Dumbing Down Our Kids: Why America's Children Feel Good About Themselves but Can't Read, Write, or Add
by Charles J. Sykes
|
List Price: $23.95
Our Price: $4.90
Your Save: $ 19.05 ( 80% )
Availability:
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Press
|
Average Customer Rating:  
|
|
Binding: Hardcover
Dewey Decimal Number: 373.73
EAN: 9780312134747
ISBN: 0312134746
Label: St. Martin's Press
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 341
Publication Date: 1995-10
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Studio: St. Martin's Press
|
|
|
|
|
|
Spotlight customer reviews:
|
Customer Rating:
Summary: repeat...repeat...repeat
Comment: I actually agree with the author's basic premise that the public education system is too worried about everything except the academic education of our children. I started reading this book prepared to nod my head and say, "uh, huh" while agreeing with his clever way of stating what I already think.
I read the first several chapters and then just started skimming over headings. The author, while clearly passionate about his subject matter, keeps saying the same thing over and over. Perhaps, as publically educated readers, he believes we will not understand his message unless he states in 200 times in 100 different ways.
I would be very interested in reading a new, abridged, version of this book where Mr. Skyes states his ideas just one time--clearly enough to be understood by his target audience (who I never could honestly identify.)
Customer Rating:
Summary: Explained: Educators Gone Wild
Comment: A must-read investigation. Although now 12 years old, this book doesn't seem dated. Educators are still recycling the same old gimmick, which is basically to devise hifalutin excuses for teaching less.
The big shift is that Whole Word hit its peak just after this book was published, and has been in decline ever since. One feels hope at that. Still, the overwhelming impression is one of sadness. It's as if we put hippies and illegal aliens in charge of our banks and water works. You wouldn't expect faucets and ATM's to operate smoothly.
"A Nation at Risk," the report issued by a huge government panel in 1983, stated that our public schools seem to be managed by a foreign power intent on harming us. (I've always loved that deadpan bombshell.) If you would like to get to know that foreign power and hear them discuss their plans for your children, this is the book to read. Sykes did a huge amount of research. It's a serious and sober investigation.
Finally, it comes down to goals. If you think schools should be engaged in social engineering, that their job is to induce dumbing down and collectivism, you will cheer on the educators quoted throughout this book, and you will hate Sykes.
If, however, you think schools should be hugely concerned with reading, writing, arithmetic, etc., you'll thank Sykes for preparing this trenchant expose.
In the most recent government report, "Prospering in the Global Economy of the 21st Century," experts are now saying that time is running out, and that public schools are killing our ability to maintain a high standard of living. How did our educators achieve such glorious failure? This book will show you all their techniques.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Didn't you get the email? Then why buy the book?
Comment: There's nothing new in this book. It's all the same clueless right-wing blather that was in Sykes' other book. This book is also a re-hash of the "chain letter" email, erroneously attributed to Bill Gates, that is still making its way around the Internets. (No doubt Charlie is trying to profit off of his association with that email.) Seriously, though, Charlie, we get it--you don't like public schools, you don't like government, you don't like infrastructure. Then why don't you DO something about it, rather than throwing stones from the outside vis-a-vis books like this one?
Customer Rating:
Summary: Dumb kids....smart teachers
Comment: Millionaire in 365 Days: The Daily Plan to Get There
Unbelievable revelation as to how our kids are dumbed down....and it is getting worse each year....while it is all covered up....we need to know this if we have children in school because we are NOT getting our money's worth and our kids are getting a dumb education by dumb teachers (of course not all teachers)...but the massive unions push the lowest common denominator on our kids in order to increase their memberships....while the whole time "Johnny can't read".
Customer Rating:
Summary: Dumb on Purpose
Comment: Sykes is just one of scores of people who've been warning Americans that public schools are no longer failing; PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE A FAILURE, period. Why aren't parents listening?! Feeling good has replaced facts in government schools. Knowledge and learning itself is secondary to having fun in its classrooms. SAT scores dropped way back in 1963 and haven't risen. No, today's average SAT score of about 1020 reflects the College Board's 1995 decision to re-center SAT scores, which in layman's terms means they added about 100 points to the scores. Kids aren't doing any better, but their scores look better and that makes them and their parents feel better. But it gets worse. The SAT no longer includes antonyms or verbal analogies and students can use calculators on the math section. What's more, students with those James Bond-style IEPs (Individual Education Program) that allow them "extra time" can take as long as they like to do the test. Still, their scores stay low. But the SAT is just one hundreds of standardized tests that reflect what kids are not learning in public schools today. Parents who pretend their local school isn't "as bad" as those schools they hear about on the news are only deceiving themselves. One day, they'll regret, but it'll be too late. Being dumb on purpose is just plain stupid.
|
|
|
Editorial Reviews:
|
Customer Rating:
Summary: repeat...repeat...repeat
Comment: I actually agree with the author's basic premise that the public education system is too worried about everything except the academic education of our children. I started reading this book prepared to nod my head and say, "uh, huh" while agreeing with his clever way of stating what I already think.
I read the first several chapters and then just started skimming over headings. The author, while clearly passionate about his subject matter, keeps saying the same thing over and over. Perhaps, as publically educated readers, he believes we will not understand his message unless he states in 200 times in 100 different ways.
I would be very interested in reading a new, abridged, version of this book where Mr. Skyes states his ideas just one time--clearly enough to be understood by his target audience (who I never could honestly identify.)
Customer Rating:
Summary: Explained: Educators Gone Wild
Comment: A must-read investigation. Although now 12 years old, this book doesn't seem dated. Educators are still recycling the same old gimmick, which is basically to devise hifalutin excuses for teaching less.
The big shift is that Whole Word hit its peak just after this book was published, and has been in decline ever since. One feels hope at that. Still, the overwhelming impression is one of sadness. It's as if we put hippies and illegal aliens in charge of our banks and water works. You wouldn't expect faucets and ATM's to operate smoothly.
"A Nation at Risk," the report issued by a huge government panel in 1983, stated that our public schools seem to be managed by a foreign power intent on harming us. (I've always loved that deadpan bombshell.) If you would like to get to know that foreign power and hear them discuss their plans for your children, this is the book to read. Sykes did a huge amount of research. It's a serious and sober investigation.
Finally, it comes down to goals. If you think schools should be engaged in social engineering, that their job is to induce dumbing down and collectivism, you will cheer on the educators quoted throughout this book, and you will hate Sykes.
If, however, you think schools should be hugely concerned with reading, writing, arithmetic, etc., you'll thank Sykes for preparing this trenchant expose.
In the most recent government report, "Prospering in the Global Economy of the 21st Century," experts are now saying that time is running out, and that public schools are killing our ability to maintain a high standard of living. How did our educators achieve such glorious failure? This book will show you all their techniques.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Didn't you get the email? Then why buy the book?
Comment: There's nothing new in this book. It's all the same clueless right-wing blather that was in Sykes' other book. This book is also a re-hash of the "chain letter" email, erroneously attributed to Bill Gates, that is still making its way around the Internets. (No doubt Charlie is trying to profit off of his association with that email.) Seriously, though, Charlie, we get it--you don't like public schools, you don't like government, you don't like infrastructure. Then why don't you DO something about it, rather than throwing stones from the outside vis-a-vis books like this one?
Customer Rating:
Summary: Dumb kids....smart teachers
Comment: Millionaire in 365 Days: The Daily Plan to Get There
Unbelievable revelation as to how our kids are dumbed down....and it is getting worse each year....while it is all covered up....we need to know this if we have children in school because we are NOT getting our money's worth and our kids are getting a dumb education by dumb teachers (of course not all teachers)...but the massive unions push the lowest common denominator on our kids in order to increase their memberships....while the whole time "Johnny can't read".
Customer Rating:
Summary: Dumb on Purpose
Comment: Sykes is just one of scores of people who've been warning Americans that public schools are no longer failing; PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE A FAILURE, period. Why aren't parents listening?! Feeling good has replaced facts in government schools. Knowledge and learning itself is secondary to having fun in its classrooms. SAT scores dropped way back in 1963 and haven't risen. No, today's average SAT score of about 1020 reflects the College Board's 1995 decision to re-center SAT scores, which in layman's terms means they added about 100 points to the scores. Kids aren't doing any better, but their scores look better and that makes them and their parents feel better. But it gets worse. The SAT no longer includes antonyms or verbal analogies and students can use calculators on the math section. What's more, students with those James Bond-style IEPs (Individual Education Program) that allow them "extra time" can take as long as they like to do the test. Still, their scores stay low. But the SAT is just one hundreds of standardized tests that reflect what kids are not learning in public schools today. Parents who pretend their local school isn't "as bad" as those schools they hear about on the news are only deceiving themselves. One day, they'll regret, but it'll be too late. Being dumb on purpose is just plain stupid.
The author of A Nation of Victims offers an expose+a7 of American public education, charging that faddish educational theories and the drive to inflate students' self-esteem are causing standards to decline. National ad/promo. Tour.
|
|
|
- Ask about this education product "Dumbing Down Our Kids: Why America's Children Feel Good About Themselves but Can't Read, Write, or Add" in the forum
- Give review on this education product "Dumbing Down Our Kids: Why America's Children Feel Good About Themselves but Can't Read, Write, or Add" in the forum
- Search related information in the forum
|
|
|
|
|
| OOEN Referral Program Spotlight |
 | | Center for Digital Imaging Arts at Boston University
The Center for Digital Imaging Arts at Boston University is one of the nation’s leading centers to study digital arts. Students choose the center for its hands on approach, state-of-the-art facilities, and individualized teaching methods. Career-track programs are offered in 3D Animation, Photography, Filmmaking, and Graphics & Web Design. Extensive career services are available as well as financial aid for students who qualify. | |  | |
 | | Central Pennsylvania College
Earn a degree at Central Pennsylvania College and achieve your career goals. Choose from bachelor and associate degree programs in criminal justice, business administration (including healthcare administration and management), corporate communications and information technology (including cyber security). Programs allow you to focus on your specific area of interest and combine hands-on learning with high quality academics for career preparation. Professors have real-world professional experience in the subjects they teach. Our high job placement percentage speaks to the marketability of our students upon graduation. Benefit from personalized learning to build the skills you need for employment and success. Financial aid is available for those who qualify. | | | |
 | | Chicago School of Massage Therapy
Chicago School of Massage Therapy offers the programs you need to start a rewarding career in massage. Extensive job placement and career counseling services are made available to all graduates. Financial aid is available for all students who qualify. A course sampling includes Seated Massage, Contemporary Western Massage, Introduction to Acupressure, Therapeutic Movement, Stretching and Exercise, Thermal Therapies, and Basic Sports Massage. Unique outreach program enables students to develop their massage skills during 50 hours of volunteer work with special groups, and at sports and special events such as health fairs. | | | |
|
What is OOEN Referral Program Spotlight?
OOEN provides comprehensive listing of online courses, degree programs, colleges and universities.
Also OOEN provides links to their information request pages; if you want to find out more about any course,
degree program, college or university, you can just fill out the form linked from OOEN and request information.
It is completely free for anyone to request information, and you can request information from as many colleges
and universities as you'd like. We list featured schools and their brief information
in this "OOEN Referral Program Spotlight" section of OOEN Store for Education,
in case that you are interested in taking a class or two or even pursuing degree program
through these featured schools.
|
|
|
