Re: Ideocosmology

[Sam Sampere <sampere@suhep.phy.syr.edu>]

Rick,

You are absolutely right.  How many of your entering freshman still need
to be taught algebra??  They should have aquired these skills in 9th grade
(if not earlier) and mastered them throughout their high school years.
College students know how to read, but they don't know how to pull the
necessary information from the books.  I know I didn't know how to do that
when I was a freshman.  I learned it from fear of flunking out though, not
because it was taught to me.

Sam


--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sam Sampere
Syracuse University
Department of Physics
Syracuse (Where all the snow is NOT..), NY 13244



On Mon, 23 Mar 1998, Richard W. Tarara wrote:

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Sam Sampere <sampere@SUHEP.PHY.SYR.EDU>
>
>
> > There is nothing to teach about learning!!  You have to teach kids how to
> > read.
>
> Sorry, but if we are going to have to teach reading (not scientific reading,
> but _reading_) at the College level, then the educational system is doomed
> to semi-literate mediocrity, AT BEST.  If students can't read and can't
> study by the time they get to College then we really _should_ be failing
> them, having them reassess their skills, having those motivated enough to do
> so go back and gain the necessary skills for entering college, then
> returning to get their education.  IF on the other hand, the colleges and
> universities buy into the 'everyone can learn everything if taught properly'
> mantra then clearly we WILL have to go back to square one, teach reading,
> writing, arithmetic, study habits, etc. and then perhaps our COLLEGE
> GRADUATES will be ready to GO TO COLLEGE.   Of course, teaching at a private
> college, we aren't about to flunk out the numbers we should (we'll give them
> Bs instead) lest we put ourselves out of business.  ;-(
>
> rick