School Children

[Mole]

It's not free, nor is it absolutely required to be secular... however, I do agree that it is compulsory.

The invention of the printing press in 1440 led to the dream of universal literacy. And universal literacy was achieved by public schooling, which was described across the world as, "Free, compulsory and secular". And I understand these three words were even included in legislation.

And it raises the interesting question of why is it necessary to compel literacy?

Even Shakespeare was compelled to learn to read and write, as he describes in his own words -

"Then the whining schoolboy, with his satchel
And shining morning face, creeping like snail
Unwillingly to school".

 

[Oberon]

The invention of the printing press in 1440 led to the dream of universal literacy. And universal literacy was achieved by public schooling, which was described across the world as, "Free, compulsory and secular". And I understand these three words were even included in legislation.

Oh... is that all? There are lies codified in law?

Heck, I thought there was news in the offing...

 

[Feops]

Children are going to be forced to do things they don't want to do, no matter what it is. This hasn't changed since forever. Part of growing up is learning this lesson. Maturity is dealing with it gracefully.

What did change is that in old times there was a more direct relationship between doing and surviving. It was a more practical hand to mouth association. In modern times we spend a lot more time learning indirectly with less tangible results. The child version of the adult in the office processing paperwork. This is practical but does not speak to what we're evolved to recognize as accomplishment.

Education is a good thing. Knowledge and literacy are keystones of modern society.

(Aside: The personality test shot was weak and predictable. May as well have tacked on a random remark about pornography or nazis or something.)

 

[Mole]

Children are going to be forced to do things they don't want to do, no matter what it is.

Children learn to speak their own language naturally at home. But very few learn to read and write naturally at home.

To learn to read and write we are compelled to go to a special institution with specially trained teachers.

So we say, learning to speak is intuitive, while learning to read and write is counter-intuitive.

This has immense ramifications as most of the pre-modern world was intuitive while most of the modern world is counter-intuitive.

 

[Helios]

Why do I find school children boring?

I think you're going to tell me.

I think it's because they hate going to school, but are compelled by law to go every day.

That's an odd reason to find a large group of people boring.

And so they find it is lawful to hate themselves.

But self hatred is too much to bear, so they bury it deep and remain on the narcissistic surface.

They are drowning in their own hatred and hang on to infantile narcissism as a drowning man hangs onto driftwood.

For the last time they were not immersed in self hatred was when they were infants having their narcissistic needs meet unconditionally by their parents.

So how natural for self hating school children to return to infantile narcissism as a baby sucks its thumb.

But for those whose narcissistic needs were not met by unconditional love, school is bleak indeed.

Strange inferences. Very, very strange.

But here we have many school children who take self hatred for granted. And whose only reprieve is to poke at themselves with a fake personality test.

That's funny because it's an oblique criticism of the MBTI.

I don't think you're very intelligent.

 

[Helios]

To answer your query, made through the reputation mechanic:

Are you a schoolboy, still emotionally and financially dependent on your parents?

No, I am not. Surely I haven't struck a nerve?

 

[Mole]

To answer your query, made through the reputation mechanic:

No, I am not. Surely I haven't struck a nerve?

Well, that's my mistake. When you described yourself under Occupation as Student, I took you at face value.

But I am pleased to discover you are financially independent and emotionally independent and have left your student days behind.

So perhaps you might like to update your occupation and your independent address.

 

[Halla74]

...So why not give them a chance to hear a principled opposition for once.

Look, they come on here bored, they are boring, and without me they would remain bored.

And there is always the chance that some of them may catch fire and leave in ecstasy.

Victor, are you smoking crack cocaine?

I don't know that you will receive much fanfare calling new members boring.

Furthermore, the (high) probablility that any of them would catch fire and leave after reading your posts should not be confused with them experiencing a state of ecstasy.

You could try weightlifting to let out some of your pent-up hostility. Weight training is known to cause ecstasy, you know. umpyouup:

 

[Chunes]

Children learn to speak their own language naturally at home. But very few learn to read and write naturally at home.

To learn to read and write we are compelled to go to a special institution with specially trained teachers.

So we say, learning to speak is intuitive, while learning to read and write is counter-intuitive.

This has immense ramifications as most of the pre-modern world was intuitive while most of the modern world is counter-intuitive.

So how did you learn to read and write, Victor?

And why do you spend so much time doing these activities if they're so bad?

 

[Jaguar]

it's an oblique criticism of the MBTI.

Break out the champagne.

 

[Ginkgo]

Break out the champagne.

 

[Mole]

So how did you learn to read and write, Victor?

And why do you spend so much time doing these activities if they're so bad?

This is a common misunderstanding. The electronic media do not replace the print media, they subsume them.

And excellent example is what you are doing now. You are not reading print, you are reading electronic text.

Reading and writing do not disappear in the electronic media, they become part of them.

But in becoming part of the electronic media, print is radically changed. And even the way we learn to read and write will radically change.

Since 1840 the electronic media have been revolutionizing the world, and will eventually revolutionize the way we learn to read and write.

In 1440 print exploded into the spoken world, and gave us the modern world; while in 1840 the electronic media imploded the modern world, and are creating the noosphere.

 

[Chunes]

what.

You did not remotely answer either of my questions.

You would make a good politician or philosopher.

 

[Helios]

Well, that's my mistake. When you described yourself under Occupation as Student, I took you at face value.

I have no idea what this means.

But I am pleased to discover you are financially independent and emotionally independent and have left your student days behind.

Strange inferences. Very, very strange.

So perhaps you might like to update your occupation and your independent address.

I've no idea what an "independent address" is. I've no reason to update my "occupation", since it is correct.

I don't think you're very intelligent.

 

[Ginkgo]

This thread gets a gold star for being special.