Most of the kids are as intelligent as ever, but the government dumbs exams down to a level that the most stupid/lazy can pass, then nobody feels 'left out'... or they might sue for the trauma of it.

		SkyRideR wrote:
		i heard a news report stating that high school diplomas are worth nothing and kids are actually dumber than before...

It makes me long for the days when we thought that typing 1134 on a calculator and flipping it upside down so that it'd spell 'hell' was amusing.

		_strat_ wrote:
		One of the bullshitiest ideas ever. Its like learning how to use a calculator, without learning how to count first. Not to mention that doing everything exclusively on computers is a really bad idea. You write something on a piece of paper, it stays there. You write something on a computer, it stays there... Until the thing crashes. Not to mention that a notebook and a pen are much cheaper than laptops.      Vaillant 3.0 wrote: Never mind a catastrophe! How about documents? How can a future adult rent out an apartment if he/she can't handwrite and sign the document? Or sign a lease on a car? Or even pay bills? Even with fancy modern technology, there are plenty of things out there that need a signature in order to prove authenticity of sorts. That's some deep thinking from the powers that be, all right...      Bev wrote: Nevermind the economy and budget slights of hand, now the powers that be are concerned about whether or not they should eliminate "handwriting" from core cirriculum, due to modern technology.  Helpless should there ever be a mass power outage, or some other catastrophy.  I s'pose we could always revert to stone & chissel. Great minds don't get much brighter than this!

Nevermind the economy and budget slights of hand, now the powers that be are concerned about whether or not they should eliminate "handwriting" from core cirriculum, due to modern technology.  Helpless should there ever be a mass power outage, or some other catastrophy.  I s'pose we could always revert to stone & chissel.

Great minds don't get much brighter than this!

Nevermind the economy and budget slights of hand, now the powers that be are concerned about whether or not they should eliminate "handwriting" from core cirriculum, due to modern technology.  Helpless should there ever be a mass power outage, or some other catastrophy.  I s'pose we could always revert to stone & chissel.

Great minds don't get much brighter than this!

Nevermind the economy and budget slights of hand, now the powers that be are concerned about whether or not they should eliminate "handwriting" from core cirriculum, due to modern technology.  Helpless should there ever be a mass power outage, or some other catastrophy.  I s'pose we could always revert to stone & chissel.

Great minds don't get much brighter than this!

That sounds like what a soccer game consists of here; although, I've driven past our practice field, there are cars parked all along the street.  It looks as though there are at least 4 teams on the field.  Does soccer/football have special teams like football/gridiron?

		Head banger wrote:
		here, tuba rentals include 2 instruments, with one mouth piece, so the student can bring one to school, and use one at home.  if my kid did that perhaps she would not be unable to find the thing in her pigsty (room) here, high school football is not the same as there, no one goes, and I dont think there is a band.  some schools have cheerleaders, but the crowd consists of parents, teachers and the players girlfriends, if they are realy dedicated.      Bev wrote: In middle schools here, students have to purchase. There are local music stores that work with directors.  The high school programs are a little different, in that some instruments are provided ... most percussion, larger woodwind and brass.  Smaller instruments are either rented or bought by students.  Sousaphones are the large Tuba, yes. Next to the drumline and trumpets, the sousaphone players are my favorite section to watch perform!   Of course the kids only perform if their grades are maintained. What a way to spend high school, huh?  ... get an education, learn music theory ... ham it up during a football game (half-time performances are serious, of course), there is as much competition going on in the stands as there is on the field - lol  I think a lot has changed in that regard too.  When that drumline leads the band to the bleachers, everyone is on their feet!   Never imagined I'd see myself in the stands at a high school football game.  What we do for our kids?!      Head banger wrote: good deal.  god only knows what toxins are in there.  here schools have no funding for band comp, and students must purchase or rent their own instruments, for band class.  now this is an oversized tuba, right?       Bev wrote: Thanks, Freeze. The district does not / cannot support this type of funding.  A bond was recently approved to cover long overdue improvements to facilities, etc. It's tough.  San Antonio to our North and schools in the Rio Grande Valley have 5 times the staffing for the same size program and facilities support a practice band hall and performing band hall.  I remember before one game pulling into the parking lot and the opposing school's band rig pulled up ... f*ckin' 18 wheeler.  You'd have thought 'Priest was making a half-time appearance - lol Anyway, thanks for your input. HB, I think the maintenance issue is one of the points I will use when I apply for these grants.  In their current condition, I'm surprised no one has contracted some fatal desease from the corrosive buildup inside the tubes ...

here, tuba rentals include 2 instruments, with one mouth piece, so the student can bring one to school, and use one at home.  if my kid did that perhaps she would not be unable to find the thing in her pigsty (room)

here, high school football is not the same as there, no one goes, and I dont think there is a band.  some schools have cheerleaders, but the crowd consists of parents, teachers and the players girlfriends, if they are realy dedicated.

		Bev wrote:
		In middle schools here, students have to purchase. There are local music stores that work with directors.  The high school programs are a little different, in that some instruments are provided ... most percussion, larger woodwind and brass.  Smaller instruments are either rented or bought by students.  Sousaphones are the large Tuba, yes. Next to the drumline and trumpets, the sousaphone players are my favorite section to watch perform!   Of course the kids only perform if their grades are maintained. What a way to spend high school, huh?  ... get an education, learn music theory ... ham it up during a football game (half-time performances are serious, of course), there is as much competition going on in the stands as there is on the field - lol  I think a lot has changed in that regard too.  When that drumline leads the band to the bleachers, everyone is on their feet!   Never imagined I'd see myself in the stands at a high school football game.  What we do for our kids?!      Head banger wrote: good deal.  god only knows what toxins are in there.  here schools have no funding for band comp, and students must purchase or rent their own instruments, for band class.  now this is an oversized tuba, right?       Bev wrote: Thanks, Freeze. The district does not / cannot support this type of funding.  A bond was recently approved to cover long overdue improvements to facilities, etc. It's tough.  San Antonio to our North and schools in the Rio Grande Valley have 5 times the staffing for the same size program and facilities support a practice band hall and performing band hall.  I remember before one game pulling into the parking lot and the opposing school's band rig pulled up ... f*ckin' 18 wheeler.  You'd have thought 'Priest was making a half-time appearance - lol Anyway, thanks for your input. HB, I think the maintenance issue is one of the points I will use when I apply for these grants.  In their current condition, I'm surprised no one has contracted some fatal desease from the corrosive buildup inside the tubes ...

good deal.  god only knows what toxins are in there.  here schools have no funding for band comp, and students must purchase or rent their own instruments, for band class.  now this is an oversized tuba, right? 

		Bev wrote:
		Thanks, Freeze. The district does not / cannot support this type of funding.  A bond was recently approved to cover long overdue improvements to facilities, etc. It's tough.  San Antonio to our North and schools in the Rio Grande Valley have 5 times the staffing for the same size program and facilities support a practice band hall and performing band hall.  I remember before one game pulling into the parking lot and the opposing school's band rig pulled up ... f*ckin' 18 wheeler.  You'd have thought 'Priest was making a half-time appearance - lol Anyway, thanks for your input. HB, I think the maintenance issue is one of the points I will use when I apply for these grants.  In their current condition, I'm surprised no one has contracted some fatal desease from the corrosive buildup inside the tubes ...

Look, in this day and age we can dispense with bloodshed. We are above it. We have the technology to avoid such things.

You can glue me to a piece of wood.

		Deep Freeze wrote:
		HA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WELL DONE, strat!!!!  Well done, indeed!!!! I am proud of you!!!! GREAT job!! In fact, I have decided that I will start a new religion in YOUR honor!!! I will call it STRATISM!!  Now then, would you mind if I nail you to a piece of wood...?  HAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!      _strat_ wrote: Well........... Since Freeze is being a lazy sod and not contributing anything to this thread (he also doesnt recycle - he will be saying "Jehowah" next, and we will get the excuse to stone him), then it looks like I will have to pick up the flag and make an episode of "Insomniac Theater". Whatever the fuck that means. Ok, the topic: morality and values  Now, this comes from a book that Ive read a while ago, as well as surfing on wikipedia, conservapedia and uncyclopedia (that last one was obviously the biggest influence which may account for a certain amount of goofiness). Just what is morality, and what are values? Well, morality is usualy defined as a code of conduct, that separates the good from bad. Most importantly, morality is relative. It changes from society to society, civilisation to civilisation, from one age to another. How long ago was it when it was considered immoral for women to show too much of their skin? A couple of decades? Nowadays, anything goes. The morals changed, and in this case, I personaly dont have anything against it ;). Ot they can change in a short period of time. Practicaly every societys worse crime is killing. In peace time, anyway. But in war time, killing the enemy is not only allowed, but welcome.  My point here would be that morals are not universal, as is often suggested, and it is not so easy to distiguish good from bad as some would have us think. Actualy, it can be quite impossible. Now values... The degree of importance that certain things, ideas, feelings, ect. play in our lives. Again, are they universal or not? Again, not in my opinion. Patriotism would be among the top values with most of my countrymen. I personaly dont give a shit for it. Faith would be another such thing. The point here would be that each and every one of us has the right to choose what values are important for him/her. That is why I usualy cannot stomach when people say that the state, the church, the educational system, ect... Should promote values. Imo, they are the business of individual. Ok, so... I managed to bring it to an end without goofing around... Too much. So, what are your thoughts on this? Come on, lets get a debate started... Im hungry for it.