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Proposal for the Free Republic High School Diploma.
Free Republic ^
| 1/8/05
| Kevin O'Malley
Posted on 01/08/2005 2:35:26 PM PST by Kevin OMalley
We have been discussing inexpensive ways to fast track kids through high school to avoid the liberal agenda:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1315730/posts?page=84#84
The thread title was not well thought out, because some parents might instinctively skip over it due to attached stigma, whether real or imagined.
TOPICS: Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: ab2607; assessment; chspe; clep; college; diploma; education; equivalency; fire; ged; generaleducation; highschool; homeschool; homeschooling; homeschoollist; ihatehighschool; iwantout; kidswantout; liberalagenda; nea; proficiency; psat; publiceducation; publicschools; sat; scholasticaptitude; school; schools; skiphighschool; students; teachers
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To: Kevin OMalley
2
posted on
01/08/2005 2:39:33 PM PST
by
Kevin OMalley
(No, not Freeper#95235, Freeper #1165: Charter member, What Was My Login Club.)
To: Kevin OMalley
Innovative idea, but for me personally this is a tough call. Expecting mass sums of children to scoot off to college at the tender age of 14 could deprive them of my own similar fond memories of four years of high school, i.e., the girls, sports, and ESPECIALLY debating my liberal journalism teacher, to the point where he turned red in the face, speechless, after losing an argument, embarrassed, as the rest of the students laughed and looked on. That was but one priceless moment I'll never forget.
To: streetrepair
Just think, instead you could've been debating your liberal Comp I teacher in college, LOL!
My son started full time in our local college at 15. He's 16 now and about to finish his 2nd year with enough credits for an AA, but he's going to continue in the program for another year...what would be his senior year in high school.
The main problem I've found with this (other than having to drive him back and forth to the campus the first year because he wasn't old enough for a driver's license yet) is that my 16 year old doesn't really have a clue about what he'd like to major in.
That's why we're staying in the dual enrollment program for another year. At 16 his ambitions consist of being a professional rock climber or a whitewater rafting guide, LOL.
But he seems to have a propensity for math and science, so once he'd met his general reqs. we just kept building on that, taking each subsequent math course and science course.
If he gets to the point where he doesn't understand the math or can't comprehend the science, that's okay, we'll change directions, but in the meantime, we're following that course.
He's going to read a book on the different Engineering professions, right now he's more inclined toward Chemistry than the other sciences, so we'll see.
Of course, we've told him once he has a degree, if he still wants to be a whitewater rafting guide, and it's okay with his wife (when he's married) if he makes only $15,000 a year, then it's okay with us, LOL!
4
posted on
01/08/2005 3:00:55 PM PST
by
dawn53
To: Kevin OMalley
To fast track a kid through an high school equivalent (not too difficult, given the dumbing down of the curriculum) and preferably to give the child more, one would have to start with the basic realization that one is talking about a school program for gifted (and even extremely gifted) children.
If the program is to be organized beyond home schooling by a single family, one would immediately be faced with the pupil selection - if you admit only the kids with IQ 150 and higher, you will have to turn away a kid with IQ 149 (and his/her parents with ACLU lawyers).
Thus the proposed program would have to be private (to keep PC out), tuition-free (so that it could - as it should - discriminate. Paying customer has rights; recipient of largesse does not) - and thus will have to cost a bundle.
5
posted on
01/08/2005 3:10:42 PM PST
by
GSlob
To: streetrepair
Don't forget the drugs, PC policies like being escorted to the bathroom or not being able to wear red/white/&blue, race riots, violence, asinine social interactions, etc.
6
posted on
01/08/2005 3:13:05 PM PST
by
Kevin OMalley
(No, not Freeper#95235, Freeper #1165: Charter member, What Was My Login Club.)
To: dawn53
At 16 his ambitions consist of being a professional rock climber or a whitewater rafting guide, Well rock climbers don't make a lot but whitewater rafting guides can rake in the moola.
7
posted on
01/08/2005 3:14:36 PM PST
by
Harmless Teddy Bear
(Interdum feror cupidine partium magnarum europe vincendarum (V minus 6 and counting))
To: dawn53
"The main problem I've found with this... is that my 16 year old doesn't really have a clue about what he'd like to major in..."
***But the main point is that a 16 year old with as many college credits as your son has acquired would be better positioned in society than the average 16 year old. And when he turns 18, even better.
8
posted on
01/08/2005 3:15:24 PM PST
by
Kevin OMalley
(No, not Freeper#95235, Freeper #1165: Charter member, What Was My Login Club.)
To: GSlob
Actually, anyone who wants to can sign up to take the GED, and it would be no different for someone signing up for the FR HS diploma. Whoever passes gets to go on to college. Not nearly as complicated as you've made it out to be.
9
posted on
01/08/2005 3:19:16 PM PST
by
Kevin OMalley
(No, not Freeper#95235, Freeper #1165: Charter member, What Was My Login Club.)
To: Kevin OMalley; GSlob
But had I not gone to high school, I'd have never learned how to tap a keg for college.
10
posted on
01/08/2005 3:23:22 PM PST
by
sam_paine
(X .................................)
To: Harmless Teddy Bear
Well rock climbers don't make a lot but whitewater rafting guides can rake in the moolaThanks for the info, didn't know that.
Don't think I'll pass on the info to the kid until he has a degree, LOL!
11
posted on
01/08/2005 3:23:31 PM PST
by
dawn53
To: Kevin OMalley
I was talking about the ability to absorb high school curriculum on highly accelerated schedule. To do that, one needs some mental equipment. To receive way more in allotted time (there were special schools in Russia in 60's, where (IQ) selected children were studying topology and multidimensional geometry at tender ages of 13-14) takes that same equipment. It is from this stuff 14 year old college students are made.
Yes, it is doable (I witnessed it myself), but only with selected pupils; and it takes a highly concentrated effort to do it.
12
posted on
01/08/2005 3:31:49 PM PST
by
GSlob
To: GSlob
I think it's doable by any kid who sets his mind to it. Even by the ones in the middle of the bell curve of aptitude.
In my current school district, the high school sent out some kind of circular which mentioned that 90% of the kids had passed the exit exam requirements WHEN THEY WERE FRESHMEN. That tells me that 90% of those kids are wasting their time. The only thing they'd be missing by taking advantage of such a program is some physical harrassment, useless peer pressure, and PC policies.
13
posted on
01/08/2005 3:42:14 PM PST
by
Kevin OMalley
(No, not Freeper#95235, Freeper #1165: Charter member, What Was My Login Club.)
To: Kevin OMalley
14
posted on
01/08/2005 3:51:30 PM PST
by
Ellesu
To: Kevin OMalley
Say a 8th grader can pass the GED, he doesn't have to go to high school now. Taxpayers would of spent an easy $28,000 (7000 x 4 years) educating the poor lad.
How about paying any kid who can pass the GED early a bonus to get out of school early, saving taxpayers big bucks.
I would think $4000 a fair amount.
Of course non-government educated kids would also be able for the bonus payments. They should not be denied their right to a government education.
15
posted on
01/08/2005 3:52:06 PM PST
by
Mark was here
(My tag line was about to be censored.)
To: Mrs Mark
I love it.
One problem I have with your statement, though: Taxpayers would [have] spent an easy $28,000 INDOCTRINATING and BABYSITTING the poor lad.
16
posted on
01/08/2005 3:54:58 PM PST
by
Kevin OMalley
(No, not Freeper#95235, Freeper #1165: Charter member, What Was My Login Club.)
To: Kevin OMalley
There is a verse by Igor Guberman, I took the liberty to translate it verbatim (please take me at my word that it IS a verse in the language of the original). I'd say it is pertinent to the topic.
Environment and chance are strong and weighty,
And still genetics trumps it all:
For no matter how much one tortures them with education,
Still barrels do not give birth to Diogeneses...
Renaissance thinker Francesco Guicciardini, too, observed that "Learning inflicted upon weak minds does not improve them, and is frequently ruinous".
17
posted on
01/08/2005 3:58:18 PM PST
by
GSlob
To: Ellesu
Good article. Very sad how today's kids feel they need to drop f-bombs everywhere.
As another off-topic aside, I was looking to link to an article on FR that was about some family suing the education administrators because their kid was so bright but couldn't afford to go to high school. One of the phrases in the article that I thought was interesting was the growing viewpoint (probably invalid) that sees access to education as a right which follows you, or something like that.
18
posted on
01/08/2005 4:14:46 PM PST
by
Kevin OMalley
(No, not Freeper#95235, Freeper #1165: Charter member, What Was My Login Club.)
To: Kevin OMalley
couldn't afford to go to COLLEGE.
oops.
The kid had already completed his high school requirements by the age of 13 or so.
19
posted on
01/08/2005 4:25:57 PM PST
by
Kevin OMalley
(No, not Freeper#95235, Freeper #1165: Charter member, What Was My Login Club.)
To: dawn53
"Just think, instead you could've been debating your liberal Comp I teacher in college, LOL!"
That's too funny being that my best friend is a Comp. I teacher and I am debating him all the time already! I wish your son the best of luck -- he sure sounds like he has a good head on his shoulders (as well as wonderful parents!).
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