High school is still the same, and it sucks

[Monoriu]

Likely not. I doubt that most kids from poor families have enough time to sit around cramming useless facts into their heads.

It is true that poor kids have a tough time.  But I doubt it is because they don't have enough time.  More like they give up before even trying. 

[jimmy olsen]

The system is designed for selection.  If a person gets an A, that's an indication that he is better than the rest.  It would be meaningless if too many people get As.   

As an individual, I can only play along.  I am not going to say, the only way to win is not to play it, and end up washing dishes.

Absolute bullshit. The goal of an education system should be to educate everyone to a high standard, not as horse and pony show that arbitrarily picks winners and losers.

[Monoriu]

The system is designed for selection.  If a person gets an A, that's an indication that he is better than the rest.  It would be meaningless if too many people get As.   

As an individual, I can only play along.  I am not going to say, the only way to win is not to play it, and end up washing dishes.

Absolute bullshit. The goal of an education system should be to educate everyone to a high standard, not as horse and pony show that arbitrarily picks winners and losers.

I don't think it is arbitrary.  To a certain extent, good grades do reflect effort, intelligence, and/or determination.  Especially in a relative sense. 

[Ideologue]

The beauty of the system is that anybody can do it.

Why?  If the rule says you have to beat the other 95% of students, then that's what we should do.

Huh?  I don't see the contradiction.  Anybody can beat the other 95% and become the 5%.

This is why we won the Korean War.  Anybody can beat the other 95% to the American lines!  It could be you!

[Capetan Mihali]

I just do not see how anything good could result from me using the term bitch or slut even as a compliment. 

It's all very tone of voice and the presence.

I can do a pretty good rendition.

An...extraordinary rendition?

[Monoriu]

This is why we won the Korean War.  Anybody can beat the other 95% to the American lines!  It could be you!

Are you saying that, because the system sucks, students should refuse to study?  The system is not perfect, but as individuals they still need to find jobs.  Just because they don't like the system, therefore they should give up without trying and be content with cleaning bathrooms, washing dishes, doing telemarketing, etc for the rest of their lives?  Is this what you propose?

BTW, this thread is quite an eye opener to me.  I have no idea that some teenage girls...think that way.  Is Meri's kid an exception or what?  Most teenage girls probably aren't interested in romance.  In my school, the male/female ratio was like 1:2, and most of the top students were female.  They are the ones who study the hardest. 

[Capetan Mihali]

Most teenage girls probably aren't interested in romance.

"Probably" not; literally any of them could be in the 5% uninterested in romance.

[jimmy olsen]

This is why we won the Korean War.  Anybody can beat the other 95% to the American lines!  It could be you!

Are you saying that, because the system sucks, students should refuse to study?  The system is not perfect, but as individuals they still need to find jobs.  Just because they don't like the system, therefore they should give up without trying and be content with cleaning bathrooms, washing dishes, doing telemarketing, etc for the rest of their lives?  Is this what you propose?

BTW, this thread is quite an eye opener to me.  I have no idea that some teenage girls...think that way.  Is Meri's kid an exception or what?  Most teenage girls probably aren't interested in romance.  In my school, the male/female ratio was like 1:2, and most of the top students were female.  They are the ones who study the hardest.

What?

I teach at a relatively high ranking girl's high school and all the students are interested in romance. The girls on the college track generally aren't able to engage in it because of the ludicrous 8:30am-10pm schedule they're on, but that doesn't mean they're not interested.

[merithyn]

Is Meri's kid an exception or what?  Most teenage girls probably aren't interested in romance.  In my school, the male/female ratio was like 1:2, and most of the top students were female.  They are the ones who study the hardest.

Most of the OP was, as mentioned, hyperbole and kvetching. But Riley is by no means the only girl in any of the local high schools dating. She's also getting straight As in her classes. And my boys dated throughout most of high school, too. (Though they had crappy grades in high school. )

I would say that it's normal in the United States to have relationships while a teenager, yes.

[Monoriu]

What?

I teach at a relatively high ranking girl's high school and all the students are interested in romance. The girls on the college track generally aren't able to engage in it because of the ludicrous 8:30am-10pm schedule they're on, but that doesn't mean they're not interested.

Using your terms, every single student in my school would be on the college track.  Yes, even the worst students. 

[Josquius]

Actually having high school in the uk would be a start. Our system sucks, leaving comprehensive school at 16 and being thrown into a crappy 2 years of exams, in what should be the prime period to enjoy being young and that.

[Monoriu]

Is Meri's kid an exception or what?  Most teenage girls probably aren't interested in romance.  In my school, the male/female ratio was like 1:2, and most of the top students were female.  They are the ones who study the hardest.

Most of the OP was, as mentioned, hyperbole and kvetching. But Riley is by no means the only girl in any of the local high schools dating. She's also getting straight As in her classes. And my boys dated throughout most of high school, too. (Though they had crappy grades in high school. )

I would say that it's normal in the United States to have relationships while a teenager, yes.

I do admit that my school is not a representative sample.  My experience is that around 10-15% of the class dated.  The rest aren't interested.  At least, that's what I think.  I know absolutely nothing about the psyche of teenage girls, let alone the dating culture in the US. 

[Capetan Mihali]

Mono puts the "parochial" into parochial schooling.

[Monoriu]

Mono puts the "parochial" into parochial schooling.

It was a school founded by the Church of England, yes.  There isn't a big focus on religious stuff, despite the fact that Christianity is a mandatory subject.  My school has a reputation in HK as one of the craziest exam machines in a land of crazy exam machines 

[mongers]

Mono puts the "parochial" into parochial schooling.

It was a school founded by the Church of England, yes.  There isn't a big focus on religious stuff, despite the fact that Christianity is a mandatory subject.  My school has a reputation in HK as one of the craziest exam machines in a land of crazy exam machines 

St.Pauls?