bs: So you're fine with only a not insignificant portion of the population being illiterate as long as it's not the majority?
No. I simply object to the insulting claim that the majority -- or even most -- public school graduates come out illiterate and innumerate.
bs: This is a great example of someone ignoring the thrust of the argument to score internet points.
The thrust of foreverbeach's argument is "Kids would be better off finding a job or wandering the streets than wasting their lives away in public 'schools'."
bs: [info]foreverbeach may very well be wrong. I'll even say probably. I'll even say is wrong, but that doesn't change the meaning of the contention: the current education system in America is horrid compared to most any other developed country, and is doubly horrid when you consider we are the *most* developed country.
Except that isn't actually what I'm arguing with. I'm arguing with the claim that public schools are actually REDUCING literacy, and that the way to combat illiteracy is to eliminate public schools entirely.
bs: This isn't even an argument against public education per se,
Excuse me, but that is exactly what it is. Read the OP.
bs: but is rather an appeal for you (and everyone) to acknowledge that what is being persevered and fought for is woefully inadequate. We spend twice as much as Japanese schooling and get half the results. (For the record, that was a turn of phrase, though I do look forward to your nitpicking about statistics showing at least 2x/50%).
You mean your statement about was not intended to be factual? Got it. You're just pullin' stuff out of a hat. Far be it from me to nitpick about something as silly as whether or not what you say is actually true.
bs: You can say things would be much worse without our current system.
I'm saying things would be much worse WITHOUT public schools -- even as badly underfunded as many of them are.
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Date: 19/7/11 00:59 (UTC)No. I simply object to the insulting claim that the majority -- or even most -- public school graduates come out illiterate and innumerate.
bs: This is a great example of someone ignoring the thrust of the argument to score internet points.
The thrust of foreverbeach's argument is "Kids would be better off finding a job or wandering the streets than wasting their lives away in public 'schools'."
bs: [info]foreverbeach may very well be wrong. I'll even say probably. I'll even say is wrong, but that doesn't change the meaning of the contention: the current education system in America is horrid compared to most any other developed country, and is doubly horrid when you consider we are the *most* developed country.
Except that isn't actually what I'm arguing with. I'm arguing with the claim that public schools are actually REDUCING literacy, and that the way to combat illiteracy is to eliminate public schools entirely.
bs: This isn't even an argument against public education per se,
Excuse me, but that is exactly what it is. Read the OP.
bs: but is rather an appeal for you (and everyone) to acknowledge that what is being persevered and fought for is woefully inadequate. We spend twice as much as Japanese schooling and get half the results. (For the record, that was a turn of phrase, though I do look forward to your nitpicking about statistics showing at least 2x/50%).
You mean your statement about was not intended to be factual? Got it. You're just pullin' stuff out of a hat. Far be it from me to nitpick about something as silly as whether or not what you say is actually true.
bs: You can say things would be much worse without our current system.
I'm saying things would be much worse WITHOUT public schools -- even as badly underfunded as many of them are.