The Lounge

[Soldier_For_Christ]

Hmm??? A reputation for what?

 

[Yamialpha]

For being off-the-wall. To be completely honest, you're not taken seriously.

 

[Yamialpha]

I'd recommend that you back off a little bit. Don't approach unless you're approached. If you just stand back and observe, you can see the error of your ways and see what you need to do to get to them. You don't have to be a recluse, but just leave people alone. You're too intense.

 

[Soldier_For_Christ]

Hmm...I see. I'll have to think a lot about how I'm gonna back off.

 

[Yamialpha]

Just leave certain people alone. Don't talk to them unless they talk to you.

 

[Yamialpha]

Probably not, MOE. We're taking 'er over! How's your mom doing?

 

[Yamialpha]

That's great news! Never thought you'd see the day when your mother actually got help, huh?

 

[Soldier_For_Christ]

Ah, man! Another Sunday night...which means that tomorrow is Monday. That's depressing.

 

[Yamialpha]

Ah, man! Another Sunday night...which means that tomorrow is Monday. That's depressing.

What! You're not excited to kick off a week of state-issued tests!

Yeah well depending on how severe her treatment is will depend on whether or not I stay with you. She may just need to see a specialist every now and then. Than again, if she gets worse, she may need more treatment.

You know where the spare bedroom is. Your invitation still stands.

 

[Soldier_For_Christ]

What! You're not excited to kick off a week of state-issued tests!

Yeah...excited...Like getting a kick in the face, maybe.

 

[Yamialpha]

Welcome To The Public School System!!!
Kicks In The Face On The Left
Stabs In The Back On The Right
Walk Straight And You'll Find America's Tombstone
We Hope You Enjoy Your Stay At Misery Inn
Feel Free To Tell Us If You Approve
If Not-SHUT UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Soldier_For_Christ]

Yeah, especially when testing starts. I mean, the Finals are bad enough, but then we have State tests 4 weeks earlier and the teachers spend all year pushing them. Kinda makes you hate testing.

 

[Yamialpha]

Or school in general-either way.

 

[Soldier_For_Christ]

Yes, well...school reduced to its most basic principle is supposed to teach people things. I mean, even if the system is corrupted, that doesn't mean that we should hate those who are forced to operate under it.

 

[Yamialpha]

No, the basic principle of school is to put everyone on a level playing field. This seems fine and dandy at first, but basically what it means is taking brighter students where they shouldn't be and more challenged students to where they can't be.

 

[Soldier_For_Christ]

Well, perhaps that what it means now, but it isn't how it should be. It's supposed to give everyone an education.

 

[Yamialpha]

It certainly fails to do that.

 

[Soldier_For_Christ]

Well, maybe for us. Then again, I've heard some people who I would've never expected to get anything from school telling others about what they remember from so-and-so class with so-and-so teacher.

 

[Yamialpha]

Yeah but we've also got kids (ones with good reputations, mind you) working at the local grocery store who can't figure change. One of the problems I see with school is that they'll teach you information you'll probably never use again (ex. biology, many aspects of history, mathematics) but lack in teaching life skills. I'm confident that you know that I value the public learning more about academia, but life skills are a necessity.

 

[Soldier_For_Christ]

Very true. Basic Mathematics and the ability to do percentages, proportions, etc. are basics that will be required in life and yet on the Academic Team, I am one of the only ones (perhaps the only, I fear) that can do percentages in my head relatively quick. Such basics are important, I'm proud to accept. I will say that the school system has the responsibility to bear the blame for some of the problem, but also remember that people have free will and more often than not, their will conflicts with the school's (even on relatively trivial issues) and if the person doesn't have the will to learn what is being taught, that will cannot be manufactured even by repetition.

I do think that the schools have the responsibility to teach people without the ability to count change in their head to try to help him additionally. However, as I just pointed, they have to have the will (and the humility) to learn it (and admit that they didn't know it). I, for one, know that if someone told me that I didn't learn my ABC's correctly in Kindergarten and started trying correct me on such a thing that I should've already known, I'm afraid my pride would get in the way.