over his fear of the water. I only remember his face.

The third man was the kind of guy you would hope your sister or daughter could marry. Telling his widow what happened to her husband was the worst.

The last two men were still inside the boat when it sank.

It's Pearl Harbor Day. Rest In Peace. Pearl Harbor and everyone else too.

Steve

 

It's a dark times, my friend.

 

Amen.

 

The really sad thing is I am doubtful that half of everyone knew it was pearl harbor day... I have an interesting story about that from my youth... but it is better told over beer.

 

Nicola, that's telling it like it ought to be! Sadly, some of your fellow college students will end up flipping burgers EVEN WITH A DEGREE just because their education has them unprepared for 'real life' responsibilities.

 

I knew. My dad was discharged from the Army on Pearl Harbor Day...1946...with a chest-full of Asiatic/Pacific campaign medals!
...

 

Something about when the Secret Service comes and knocks on your door... you tend to make note of the date... And then they politely ask you to escort a foreign dignitary on a walk down the beach... You tend to remember these things no matter how bleary eyed you are from jet lag.

 

I just need to say that the nicest X members are the ones in this forum. The membership at large could take lessons on manners from all of you.

 

Well I think that maybe its because despite our differences of taste and such we enjoy the support of the community and you don't garner any support by attacking your colleges. So if we disagree or dislike something we say so and say why. we accept it and move on.

 

Respect vs Differences

An ounce of respect weighs more than a pound of differences

I went to school in a one room school house (first thru sixth grades combined) and my second grade teacher only taught us for one year. He put a lot of effort into teaching is the meaning and importance of respect.

Many years later I found out that he only taught us for one year because it was discovered that he was a cross dresser. At least the school board kept the reason private when they asked him to leave.

He was a wonderful and patient teacher and he taught me a little bit about tolerance (of differences) when my mother told me (years later) why he left. A major life lesson taught from years away.

Keep smiling;
Steve

 

Two things;

1st...AMEN to your post about members and manners!

2nd...Hot Dang Lady, where did your new avatar come from!?!?!? That's a nice Christmas present to us all. Maybe your Christmas Coat(makers) daughter had her dad make a pair of these boots as a holiday gift to wear for her husband Kris. Lucky dog, no wonder he is jolly this time of year!

 

http://stories.xnxx.com/story/28400/Obsessions_and_Football

My new story obsessions and football thought you all might like it. it is a break from the normal crap I do