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Re: The girl suffers from school system syndrome, where you get
Pat B, I knew our current school system was in a bit of disarray, but I didn't think it was that bad! As principal Joe Clark once uttered: "Discipline is not the enemy of enthusiasm!" It's a shame. These kids will NOT be prepared for the real world! 
posted by
JimmyA
on April 6, 2012 at 8:05 AM
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The girl suffers from school system syndrome, where you get
a pass if you show up and nobody cares whether your schooling actually prepares you for life in this world. They teach to the tests, and if you learn a little something about geography or biology or literature, that's because you or your parents encouraged you to go beyond the first choice on Google...
posted by
Pat_B
on April 6, 2012 at 7:58 AM
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Re:
I'm not sure, Against, but if she aspires to anything else, I guess she must either learn what a "demerit" is, or learn how not to receive them! 
posted by
JimmyA
on April 3, 2012 at 6:57 AM
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There must be a reason why she is only a waitress.
posted by
Against4WindsOn2Flam
on April 2, 2012 at 5:30 PM
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Re:
It does seem that way, doesn't it, UtahJay? I know no one would want to be dubbed "a loser," but people ( and kids especially ) have to know that they can't possibly win at everything! That's what life is all about, and that's what these kids will not be prepared for later in life. It's a shame!
posted by
JimmyA
on April 2, 2012 at 7:45 AM
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Re: Jimmy
Nautikos, "dumbing down" just doesn't quite say it all. That's why most of television caters to what many have dubbed "the lowest, common denominator." These kids today that are just being handed A's and landing on everyone's dean's list would probably have been straight C and D students in my day . . . if they were lucky! Also in my day, students could actually be "left behind" or "held back" if they were actually unqualified to pass on to the next grade. They don't dare do that anymore, do they? 
posted by
JimmyA
on April 2, 2012 at 7:37 AM
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Re:
Well, TAPS, the "demerit" comment got her attention, but not in the way one would have hoped. Perhaps if I had remarked: "That's two frowny-faces!" she might have understood! 
posted by
JimmyA
on April 2, 2012 at 7:30 AM
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Re:
I just don't understand it either, Bright. Syntax, grammar, punctuation, upper and lower case letters, the proper use of adverbs and adjectives . . . things I learned in school many, many moons ago just don't seem to matter anymore. Thank you modern technology!
posted by
JimmyA
on April 2, 2012 at 7:29 AM
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Re: Re: Re: probably one isn't alllowed to teach a word like demerit these
Well, Kabu, I had my own experiences as a kid with my dad and his "belt." Remember "Spare the rod, spoil the child?" I was definitely NOT spoiled!
posted by
JimmyA
on April 2, 2012 at 7:25 AM
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Jimmy
You're right, it is a generational thing, and an instance in the general dumbing down of America (and Canada!). I don't think it's deliberate, as Charlotte T. Iserbyt claims, but it's happening...
posted by
Nautikos
on April 1, 2012 at 8:19 PM
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I'm going to have to remember that. I have trouble with salads quite often. I always ask for any dressing to be "on the side", but seldom get it that way. I like a taste of dressing but can't stand a lot of it. I also hate any salad with chopped hard-boiled eggs on it. Maybe "demerits" will get someone's attention.
posted by
TAPS.
on April 1, 2012 at 5:43 PM
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In these days when everyone gets a trophy, what else could one expect?
posted by
UtahJay
on April 1, 2012 at 3:48 PM
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Hi Jimmy .. My mind could picture the whole episode that you and your wife experienced 
. Not long ago my grandson ( high school graduate) sent me a email and his spelling was terrible and took me awhile to understand what he was expressing! 
posted by
BrightIrish
on April 1, 2012 at 1:08 PM
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Re: Re: probably one isn't alllowed to teach a word like demerit these days, it
and I think to myself ....If I was a Mother of young kids today, I would spend their Childhood in jail. I used to smack, not abuse, not harm, not scar, just smack.
posted by
Kabu
on April 1, 2012 at 11:47 AM
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Re:
Well, FSI, it was interesting, and humorous, but also somewhat confusing, because, as I wrote, I really thought ( or rather assumed ) that everyone knew what a "demerit" was! I stood corrected! Glad the salad was still good!
posted by
JimmyA
on April 1, 2012 at 10:34 AM
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Re:
Believe it or not, tamijo, the late George Carlin actually talked about such things during one of his shows. And although he injected as much humor into the bit as possible, his message was still somewhat poignant: these poor, hapless kids will grow up into a world thinking that they can never lose, that they can never fail, that they will always be rewarded in one way or another, even for mediocrity, like the kid's sports leagues who give out trophies to everyone, win or lose! One day these poor kids will be thrust into the world of business or politics and be blindsided by situations they have no idea how to handle, because they've already been ingrained with a predisposition of "I will come out on top no matter what!" Self-confidence is one thing, but remember: there's no virtue if there's no sin! We're supposed to learn from our mistakes, not be vacuously rewarded for them, regardless. Woo . . . don't get me started!
posted by
JimmyA
on April 1, 2012 at 10:32 AM
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Re:
No clue at all, Sam! The funniest part was watching her look our salads over to find the demerits! Strange!
posted by
JimmyA
on April 1, 2012 at 10:23 AM
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Re: probably one isn't alllowed to teach a word like demerit these days, it
Ya know, Kabu, this may sound terrible, but a huge portion of me is sooo glad I grew up when I did, went to school when I did, and got through all of the childhood mishaps when I did, because I honestly don't think I would have been able to handle such nonsense as a child today! Yeah, I read Nautikos' piece, and it only infuriated me further. What a ridiculous society we live in today, and it seems to only get worse and worse by the day! Even humorously, people can still get hung up on a single word. It's just terrible! 
posted by
JimmyA
on April 1, 2012 at 10:22 AM
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The generation gap can lead to some interesting exchanges, that is for certain.
posted by
FormerStudentIntern
on March 31, 2012 at 12:49 PM
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I work in a school and sadly, we are not allowed to lower a child's self-esteem at all. We are only allowed to say "positive" things or we are accused of bullying and might actually get demerits of our own on our evaluation. Heaven forbid we should try to steer children in the right direction!
posted by
tamijo
on March 31, 2012 at 9:32 AM
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Indeed, she didn't have a clue! WOW! sam
posted by
sam444
on March 30, 2012 at 1:52 PM
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probably one isn't alllowed to teach a word like demerit these days, it
would be seen as a negative that may hold back the child's esteem and self worth. They could be scared for life without a daily, hourly, minute by minute, dose of positivity applauding their every effort. One doesn't fail one reaches potentials.....
yes I am sick of all the hand holding .....did you read Nautikos today?
posted by
Kabu
on March 30, 2012 at 12:53 PM
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