General Discussion

Bettie

(18,122 posts)

59. My 16 year old son told me something I didn't know

Sun Nov 10, 2024, 02:07 PM

Nov 2024

about school.

They aren't assigned reading. They get recordings to listen to in class or they all read aloud together, the only kids who get assigned reading are told to read on their own as a punishment for bad behavior.

That "punishment" would have been the best day ever for me.

He reads, not nearly as much as I do, but he does read.

So, I guess I believe it.

We're a nation of illiterates. No wonder they love the orange asshole.

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(54%) of Americans between the ages of 16 and 74 read below the equivalent of a sixth-grade level [View all] Ponietz Nov 2024 OP

I am reminded of that every day when interacting with my fellow citizens.nt. drray23 Nov 2024 #1

They tell you everything you need to know Turbineguy Nov 2024 #2

Illustrates the dismal state of our educational system. MichMan Nov 2024 #3

Amen! My wife taught public school for 21 years before moving to private for the last six... Mark.b2 Nov 2024 #6

"Social Promotion.". We cater to their self-esteem. We indulge. lindysalsagal Nov 2024 #11

Ah! That's the term my wife told me about. Mark.b2 Nov 2024 #15

But then the parents want to whine when the teacher gives the student a bad grade Dem4life1234 Nov 2024 #26

A lot of parents don't teach their kids to respect teachers' authority.... Mark.b2 Nov 2024 #47

I did 7 years public school (rural Alabama and inner city Atlanta.) bamagal62 Nov 2024 #48

I doubt it was ever any better. Elessar Zappa Nov 2024 #57

And yet, I was reading at 8th/9th grade level in second grade, not even niyad Nov 2024 #4

Snopes isn't reliable anymore but I definitely believe this is true. live love laugh Nov 2024 #5

Wut? MrWowWow Nov 2024 #7

Good grief! And we know of at least one who is in Congress. LoisB Nov 2024 #8

Another in the Senate misanthrope Nov 2024 #22

True, true. The Senator from Alabama who allegedly actually lives in Florida. His intellect is limited to LoisB Nov 2024 #23

I've alway thought: how terrible scary it must be to not marybourg Nov 2024 #9

A coworker once took me aside to ask a question. yardwork Nov 2024 #44

Most people voting on bond issues don't even know what a bond issue is Ponietz Nov 2024 #49

So, how do we improve it? I get GOPers obstruct, so what can we do? Most people I see seem relatively Silent Type Nov 2024 #10

My impression is most know their job and their hobby TheKentuckian Nov 2024 #61

In 5th grade I was reading at a senior in high school/college freshman level. BannonsLiver Nov 2024 #12

My parents were told when I was in 5th grade... love_katz Nov 2024 #21

Me too. I remember reading Jane Eyre and some of Dostoyevsky's novels. travelingthrulife Nov 2024 #55

That's all you need for comic books lame54 Nov 2024 #13

Or Hustler. rubbersole Nov 2024 #20

There is nothing wrong with comics exboyfil Nov 2024 #31

Agreed. My parents - to the horror of neighbors - let me read comics. yardwork Nov 2024 #45

Goebbels had a Phd Kaleva Nov 2024 #14

And lack of education is no guarantee of rectitude. dchill Nov 2024 #30

More like point missed GenThePerservering Nov 2024 #40

Yes Kaleva Nov 2024 #41

Yes, but lack of education .. Dave says Nov 2024 #60

The literacy rate is based on a test administered to adults between 16 to 74 in 2003. summer_in_TX Nov 2024 #16

To be fair, we do rank 125th globally for literacy, so there's that. Abolishinist Nov 2024 #17

And likely cannot even Figarosmom Nov 2024 #18

And Dotard speaks at a 4th grade level.... AZ8theist Nov 2024 #19

From my own study of private letters and hand written documents defacto7 Nov 2024 #54

And yet they're banning books?! When I was a kid, reading was actively encouraged! Rhiannon12866 Nov 2024 #24

This has been the republican bamagal62 Nov 2024 #25

"Idiocracy" was a documentary. dchill Nov 2024 #29

No, it is a Pollyannaish fairytale at this point. TheKentuckian Nov 2024 #33

I blame the Kardashians - now it's cool to be stupid. groundloop Nov 2024 #27

Incredible, yet also seemingly completely obvious. dchill Nov 2024 #28

Explains the election Old Crank Nov 2024 #32

For a certain group of people... Mike Nelson Nov 2024 #34

my kids learned to read when they were 3. they then spent almost 2 years reading everything Native Nov 2024 #35

I would say I am shocked, but even the far more educated are having "issues." Many cannot spell, have atrocious hlthe2b Nov 2024 #36

We are talking about a reading level for 11 and 12 year old children. madaboutharry Nov 2024 #37

This quote left out "cretin" GreenWave Nov 2024 #38

Damn! Ysabel Nov 2024 #39

Including the guy who just got reelected, tanyev Nov 2024 #42

America is banner headline readers Norbert Nov 2024 #43

Partially explains the serious lack La Coliniere Nov 2024 #46

Partially - maybe? MerrilyMerrily Nov 2024 #50

Thanks Ronnie, own it Rs! Clouds Passing Nov 2024 #51

That should come as no surprise to anyone who reads at an adult level. MineralMan Nov 2024 #52

This explains why a large amount of Americans are stupid. Emile Nov 2024 #53

I have long believed... The Madcap Nov 2024 #56

This does say something. republianmushroom Nov 2024 #58

My 16 year old son told me something I didn't know Bettie Nov 2024 #59