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Unpopular Opinions.

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Comments

  • #4472
    pickarooney
    Moderators, Arts Moderators Posts: 36,336 Mod ✭✭✭✭pickarooney


    Duggys Housemate wrote: »
    So basically we've had 100 years of public education and nobody has managed to work out how to stimulate kids. To me this is like saying:

    s I believe all children, if encouraged, and if they want to, are more than capable of playing international football.

    Public education is definitely one of the worst ways to stimulate kids. It's one step up from a Romanian orphanage in that respect.


  • #4473
    retalivity
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 15,476 ✭✭✭✭retalivity


    This national hand wringing about michaela mcareavy & boycotting mauritius is getting ridiculous.


  • #4474
    Alena Little Wool
    Posts: 81,308 CMod ✭✭✭✭ Alena Little Wool


    pickarooney wrote: »
    I think the majority of children are woefully under-stimulated and become lazy very early. With some minor exceptions I believe all children, if encouraged, and if they want to, are more than capable of grasping the most advanced scientific theories.

    I don't know if it's true for all children genuinely, but there are a hell of a lot of children out there that could be so much more with the right stimulation and encouragement. It's why I go so absolutely insane when I hear people insist you shouldn't let/teach a child how to read before 7, how you shouldn't do this that or the other, just so they can socialise in school
    ffs :mad:
    keeping your child stupid and unchallenged and understimulated is NOT helpful
    and if they're bright enough to pick up reading quickly, guess what, they'll still be bored in school anyway

    sure maybe i am not normal, but i dread to think what might have been, if i didnt have my mother being so supportive and teaching me so much when i was little and letting me skip years


  • #4475
    Mardy Bum
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,674 ✭✭✭Mardy Bum


    bluewolf wrote: »
    I don't know if it's true for all children genuinely, but there are a hell of a lot of children out there that could be so much more with the right stimulation and encouragement. It's why I go so absolutely insane when I hear people insist you shouldn't let/teach a child how to read before 7, how you shouldn't do this that or the other, just so they can socialise in school
    ffs :mad:
    keeping your child stupid and unchallenged and understimulated is NOT helpful
    and if they're bright enough to pick up reading quickly, guess what, they'll still be bored in school anyway

    sure maybe i am not normal, but i dread to think what might have been, if i didnt have my mother being so supportive and teaching me so much when i was little and letting me skip years

    Alarmingly this has knock on effects on the secondary school system currently as a lot of students are behind were they should be at that age.


  • #4476
    Neeson
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,909 ✭✭✭Neeson


    retalivity wrote: »
    This national hand wringing about michaela mcareavy & boycotting mauritius is getting ridiculous.

    Nah, most people couldn't really give a toss. She's only on the news because she was mickeys girl. We're even hearing about how she was so saintly and lived the Irish language. Feck off! Who gives a fock.


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  • #4477
    EoghanIRL
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,080 ✭✭✭EoghanIRL


    pickarooney wrote: »
    I think the majority of children are woefully under-stimulated and become lazy very early. With some minor exceptions I believe all children, if encouraged, and if they want to, are more than capable of grasping the most advanced scientific theories.
    Agreed. I love science and im 15. I particularly like chemistry.i have been working on a thermal decomposition project to do with poly fuel. You just need to have an interest and to be encouraged.


  • #4478
    Alena Little Wool
    Posts: 81,308 CMod ✭✭✭✭ Alena Little Wool


    Mardy Bum wrote: »
    Alarmingly this has knock on effects on the secondary school system currently as a lot of students are behind were they should be at that age.

    Of course- and it's even worse when parents pass on the impression that reading is a chore, something that's boring and best left for when they have to do it, instead of opening up the whole new world of learning and interesting information
    they're kids, their brains are little sponges...
    could also rant about the bad rep maths gets from everyone... :D


  • #4479
    DB21
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,715 ✭✭✭DB21


    I think Family Guy is one of the worst, least original unfunny programmes in history.


  • #4480
    steddyeddy
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 27,565 ✭✭✭✭steddyeddy


    Duggys Housemate wrote: »
    So basically we've had 100 years of public education and nobody has managed to work out how to stimulate kids. To me this is like saying:

    s I believe all children, if encouraged, and if they want to, are more than capable of playing international football.

    EDIT: this is going way off topic for this thread. If the mods take this out to a seperate thread, here or in aother forum, I will continue the debate.

    Well you or your housemate could start a thread on it Duggy!


  • #4481
    Blowfish
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,112 ✭✭✭Blowfish


    bluewolf wrote: »
    I don't know if it's true for all children genuinely, but there are a hell of a lot of children out there that could be so much more with the right stimulation and encouragement. It's why I go so absolutely insane when I hear people insist you shouldn't let/teach a child how to read before 7, how you shouldn't do this that or the other, just so they can socialise in school
    Before 7? Jesus, are there people really that bad? By 7 the parents had already handed me stuff like The Lord of the Rings and Asimov's I Robot and Foundation series.
    bluewolf wrote: »
    keeping your child stupid and unchallenged and understimulated is NOT helpful
    and if they're bright enough to pick up reading quickly, guess what, they'll still be bored in school anyway
    sure maybe i am not normal, but i dread to think what might have been, if i didnt have my mother being so supportive and teaching me so much when i was little and letting me skip years
    I think you were pretty lucky. The school decided I was too young to skip so refused to let me. Ended up just being bored and got ridiculously lazy, especially in secondary.


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  • #4482
    Duck's hoop
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,530 ✭✭✭Duck's hoop


    Blowfish wrote: »
    By 7 the parents had already handed me stuff like The Lord of the Rings and Asimov's I Robot and Foundation series.

    He is far too intelligent to become really cerebral.


  • #4483
    sbsquarepants
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,810 ✭✭✭✭sbsquarepants


    steddyeddy wrote: »
    Too often I was told that it was a certain breed of bright child who could go on to science, medicine or law and its just bs. Science is for everyone and can be understood by anyone with an interest in it. I always wonder when people tell me such and such a child was very intelligent. Most children are very intelligent some are just given more encouragement than others.

    Common sense will tell you that you are wrong. We are not all the same intellectually or physically, not even from the very start. It's obvious in very young kids that some are smarter, some are stronger, some are faster and so on. We all (all of us without impairment of some sort anyway) have a basic level of abilities, but some can far exceed that basic level in certain areas, we can all learn to read, write, do basic maths and so on - we all don't have the innate ability to become a newton or a hawking. I'm no idiot - but no amount of studying could get me to that level, not if my life depended on it, i'm just not smart enough and that's that.
    Every 6 year old boy knows the basics of kicking a football - they can't all grow up to be lionel messi, intelligence is no different to any other ability.


  • #4484
    Alena Little Wool
    Posts: 81,308 CMod ✭✭✭✭ Alena Little Wool


    Blowfish wrote: »
    Before 7? Jesus, are there people really that bad? By 7 the parents had already handed me stuff like The Lord of the Rings and Asimov's I Robot and Foundation series.
    Yes, I heard some expert on the radio once announcing that it was damaging to children to start before 7. I think he was damaged. :mad:
    I was reading before I was 2, and spent my childhood devouring all sorts of books
    I think you were pretty lucky. The school decided I was too young to skip so refused to let me. Ended up just being bored and got ridiculously lazy, especially in secondary.
    I skipped a couple in primary and a couple more in secondary, so lucky twice, I guess. It still wasn't enough and I got bored and lazy anyway :rolleyes: But I think it could have been a lot worse.
    My grandmother was a teacher for years when I was a kid, and so many of her pupils could have been skipped ahead as well.


  • #4485
    Mairzydoats
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 71 ✭✭Mairzydoats


    bluewolf wrote: »
    I was reading before I was 2, and spent my childhood devouring all sorts of books

    Reading before you were two? I'm calling bs on that.


  • #4486
    Alena Little Wool
    Posts: 81,308 CMod ✭✭✭✭ Alena Little Wool


    Mairzydoats wrote: »
    Reading before you were two? I'm calling bs on that.

    ok:)


  • #4487
    Wacker The Attacker
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,473 ✭✭✭Wacker The Attacker


    Nodin wrote: »
    Fair enough, but you'll never get the tango tan out of the sheets.


    True. I've had worse on my sheets afetr sex though


  • #4488
    BeerSteakBirds
    Closed Accounts Posts: 494 ✭✭BeerSteakBirds


    Mairzydoats wrote: »
    Reading before you were two? I'm calling bs on that.

    He didnt say if it was picture books ;)


  • #4489
    sbsquarepants
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,810 ✭✭✭✭sbsquarepants


    On the whole topic of reading - my unpopular opinion is that reading fiction is fúcking torture. I can't stand it, so much so that i've only read 1 or 2 novels, i think since i left school (roughly 20 years ago!).
    There seems to be a general consensus that if you aren't into reading you must be a bit thick (maybe i am:D) but there are literally hundreds of things i would prefer to do than read fiction.


  • #4490
    sbsquarepants
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,810 ✭✭✭✭sbsquarepants


    bluewolf wrote: »
    I skipped a couple in primary and a couple more in secondary, so lucky twice, I guess. It still wasn't enough and I got bored and lazy anyway :rolleyes: .

    What age did you finish school? 13/14?


  • #4491
    Alena Little Wool
    Posts: 81,308 CMod ✭✭✭✭ Alena Little Wool


    sbsquarepants wrote: »
    What age did you finish school? 13/14?

    took a year off before my LC, so 15


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  • #4492
    Mairzydoats
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 71 ✭✭Mairzydoats


    sbsquarepants wrote: »
    What age did you finish school? 13/14?

    That was when he finished his Masters!


  • #4493
    Wacker The Attacker
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,473 ✭✭✭Wacker The Attacker


    DB21 wrote: »
    I think Family Guy is one of the worst, least original unfunny programmes in history.


    Its still better than two an a half men and the graham norton show


  • #4494
    Wacker The Attacker
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,473 ✭✭✭Wacker The Attacker


    sbsquarepants wrote: »
    On the whole topic of reading - my unpopular opinion is that reading fiction is fúcking torture. I can't stand it, so much so that i've only read 1 or 2 novels, i think since i left school (roughly 20 years ago!).
    There seems to be a general consensus that if you aren't into reading you must be a bit thick (maybe i am:D) but there are literally hundreds of things i would prefer to do than read fiction.


    Username suggests otherwise


  • #4495
    sbsquarepants
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,810 ✭✭✭✭sbsquarepants


    bluewolf wrote: »
    took a year off before my LC, so 15

    That's some going I turned 17 during my LC and I think i was one of the youngest in my year. Did you go on to college, i assume you probably did.

    Are you duggy howser:D? (may have been before your time)


  • #4496
    BeerSteakBirds
    Closed Accounts Posts: 494 ✭✭BeerSteakBirds


    sbsquarepants wrote: »
    On the whole topic of reading - my unpopular opinion is that reading fiction is fúcking torture. I can't stand it, so much so that i've only read 1 or 2 novels, i think since i left school (roughly 20 years ago!).
    There seems to be a general consensus that if you aren't into reading you must be a bit thick (maybe i am:D) but there are literally hundreds of things i would prefer to do than read fiction.

    I know some very successful people who only read biographies. Does that count as non fiction ? The problem is any genre can have stuff inside it which is pure hyperbole or plain made up. You only cant read fiction but you do read , right ?


  • #4497
    Alena Little Wool
    Posts: 81,308 CMod ✭✭✭✭ Alena Little Wool


    sbsquarepants wrote: »
    That's some going I turned 17 during my LC and I think i was one of the youngest in my year. Did you go on to college, i assume you probably did.

    i did yeah, went into uni at 15, was grand. nobody knew my age unless i told them so there were never any issues


  • #4498
    sbsquarepants
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,810 ✭✭✭✭sbsquarepants


    Wacker The Attacker wrote: »
    Username suggests otherwise

    Sponge bob is not so much a novel, more of a cartoon! Though i do have to admit a very funny one, i used to watch it with the kids when they were younger and i'd be in stitches, still catch the occasional episode from time to time.
    My user name incidentaly stems from a girl i work with who calls me spongebob, i'm not quite sure why!


  • #4499
    JohnMarston
    Closed Accounts Posts: 1,881 ✭✭✭JohnMarston


    pickarooney wrote: »
    Public education is definitely one of the worst ways to stimulate kids. It's one step up from a Romanian orphanage in that respect.

    Agreed, and its because education in every respect as an institution that has undergone the least amount of reform in the last century.

    One may argue 'If it aint broke dont fix it' , but we can clearly see the education system has failed children in many respects. In my opinion, its antiquated and woefully inadequate for todays schoolgoers.


  • #4500
    sbsquarepants
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,810 ✭✭✭✭sbsquarepants


    BeerSteakBirds wrote: »
    I know some very successful people who only read biographies. Does that count as non fiction ? The problem is any genre can have stuff inside it which is pure hyperbole or plain made up. You only cant read fiction but you do read , right ?

    Yea, i read a good bit, just not novels. I read biographies from time to time, i read a lot of newspaper/magazine articles on all manner of things that interest me and stuff like that. I occasionaly read poetry - if i'm feeling particularly melodramatic:). But i'd say 99% of what i read is just functional, i wan't to know something so i look it up. For leisure so to speak, i'd much rather watch the movie than read the book, and i'd actually much prefer to listen to music than do either.
    bluewolf wrote: »
    i did yeah, went into uni at 15, was grand. nobody knew my age unless i told them so there were never any issues

    I'm impressed!!
    How did you get on with socialising and so on - most college/uni occasions are pub based.


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  • #4501
    Alena Little Wool
    Posts: 81,308 CMod ✭✭✭✭ Alena Little Wool


    sbsquarepants wrote: »
    I'm impressed!!
    How did you get one with socialising and so on - most college/uni occasions are pub based.

    I was ID'd a grand total of once while underage, and "sorry, I don't have it on me" did the job ;)
    They never cared in the student bar as long as I was a student so wave the student id and off i went


This discussion has been closed.
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