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Original poster

To wonder why people are still so woefully misinformed?

222 replies

Lucia39 · 14/06/2009 16:01

We now have access to more information than any previous generation. An entire reference library is available at the click of a mouse, public libraries were still free last time I checked, and general reference books are readily available and comparatively cheap.

Why then is the apparent standard of general knowledge and informed opinion amongst many people in Britain [especially the younger generations] so abysmal?

OP posts:
TheFallenMadonna · 15/06/2009 18:46

The 15 year olds I teach had better bloody know about mobile phones because their exam is week! Knowing how acis and alkalis are different is primary level science - knowing that they are different I teach in year 7, but they wouldn't find out why they are different for quite some time. I bet most adults don't know the difference between them either. And TBH, I don't actually have a problem with that. I'm not sure how useful it is as general knowledge.

I have a reasonable amount of sympathy with some of the OP, in that I am fairly depressed at how little my students know of current affairs. I give my tutor group a weekly news quiz and show them Newsround to try to make them think about what is going on int he world. I also (as do my colleagues, and I'm sure teachers generally) show news stories relevant to my subject frequently. Hurrah for the BBC website!

But I'm not sure that I shouldn't be doing it, IYSWIM. I think it's my job to do it.

TheFallenMadonna · 15/06/2009 18:47

And I really mean that

TheFallenMadonna · 15/06/2009 18:48

And that should read isn't primary level science. Good Lord!

Peachy · 15/06/2009 19:08

Triple I'm not so sure- i'm a year younger than you, second year GCSE and many of the poeple I met at Uni (graduated last year, from a not-even-a-former-Poly) were outstanding.... the pones who weren't so much were the ones who went when I was 18..... the ones who culd afford it, whose parents expected it.

The ones who did well wouldb't have ahd a chance twenty years ago, like me they wouldnb't even have thought about it.

Not many exams at Uni these days, btw. Shame really, love exams.

Original poster
Lucia39 · 15/06/2009 19:24

clemette: Apart from an unnecessary need to crow about your alleged qualifications and position [a classic example of an appeal to personal status in an attempt to over-awe your opponent which I immediately recognise] you are making a number of unsupported generalisations. Are you seriously expecting us to believe that every single child that comes under your [apparently] brilliant tutelage automatically rises to the heights of academic brilliance?

As to those "working class pupils" that you so magnanimously "wave off to Oxbridge" do they take their flat caps and whippets with them and have you warned them not to keep the coal in the bath?

Incidentally, don't tell me, let me guess, your school's Y12 Physics pupils are busily collaborating with CERN, while the Y13 Biology pupils are actively working on a cure for AIDS and a new remedy against Malaria. Meanwhile one of your Y11 PSHE groups has been invited to the UN as Young Ambassadors for World Peace!

Pretentious bint!

OP posts:
Peachy · 15/06/2009 19:28

Niice about the WC pupils Lce, done yourself proud there me girl.

HelloBeastie · 15/06/2009 19:30

"You huddle together in your little "virtual reality" groups like a lot of bitchy 14 year olds spitting bile and abuse at anyone who doesn't adhere to your own "world view"."

"Pretentious bint!"
.................................
"What is really interesting is how so many of you have taken my comments as some sort of personal attack!"

Yes, it's funny that, isn't it?! If only I was as smart as you, Lucia, I could maybe understand why... But I was too busy LOLing at you accusing clemette of making "a number of unsupported generalisations". Want to take another look at your OP?

MachuPicchu · 15/06/2009 19:42

It's how a number of politicians speak isn't it? Refusing to answer the question, using flowery language to say very little of interest or importance...

Trikken · 15/06/2009 19:42

I think there is only one pretentious person on here, Lucia.

clemette · 15/06/2009 20:23

Not sure I mentioned my qualifications.
If I hadn't mentioned that they were working class students no doubt you would have assumed that I didn't teach "normal" children. I do. They don't know the amount they do because of my "tutelage" (well the citizenship and history is down to me) they know it because this is normal. The vast majority of my students aren't academically able but just because they don't necessarily pass their exams doesn't mean that they are ignorant of the world. Some of them can't write but can still explain what is happening in the world.
I am genuinely taken aback by your hostility. You said that youngsters know nothing, I said that, in my own very valid experience, they are not. What exactly did you want as a response to your OP? I have tried to engage in the debate - my mistake.

clemette · 15/06/2009 20:26

ETA: You said that youngsters were ignorant, I said that, in my own very valid experience, they are not.

PS Not sure I understand why anyone would claim they did a job they didn't do.

LovelyTinOfSpam · 15/06/2009 20:32

I am actually starting to wonder what exactly lucia gets out of this. Started out quite funny but it's wearing a bit thin now.

Maybe I is too fick to understand.

clemette · 15/06/2009 20:34

I haven't seen any posts from her before so am I missing something??

BitOfFun · 15/06/2009 20:44

They are much in the same vein, clemette. Designed to provoke.

Peachy · 15/06/2009 20:45

Clemette, yes probably

How can i put it.... she doesn't often start threads saying she needs ideas for gifts for a pregnant friend or fro aprenting tips, they pretty much always end up like this one.

Very like this one.

Original poster
Lucia39 · 15/06/2009 20:48

clemette: You really need to learn to read what is written.

Nowhere have I stated that "youngsters know nothing".

You also need to stop making assumptions about what I may or may not think.

OP posts:
clemette · 15/06/2009 20:50

Thanks. Backing off now...
Just wishing the marking, housework and studying I need to do before tomorrow were actually "alleged".

nickytwotimes · 15/06/2009 20:51

Ah, I see this is still going!

What happened to the internal combustion engine/fossils/fusty professor stuff - that was very funny.

Is the slide show still going ahead?
Or have you got some young whipersnaper to put it on Powerpoint for you? Will there be a hand out?

BitOfFun · 15/06/2009 20:52

Nobody needs to do anything AFAIAA, although it would undoubtedly help your blood pressure to be less confrontational, Lucia! Do go and have a cup of tea or something...

screamingabdab · 15/06/2009 20:53

clemette Are you off to have a mass debate in private ?

clemette · 15/06/2009 21:06

My mistake, I thought "Why then is the apparent standard of general knowledge and informed opinion amongst many people in Britain [especially the younger generations] so abysmal?" made it quite clear what you were thinking.

Off to plan a lesson on 9/11 for all my abysmally informed students. Hope they will be able to understand it...

screamingabdab I may be possibly too pretentious for MASS anything.

JemL · 15/06/2009 21:25

Lucia: you said "you are making a number of unsupported generalisations"

what is "Why then is the apparent standard of general knowledge and informed opinion amongst many people in Britain [especially the younger generations] so abysmal?" if not an unsubstantiated generalisation? It is not the sign of great intelligence to make a lazy, unsupported statement, devoid of context and be completely unable to argue your point within a framework. Your only response to everyone who has questioned you has been, "well, you're just proving my point." No. Why don't YOU attempt to prove the point you originally made? And to do it without (mis) quoting someone else, and without spending half an hour googling in order to copy and paste great swathes of text.

As an aside, there is nothing wrong with describing people as working class. I'm not quite sure why you felt the need to drag in the flat cap and whippet stereotypes (which is actually used with reference more to Northerners generally, than working class people specifically, in my experience).

chatta · 15/06/2009 21:27

The more you all react the more you validate her argument.Why does it grate so much if it is such crapola?

BitOfFun · 15/06/2009 21:38

You'd better namechange back to say that again Lucia

HelloBeastie · 15/06/2009 21:56

Why did I react? Well, maybe it's because there's nothing on the telly?

Maybe because years of pub quiz experience has taught me that one person's 'Duh! That's so easy!' is another person's 'How is anyone supposed to know that'?

Maybe it's because you started with a random sweeping generalisation and then proceeded to patronise or personally abuse anyone who disagreed with you?

Maybe because your posting style gets my feckles up?

Who can tell, eh? As I always say, life's full of surprises!