IMO, as usual your, focus is narrow on these types of things.

I'm talking about countries like China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, etc ... Their intentions are not right or left wing conspiracy theories. They have been and are dedicated to the the destruction of freedom and democracy around the world and the US is a big fat target of those efforts, politically, financially and socially.

I would really like to understand what you are trying to say. Are you saying those countries are somehow sabotaging our education systems?

 

I would really like to understand what you are trying to say. Are you saying those countries are somehow sabotaging our education systems?

Speaking for myself, I wouldn't be too surprised to find out that they are doing everything they can to do exactly that. The question of to what degree their efforts have resulted in this situation, verses just helping it along a path that we have been more than willing to go down ourselves, is impossible to answer. Personally, I expect that the answer is in the middle of the road -- far more than most would like to admit, but far less than many would like to claim.

 

Wish I could say that it surprised me, but it doesn't.

I've had many conversations with math faculty at a few universities, and they have all commented on how the poorest math performers in their programs are the people that are getting an education degree specifically to become math teachers.

We've speculated on the reasons and have come up with some thoughts, but nothing that we believe would be definitive, as to why this sorry state of affairs exists. As with most things, there's almost certainly a collection of factors that have combined to bring it about, some of which are reasonably obvious and others that are far more subtle.

Part of the root problem IMO is the lack on consequences for failure in the educational process.

 

I would really like to understand what you are trying to say. Are you saying those countries are somehow sabotaging our education systems?

Of course they are trying to sabotage our entire system, education is not an exception.
https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/securi...r-5-years-us-infrastructure-attack-rcna137706
https://www.reuters.com/technology/...lleged-china-backed-hacking-group-2023-05-25/

I didn't say it's a large factor, only a influence that does exist and is not a conspiracy theory. Our education system failures, that cascade to other failures, cedes power to them incrementally.

IMO it's mainly the classic case of those somewhat friendly to their philosophy of government helping their cause without being directly tied or being manipulated from some sort of covert cell. The soft touch, like the drift rate of electrons in in a wire.

Some are pretty overt in their promotion: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confucius_Institute

 

Sorry, but I still have no idea what that has to do with anything discussed in this thread.

 

Sorry, but I still have no idea what that has to do with anything discussed in this thread.

You made the comment about 'evil' and I agreed with your main point but there is an element of 'evil' (the kind I've seen up close and personal) exploiting our self-made weaknesses.

My next comment about the topic in this thread was:

Part of the root problem IMO is the lack on consequences for failure in the educational process.

That's something much more important than commies.

 

You made the comment about 'evil' and I agreed with your main point but there is an element of 'evil' (the kind I've seen up close and personal) exploiting our self-made weaknesses

So there is mot really any disagreement here. I did not say there were no malicious actors in the world, only that one should not assume they are to blame in cases where simple incompetence would explain things better.

 

https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea...ebra-wraps-new-math-plan-horizon-18662899.php

SFUSD will bring back algebra to middle schools but parents upset by long rollout



This almost needs to be in this thread. What a terrible initial decision. Dumping kids into the adult world who are functionally illiterate and innumerate.
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https://www.tnellen.com/cybereng/harrison.html

The slow rollout means some kids won’t get it until high school, which many parents feel is too late. The original idea was to help disadvantaged students, but it ended up holding back those who were ready for more advanced math. It’s a tough situation, trying to balance fairness for all students.

 

trying to balance fairness...

Just cut down all the tall poppies.