Old man's lament??

[randy]

I was working in a bookstore, almost 20 years ago (speaking of old). Dang near bit my tongue off dealing with a mother that was vehemently incensed that her Precious Snowflake's teacher had assigned a book for which there were no Cliff Notes. A novelization. Of a made for TV mini-series.

[tfbncc]

25 years ago or so, I read an article in a magazine that detailed some research about education and reading. The part I have always remembered was that at the time of this report, the average American read only 5 books per year. 5 books per year! Up until about 10 years ago, I read 3 to 5 books per week, every week. Fortunately, my kids have picked up this habit from me. Unfortunately, it put them in the unenviable position of knowing more than their teachers in high school. My daughter got in trouble in English class for correcting the teacher on facts about Edgar Allen Poe. Now they are both out of school and don't have to worry about it.

[Darrell]

The older brothers and sisters kept a library in the closet of the back bedroom, we devoured everything we could get our hands on. I took a fancy to a book on Greek mythology, read it cover to cover, and wrote a book report about it. This was in fourth grade, IIRC. The teacher accused me of having one of the elder siblings write the book report for me.

I was in fourth or fifth grade the first time I corrected a teacher. I used the word 'grapple' in some report, she came back and said, "That's not a word!" I got the dictionary and proved her wrong. She didn't like that.

I was at a yard sale one day years ago, the cover of a paperback caught my eye. It was that very same book on mythology. I bought it just for the memories. It has some really cool engraved illustrations.

[Termite]

25 years ago or so, I read an article in a magazine that detailed some research about education and reading. The part I have always remembered was that at the time of this report, the average American read only 5 books per year. 5 books per year!

And yet we wonder why many Americans will sell their birthright for a bowl of porridge*.....

*how many would understand that reference?

[blackeagle603]

And yet we wonder why many Americans will sell their birthright for a bowl of porridge*.....

The ruddy ones never see it coming.

[HTRN]

In general, I simply cannot speak with someone more than about 15 years younger than me at this point...

Hell, anybody under 30 generally has nothing interesting to say period.

[rightisright]

In general, I simply cannot speak with someone more than about 15 years younger than me at this point...

Hell, anybody under 30 generally has nothing interesting to say period.

Stop dating go-go dancers!

[MarkD]

My favorite quote on the topic, from Thomas Sowell (a national treasure):

“A recently reprinted memoir by Frederick Douglass has footnotes explaining what words like ‘arraigned,’ ‘curried’ and ‘exculpate’ meant, and explaining who Job was. In other words, this man who was born a slave and never went to school educated himself to the point where his words now have to be explained to today’s expensively under-educated generation.”

[Mike OTDP]

I share your pain. Especialy since I suspect the readership of this board comes from the right side of the bell curve.

Cultural benchmarks do shift. Benoit College has famously been printing it's "Guide to Freshmen" for about 30 years. And I've seriously considered writing a book aimed at younger people, "How People Used To Live". Or "Guide to Old Geezers". Something to let a 20-year-old figure out just what their elders are talking about.

We won't mention being able to outperform the teachers in school. When you're reading at an 11th grade level in kindergarden, it's not hard.

[Termite]

Cultural benchmarks do shift. Benoit College has famously been printing it's "Guide to Freshmen" for about 30 years.

I think I would donate one of my kidneys to be able to send all my kids to Hillsdale College for a BA.