[lbo-talk] U.S. working class: functionally literate

[louis kontos]

i don't think this generation has gone to the dogs. rather, i look at 
kids in my classes and think they're being ripped off since they're 
getting a lousier education than i did (me with a working class 
background similar to yours, though it seems you have a few years on 
me). they need a ton of 'education' for even lousy jobs. and they 
accumulate tons of debt for the privilege of being semi-educated. i've 
taught at seven colleges and universities, therefore seen differences, 
but can't say the system is working well anywhere (at least not 
according to its self-advertisement). to be sure, it only ever worked 
well for the already-privileged. still, it's hard not to see that as 
more people are receiving a formal secondary education, the colleges 
and universities are becoming more like factories.

On Mar 3, 2005, at 8:18 PM, Carrol Cox wrote:


>
>
> joanna bujes wrote:
>>
>> I've been dealing with students for almost thirty years, one way or
>> another. It kind of depends what students you're talking about.
>> The high school drop out rate in Oakland is 50% and overall,
>> language/writing skills have seriously, seriously deteriorated.
>
> This thread reminds me of a bunch of decrepit old coots sitting in 
> front
> of 1905 general store going on and on about how this here generation 
> has
> just plumb gone to the dogs.
>
> Do you people realize how utterly ridiculous you are sounding. I went 
> to
> a three-room rural elementary school. Half my 8th grade class didn't
> even go on to highschool. Only 2 out of 20 of us every went to college.
>
> Carrol
>
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