http://news.yahoo.com/arizona-passes-law-requiring-students-pass-civics-test-064318163.html
QuoteArizona high school students face the nation's first requirement to pass the U.S. citizenship test on civics before they can graduate thanks to legislation that sailed through the Republican-controlled Legislature.
Lawmakers approved the bill amid a growing nationwide effort to boost civics education, and newly elected Republican Gov. Doug Ducey signed it into law Thursday evening.
The swift action comes as states around the country take up similar measures, driven primarily by a conservative institute whose motto is "Patriotism Matters." The leader of the organization is former California U.S. Rep. Frank Riggs, who came in last in Arizona's Republican primary for governor after running a hard-right campaign focused on immigration and rhetoric against President Barack Obama.
The Arizona-based Joe Foss Institute has set a goal of having all 50 states adopt the requirement by 2017, the 230th anniversary of the U.S. Constitution. The institute says legislatures in 15 states are expected to consider it this year. The North Dakota House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved the same measure Thursday, but Arizona's proposal was the first to pass a full Legislature.
The Foss Institute promotes the test to state legislatures as a way to increase knowledge of basic government by students.
The proposal requires high school students to correctly answer 60 of 100 questions on the civics portion of the test new citizens must pass. The test includes questions about the Founding Fathers, the Bill of Rights and U.S. presidents. Passing it would be required to earn a high school or GED diploma starting in the 2016-17 school year.
The bill garnered support from all 53 Republicans in the House and Senate, plus 10 of 27 Democrats.
But opponents questioned whether the test, which relies on memorization, is the best way to engage students in civics education. And they also wonder what message it sends when the bill was the first order of business at a time when Arizona is facing a large deficit and a court order to repay schools for funding that lawmakers cut during the recession, which approaches $3 billion.
"In the midst of a budget crisis, after we purposely underfunded our public schools, we rush this piece of legislation through in the first week even before we've addressed the investment the courts have ordered us to (pay) to our public schools," Rep. Juan Mendez said, explaining his opposition.
Republican House Majority Leader Steve Montenegro cited a federal study that said two-thirds of students measured below proficiency in civics.
"So this is alarming, because ... if our students don't understand that we have fundamental rights given to us, afforded to us by our Constitution, things like freedom of the press, like conversation, like assembly, like religion, like speech, can that be good?" he said.
Ducey called on the Legislature to make the civics test the first bill to hit his desk as governor. He said studies show that students don't know enough about basic government to grow into effective citizens.
Former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, an Arizona native, has supported the initiative. She's made civics education a prime focus in recent years.
A high school government teacher, Joe Thomas of Mesa, said he was concerned that the 100-question test would take up an entire class period and requires rote memorization rather than critical thinking.
"The interest is promoting civics, and we want to see students engaged," Thomas said. "I don't know if a test engages students."
garbo, is this meant to be in some way controversial, or is this just posted "FYI" (presumably for Arizona high schoolers)?
Because in Polish high schools we have "civics education" class and while it is considered one of the easiest (it is usually taught by teacher retirees and involves stuff like memorising how many MPs there are), I suppose if you fail it, you won't graduate, either.
Monstrous?
Quote from: Admiral Yi on January 16, 2015, 11:17:37 AM
Monstrous?
No, not monstrous. I am wondering what's the point of making this a school requirement though. Seems not particularly useful / I'm always skeptical of mandatory school testing - particularly when for something like this. :D
Of course, I'm also always skeptical of anything mentioning patriotism and Arizona. -_-
Next thing we know, they will want high school graduates to pass a test on the knowledge of languages, literature or mathematics. :mad:
Quote from: garbon on January 16, 2015, 11:19:48 AM
Quote from: Admiral Yi on January 16, 2015, 11:17:37 AM
Monstrous?
No, not monstrous. I am wondering what's the point of making this a school requirement though. Seems not particularly useful / I'm always skeptical of mandatory school testing - particularly when for something like this. :D
Of course, I'm also always skeptical of anything mentioning patriotism and Arizona. -_-
Well, as things go, this knowledge is probably more useful to an average high school graduate than understanding the gastric system of an amoeba.
Quote from: Martinus on January 16, 2015, 11:21:12 AM
Quote from: garbon on January 16, 2015, 11:19:48 AM
Quote from: Admiral Yi on January 16, 2015, 11:17:37 AM
Monstrous?
No, not monstrous. I am wondering what's the point of making this a school requirement though. Seems not particularly useful / I'm always skeptical of mandatory school testing - particularly when for something like this. :D
Of course, I'm also always skeptical of anything mentioning patriotism and Arizona. -_-
Well, as things go, this knowledge is probably more useful to an average high school graduate than understanding the gastric system of an amoeba.
I can't speak to that. I never took biology in high school.
There was a (minor) discussion on education in Germany - a girl about to finish school tweeted that while she could analyze poems in 4 language she had no idea how to rent an apartment, how the tax system works or what insurances would be useful.
Usually this is something that's taught by parents/family/friends, but I would agree that covering some of "life out there" at school would be a good idea, esp. as there might be a generation gap between how parents learned something and how things have change.
Parents take the time to curl and hover, but don't teach basic life skills? Shocker.
Quote from: Syt on January 16, 2015, 11:25:11 AM
There was a (minor) discussion on education in Germany - a girl about to finish school tweeted that while she could analyze poems in 4 language she had no idea how to rent an apartment, how the tax system works or what insurances would be useful.
Usually this is something that's taught by parents/family/friends, but I would agree that covering some of "life out there" at school would be a good idea, esp. as there might be a generation gap between how parents learned something and how things have change.
Agreed but that doesn't seem related to this required civics course. :P
Quote from: Syt on January 16, 2015, 11:25:11 AM
There was a (minor) discussion on education in Germany - a girl about to finish school tweeted that while she could analyze poems in 4 language she had no idea how to rent an apartment, how the tax system works or what insurances would be useful.
Usually this is something that's taught by parents/family/friends, but I would agree that covering some of "life out there" at school would be a good idea, esp. as there might be a generation gap between how parents learned something and how things have change.
Apparently in Poland they started (or plan to start - I am not really closely following education in Poland) something like this for high schoolers. They would teach you how to fill in a tax return, how to start a small business, and the works. That is a part of the civics class curriculum (which is called "society knowledge").
How many Poles does it take to fill in a tax return?
Don't answer that, Mart.
Quote from: garbon on January 16, 2015, 11:24:18 AM
Quote from: Martinus on January 16, 2015, 11:21:12 AM
Quote from: garbon on January 16, 2015, 11:19:48 AM
Quote from: Admiral Yi on January 16, 2015, 11:17:37 AM
Monstrous?
No, not monstrous. I am wondering what's the point of making this a school requirement though. Seems not particularly useful / I'm always skeptical of mandatory school testing - particularly when for something like this. :D
Of course, I'm also always skeptical of anything mentioning patriotism and Arizona. -_-
Well, as things go, this knowledge is probably more useful to an average high school graduate than understanding the gastric system of an amoeba.
I can't speak to that. I never took biology in high school.
Seriously! :blink:
One of my favorite courses in high school was on the government, civics, how things work in the three main branches of federal govt, state govt, the courts, etc. It at least gave some instruction so kids had a basis to go on to understand how things work in government. I think it's a good idea, though I don't recall if it was a required course or not.
Quote from: jimmy olsen on January 16, 2015, 11:49:28 AM
Quote from: garbon on January 16, 2015, 11:24:18 AM
Quote from: Martinus on January 16, 2015, 11:21:12 AM
Quote from: garbon on January 16, 2015, 11:19:48 AM
Quote from: Admiral Yi on January 16, 2015, 11:17:37 AM
Monstrous?
No, not monstrous. I am wondering what's the point of making this a school requirement though. Seems not particularly useful / I'm always skeptical of mandatory school testing - particularly when for something like this. :D
Of course, I'm also always skeptical of anything mentioning patriotism and Arizona. -_-
Well, as things go, this knowledge is probably more useful to an average high school graduate than understanding the gastric system of an amoeba.
I can't speak to that. I never took biology in high school.
Seriously! :blink:
Okay, I exaggerated. In 8th grade, I had half a year of bio. After that though, I stuck exclusively to chemistry and physics. I had no desire to participate in dissections.
Quote from: KRonn on January 16, 2015, 11:53:45 AM
One of my favorite courses in high school was on the government, civics, how things work in the three main branches of federal govt, state govt, the courts, etc. It at least gave some instruction so kids had a basis to go on to understand how things work in government. I think it's a good idea, though I don't recall if it was a required course or not.
From what I recall, we touched upon those things in Social Studies classes (which I guess were civics + history) but there was no citizenship examination afterward. :D
Quote from: garbon on January 16, 2015, 11:26:40 AM
Agreed but that doesn't seem related to this required civics course. :P
I was inspired by this article quote: "if our students don't understand that we have fundamental rights given to us, afforded to us by our Constitution"
I don't find fault with the idea of educating students in this, but that if you take that angle, I don't think it's going far enough in life preparation.
Quote from: garbon on January 16, 2015, 12:07:44 PM
Quote from: jimmy olsen on January 16, 2015, 11:49:28 AM
Quote from: garbon on January 16, 2015, 11:24:18 AM
Quote from: Martinus on January 16, 2015, 11:21:12 AM
Quote from: garbon on January 16, 2015, 11:19:48 AM
Quote from: Admiral Yi on January 16, 2015, 11:17:37 AM
Monstrous?
No, not monstrous. I am wondering what's the point of making this a school requirement though. Seems not particularly useful / I'm always skeptical of mandatory school testing - particularly when for something like this. :D
Of course, I'm also always skeptical of anything mentioning patriotism and Arizona. -_-
Well, as things go, this knowledge is probably more useful to an average high school graduate than understanding the gastric system of an amoeba.
I can't speak to that. I never took biology in high school.
Seriously! :blink:
Okay, I exaggerated. In 8th grade, I had half a year of bio. After that though, I stuck exclusively to chemistry and physics. I had no desire to participate in dissections.
What kind of limp-wristed faggot doesn't like dissections? Oh right.
Quote from: Syt on January 16, 2015, 12:09:43 PM
Quote from: garbon on January 16, 2015, 11:26:40 AM
Agreed but that doesn't seem related to this required civics course. :P
I was inspired by this article quote: "if our students don't understand that we have fundamental rights given to us, afforded to us by our Constitution"
I don't find fault with the idea of educating students in this, but that if you take that angle, I don't think it's going far enough in life preparation.
I don't have an issue with students knowing that either (like I said it was generally part of social studies class) but I do question the need to make it a whole class period + citizenship test that you must pass to graduate. But hey, I'm just someone posting on the internet. I'm sure the Arizona legislature is very well informed on what their students need. :D
Thing for me about your comment is that I don't really think life preparation is the point. Here's a link to what a civics class covers. That's a bit different from the sort of class you are talking about.
http://nieonline.com/detroit/downloads/supplements/civics_flip_book.pdf
Quote from: garbon on January 16, 2015, 12:17:46 PM
I do question the need to make it a whole class period + citizenship test that you must pass to graduate
I agree on that. In other states I might be more willing to give the beneift of the doubt, but I read it mostly as Arizona being Arizona about ZOMG immigrants who don't know what it means to be a good red-blooded American.
Quote from: Syt on January 16, 2015, 12:29:06 PM
I agree on that. In other states I might be more willing to give the beneift of the doubt, but I read it mostly as Arizona being Arizona about ZOMG immigrants who don't know what it means to be a good red-blooded American.
Except that presumably the ZOMG immigrants are being taught the answers to the test in the same class the red bloods are.
Quote from: Admiral Yi on January 16, 2015, 12:30:55 PM
Quote from: Syt on January 16, 2015, 12:29:06 PM
I agree on that. In other states I might be more willing to give the beneift of the doubt, but I read it mostly as Arizona being Arizona about ZOMG immigrants who don't know what it means to be a good red-blooded American.
Except that presumably the ZOMG immigrants are being taught the answers to the test in the same class the red bloods are.
But it's to ensure that ZOMG immigrants are taught them in the first place, to make sure the evil indoctrination by their ZOMG immigrant community is countered.
Quote from: garbon on January 16, 2015, 12:08:46 PM
Quote from: KRonn on January 16, 2015, 11:53:45 AM
One of my favorite courses in high school was on the government, civics, how things work in the three main branches of federal govt, state govt, the courts, etc. It at least gave some instruction so kids had a basis to go on to understand how things work in government. I think it's a good idea, though I don't recall if it was a required course or not.
From what I recall, we touched upon those things in Social Studies classes (which I guess were civics + history) but there was no citizenship examination afterward. :D
The citizen test does seem a bit unnecessary if kids are getting educated on this in school already. The article didn't really say if this stuff is taught or required learning. If state education officials feel the kids aren't getting the info then I don't find it a big deal to teach and test on it. What I don't like is if this become some kind of jingoism or something to test on it. I'd rather see the state education dept make some requirements or standards to teach it, if it's lacking in schools now.
To be honest I don't have any beef whatsoever with an idea that every citizen of a certain educational degree (i.e. high school) should take the citizenship at least once. It's much better than just having foreigners take it, while having the domestic populace who can't take it.
Quote from: Syt on January 16, 2015, 12:29:06 PM
Quote from: garbon on January 16, 2015, 12:17:46 PM
I do question the need to make it a whole class period + citizenship test that you must pass to graduate
I agree on that. In other states I might be more willing to give the beneift of the doubt, but I read it mostly as Arizona being Arizona about ZOMG immigrants who don't know what it means to be a good red-blooded American.
This looks like bias.
Quote from: Martinus on January 16, 2015, 12:52:42 PM
Quote from: Syt on January 16, 2015, 12:29:06 PM
Quote from: garbon on January 16, 2015, 12:17:46 PM
I do question the need to make it a whole class period + citizenship test that you must pass to graduate
I agree on that. In other states I might be more willing to give the beneift of the doubt, but I read it mostly as Arizona being Arizona about ZOMG immigrants who don't know what it means to be a good red-blooded American.
This looks like bias.
Look at Arizona's track record. Why shouldn't someone be biased? :P
But this kind of knee-jerk dumb reaction of that triggers when one sees "Arizona" and "citizenship" in the same place is what gives liberals a bad name.
Most likely this is the only reason why someone thought it is news in the first place.
The citizenship test is completely bogus. It tests things that no one will ever need or use, but which are easy to test, like what year the Constitution was written, how many house members there are, or which amendment prohibits cruel and unusual punishment. It's a mere trivia contest. Republicans legislators love it, though, because they can do well on pass/fail memorization tests, unlike essay tests that require demonstrating some understanding of a subject.
Quote from: grumbler on January 16, 2015, 01:03:48 PM
The citizenship test is completely bogus. It tests things that no one will ever need or use, but which are easy to test, like what year the Constitution was written, how many house members there are, or which amendment prohibits cruel and unusual punishment. It's a mere trivia contest. Republicans legislators love it, though, because they can do well on pass/fail memorization tests, unlike essay tests that require demonstrating some understanding of a subject.
Most multiple choice tests are trivia tests.
Quote from: Martinus on January 16, 2015, 01:06:18 PM
Most multiple choice tests are trivia tests.
Most badly-written tests using whatever mechanics are trivia tests. It is entirely possible to make multiple-choice tests that are not trivia contests. Government contractors are not good at doing this, however.
Looks like the Texas exit exam is going to get another section soon!
But no big deal. I am sure anybody with half a brain can pass a High School exit exam.
Quote from: Valmy on January 16, 2015, 04:51:16 PM
But no big deal.
Yeah no big deal, just a lot of wasted money that could have been put to better use. :(
I looked up graduation requirements for the Arizona public school system, and they want a minimum of 4 credits--
Quote(4) Social Studies shall consist of one credit of American History, one credit of World History/Geography, one-half credit of government and one-half credit of economics.
In the school system I attended, the entire 9th grade Social Studies curriculum was Civics class. 1/2 credit seems pretty light; that's September to January.
Edit: they only require 3 credits in Social Studies.
http://www.azed.gov/hsgraduation/
Yeah, citizenship was The curriculum buzzword for a while about 20-22 years ago when I had professional dealings within education.
Hopefully these shoddy public school standards will be supplemented by President Obama's higher education initiative. :yeah:
mongers is a retired school marm! :o
I reckon I could quite easily pass that test, the downside being me acquiring 'Arizona citizenship'. And another downside, America gains me as a 'citizen'. :D
Quote from: Admiral Yi on January 16, 2015, 05:14:43 PM
mongers is a retired school marm! :o
Good grief, not at the chalk face, you could call me an outside contractor, think Blackwater with mortice boards. :P
Quote from: mongers on January 16, 2015, 05:17:05 PM
Good grief, not at the chalk face, you could call me an outside contractor, think Blackwater with mortice boards. :P
That's just super.
(https://languish.org/forums/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fs.mcstatic.com%2Fthumb%2F7860745%2F21233630%2F4%2Fflash_player%2F0%2F1%2Foffice_space_talking_to_the_bobs.jpg%3Fv%3D2&hash=787ef972febe773d6e84c5497a7311d9b646736c)
Quote from: CountDeMoney on January 16, 2015, 04:59:28 PM
I looked up graduation requirements for the Arizona public school system, and they want a minimum of 4 credits--
Quote(4) Social Studies shall consist of one credit of American History, one credit of World History/Geography, one-half credit of government and one-half credit of economics.
In the school system I attended, the entire 9th grade Social Studies curriculum was Civics class. 1/2 credit seems pretty light; that's September to January.
Edit: they only require 3 credits in Social Studies.
http://www.azed.gov/hsgraduation/
Civics was such an easy A for me.
Make every 12th grader pass a Jim Crow-era voting test, and then we'll have some truly knowledgeable youngsters on our hands. :cool:
...To be promptly dissuaded from continuing to study the social sciences or humanities at the post-secondary level, of course.
Quote from: jimmy olsen on January 16, 2015, 11:49:28 AM
Quote from: garbon on January 16, 2015, 11:24:18 AM
Quote from: Martinus on January 16, 2015, 11:21:12 AM
Quote from: garbon on January 16, 2015, 11:19:48 AM
Quote from: Admiral Yi on January 16, 2015, 11:17:37 AM
Monstrous?
No, not monstrous. I am wondering what's the point of making this a school requirement though. Seems not particularly useful / I'm always skeptical of mandatory school testing - particularly when for something like this. :D
Of course, I'm also always skeptical of anything mentioning patriotism and Arizona. -_-
Well, as things go, this knowledge is probably more useful to an average high school graduate than understanding the gastric system of an amoeba.
I can't speak to that. I never took biology in high school.
Seriously! :blink:
Biology wasn't a requirement when I was in HS, either. You had to take 4 years of science classes IIRC, but we had enough available science courses that you didn't have to take biology.
Would you say that you don't know much about biology?
Quote from: Syt on January 16, 2015, 11:25:11 AM
There was a (minor) discussion on education in Germany - a girl about to finish school tweeted that while she could analyze poems in 4 language she had no idea how to rent an apartment, how the tax system works or what insurances would be useful.
Usually this is something that's taught by parents/family/friends, but I would agree that covering some of "life out there" at school would be a good idea, esp. as there might be a generation gap between how parents learned something and how things have change.
No. School is for teaching liberal arts. You're out of order.
Quote from: Capetan Mihali on January 16, 2015, 07:59:58 PM
Make every 12th grader pass a Jim Crow-era voting test, and then we'll have some truly knowledgeable youngsters on our hands. :cool:
...To be promptly dissuaded from continuing to study the social sciences or humanities at the post-secondary level, of course.
The whole damned system's out of order!
Quote from: The Brain on January 16, 2015, 08:09:41 PM
Would you say that you don't know much about biology?
I didn't say I didn't take it, I said it wasn't required.
And even though I answered the question straight, I did get the reference.
Quote from: Ideologue on January 16, 2015, 08:20:43 PM
Quote from: Capetan Mihali on January 16, 2015, 07:59:58 PM
Make every 12th grader pass a Jim Crow-era voting test, and then we'll have some truly knowledgeable youngsters on our hands. :cool:
...To be promptly dissuaded from continuing to study the social sciences or humanities at the post-secondary level, of course.
The whole damned system's out of order!
Get the fuck off my obstacle!
Quote from: dps on January 16, 2015, 08:21:53 PM
Quote from: The Brain on January 16, 2015, 08:09:41 PM
Would you say that you don't know much about biology?
I didn't say I didn't take it, I said it wasn't required.
And even though I answered the question straight, I did get the reference.
I was about to say. :D
It used to be a requirement to pass an exam on the Missouri constitution to pass high school. While I have no problem with taking an American citizenship test in school, it's not the most meaningful way to judge someone's civic knowledge. Civics classes have really fallen by the wayside, these days. If nothing else they are important for when you are part of a protest and shouting slogans to know if what you are demanding can actually be passed into law.
Quote from: dps on January 16, 2015, 08:08:27 PM
Biology wasn't a requirement when I was in HS, either. You had to take 4 years of science classes IIRC, but we had enough available science courses that you didn't have to take biology.
Biology I was a requirement for us, I think in 10th grade. Whether you took Biology II was on you, but they wanted us to at least know what the fuck chlorophyll was.
I took bio and AP bio but always ended up dropping physics.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on January 16, 2015, 11:52:54 PM
Quote from: dps on January 16, 2015, 08:08:27 PM
Biology wasn't a requirement when I was in HS, either. You had to take 4 years of science classes IIRC, but we had enough available science courses that you didn't have to take biology.
Biology I was a requirement for us, I think in 10th grade. Whether you took Biology II was on you, but they wanted us to at least know what the fuck chlorophyll was.
As I recall, they taught us about chlorophyll in 5th grade science class.
Quote from: dps on January 17, 2015, 12:23:51 AM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on January 16, 2015, 11:52:54 PM
Quote from: dps on January 16, 2015, 08:08:27 PM
Biology wasn't a requirement when I was in HS, either. You had to take 4 years of science classes IIRC, but we had enough available science courses that you didn't have to take biology.
Biology I was a requirement for us, I think in 10th grade. Whether you took Biology II was on you, but they wanted us to at least know what the fuck chlorophyll was.
As I recall, they taught us about chlorophyll in 5th grade science class.
YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN
Quote from: garbon on January 16, 2015, 12:07:44 PM
Quote from: jimmy olsen on January 16, 2015, 11:49:28 AM
Quote from: garbon on January 16, 2015, 11:24:18 AM
Quote from: Martinus on January 16, 2015, 11:21:12 AM
Quote from: garbon on January 16, 2015, 11:19:48 AM
Quote from: Admiral Yi on January 16, 2015, 11:17:37 AM
Monstrous?
No, not monstrous. I am wondering what's the point of making this a school requirement though. Seems not particularly useful / I'm always skeptical of mandatory school testing - particularly when for something like this. :D
Of course, I'm also always skeptical of anything mentioning patriotism and Arizona. -_-
Well, as things go, this knowledge is probably more useful to an average high school graduate than understanding the gastric system of an amoeba.
I can't speak to that. I never took biology in high school.
Seriously! :blink:
Okay, I exaggerated. In 8th grade, I had half a year of bio. After that though, I stuck exclusively to chemistry and physics. I had no desire to participate in dissections.
Kids don't have a choice in RI, it's required for 9th grade. They didn't force you to do the dissection though. Only one kid I knew opted out of that though.
I let my lab partner handle the gnarly parts. I'm sure she appreciated it too. :sleep:
Quote from: jimmy olsen on January 17, 2015, 12:33:20 AM
Kids don't have a choice in RI, it's required for 9th grade. They didn't force you to do the dissection though. Only one kid I knew opted out of that though.
Our setup was in 8th grade (which was at the highschool), you had to take intro classes in Chem, Physics, Bio and Earth Science. Then in 9th-12th, you just had to take 3 years of science and you could pick what you wanted. Bio had frog dissection as mandatory and the most advanced bio class had mandatory cat dissection. I instead opted for the relatively less messy Chem to AP Chem and Physics to AP Physics.
11th grade Chemistry completely derailed my ascent to medical school. Only class I ever cheated in--once, used a crib note in the cover of the calculator--and managed to still fuck it up.
I took physics for two days. I come in the second day of class with a notebook instead of a three ring binder and the peckerwood writes me up in his grade book.
I had all kinds of science in high school, and I totally destroyed the tests. :smarty:
Quote from: CountDeMoney on January 17, 2015, 12:53:16 AM
11th grade Chemistry completely derailed my ascent to medical school. Only class I ever cheated in--once, used a crib note in the cover of the calculator--and managed to still fuck it up.
Chem (in 10th for us) almost ruined me, too. :console: I was terrible at the next year's physics as well, but luckily we had a hilarious drunk for a teacher who was always completely lit up by our class period right after lunch. I got on his good side while he yelled at us and used a hose attachment to spray water from a sink onto his own desk to demonstrate something, so I did fine.
Kinda reassuring to know that chemistry sucked for everyone and not just me.
I had my chemistry teacher the year she was retiring, so there was nothing we could do or say to get around her being shitty. In one memorable incident, she told one of my friends, who was a senior, "I don't care if you ace every test from now until the end of the semester; I don't like you, so you're not going to pass this class, and you're not going to graduate." In front of the entire class.
She was also getting to be one of those cranky-senile old ladies, so she blamed us when she tossed an entire block of pure sodium into a bucket of water. It was hilarious, though. The amount of soot from the drop ceiling catching fire made it so her face looked like the result of one of the exploding cigar gags from Loony Tunes. :P
Quote from: DontSayBanana on January 17, 2015, 08:58:18 AM
Kinda reassuring to know that chemistry sucked for everyone and not just me.
*clears throat* Perfect score on the national test.
And Chem didn't suck for me. It was my favorite subject. When we had to go around the room saying why we were interested in ap physics, I noted that there were no chem classes left that I could take. -_-
I was a real dick to the kid that sat in front of me in high-school physics. :Embarrass:
I took a great chemistry class in college, with hardly any of that scary math stuff. :wacko: :yuk: It was part of the unofficial "science for humanities majors" (or, per my dad, "Physics For Fags") course grouping that existed for fulfilling the math/science requirements, and this one took care of the lab requirement, too.
I learned that paper bags from the grocery store actually take more oil to produce than plastic ones, even though the plastic ones are literally made out of it. :smarty:
Quote from: Capetan Mihali on January 17, 2015, 10:22:20 AM
I took a great chemistry class in college, with hardly any of that scary math stuff. :wacko: :yuk: It was part of the unofficial "science for humanities majors" (or, per my dad, "Physics For Fags")
Your dad is coarse, but wise. Words to contemplate.
Quote from: Ideologue on January 17, 2015, 12:19:16 PM
Quote from: Capetan Mihali on January 17, 2015, 10:22:20 AM
I took a great chemistry class in college, with hardly any of that scary math stuff. :wacko: :yuk: It was part of the unofficial "science for humanities majors" (or, per my dad, "Physics For Fags")
Your dad is coarse, but wise. Words to contemplate.
Try, for once, to be less of a jackass.
Quote from: DontSayBanana on January 17, 2015, 08:58:18 AM
Kinda reassuring to know that chemistry sucked for everyone and not just me.
I had my chemistry teacher the year she was retiring, so there was nothing we could do or say to get around her being shitty. In one memorable incident, she told one of my friends, who was a senior, "I don't care if you ace every test from now until the end of the semester; I don't like you, so you're not going to pass this class, and you're not going to graduate." In front of the entire class.
She was also getting to be one of those cranky-senile old ladies, so she blamed us when she tossed an entire block of pure sodium into a bucket of water. It was hilarious, though. The amount of soot from the drop ceiling catching fire made it so her face looked like the result of one of the exploding cigar gags from Loony Tunes. :P
I am reassured. I sucked at chemistry. I did come up with an inventive way to ace the test of the periodic table. I brought a pair of binoculars to class and read a small reproduction from across the room. The teacher told me that no one else had ever thought of that.
I had decided early on in high school that there was no practical use for chemistry or mathematics in "the real world" so I just read books in class instead, because that was the kind of snot-nosed little shit I was.
I was very good in math, but I've forgotten most I learned about infinitesimal calculus and how to solve equations. Never been too good at chemistry or physics, though and never got beyond a B. I found it really interesting, but it required more effort to learn than geography or history where it was easier to talk your way out of corners. :P
What the fuck? Dissecting cats in a biology class? :huh:
Quote from: Martinus on January 17, 2015, 03:27:59 PM
What the fuck? Dissecting cats in a biology class? :huh:
Good preparation to be Senate Majority Leader.
Quote from: CountDeMoney on January 17, 2015, 02:15:53 PM
I had decided early on in high school that there was no practical use for chemistry or mathematics in "the real world" so I just read books in class instead, because that was the kind of snot-nosed little shit I was.
Yeah, that kind of snot-nosed kid is what makes up half of languish.
Well, I participated in chemistry olympics at school and now do not remember tenth of it.
My best subjects at school were chemistry/physics, math and natural science. I once won the school's math contest, even. Yet I chose to pursue a career in the arts.
I SUCKED at PE, though. And the only time I ever cheated in an exam was in a Technical Drawing one, I couldn't 3D-project worth a damn.
Quote from: celedhring on January 17, 2015, 03:46:08 PM
My best subjects at school were chemistry/physics, math and natural science. I once won the school's math contest, even. Yet I chose to pursue a career in the arts.
I SUCKED at PE, though. And the only time I ever cheated in an exam was in a Technical Drawing one, I couldn't 3D-project worth a damn.
Sounds pretty much like me. I was very good at hard sciences, but completely sucked at anything requiring hand-eye coordination. :P
I never NEVER managed to climb the fucking rope. Fell on my arse every fucking time, and to this day I haven't tried again. If I tried to hang myself I bet my hands would still slip when trying to pull the noose over my head.
I hated jumping over that thingie with handles. Usually I just forced my mother to get me a medical certification excusing me from all PE classes. :P
Quote from: Martinus on January 17, 2015, 03:27:59 PM
What the fuck? Dissecting cats in a biology class? :huh:
They were already dead.
Quote from: Razgovory on January 17, 2015, 03:41:14 PM
Quote from: CountDeMoney on January 17, 2015, 02:15:53 PM
I had decided early on in high school that there was no practical use for chemistry or mathematics in "the real world" so I just read books in class instead, because that was the kind of snot-nosed little shit I was.
Yeah, that kind of snot-nosed kid is what makes up half of languish.
The other half of Languish are just as snot-nosed, but more employed.
Quote from: Syt on January 17, 2015, 03:26:50 PM
I was very good in math, but I've forgotten most I learned about infinitesimal calculus and how to solve equations. Never been too good at chemistry or physics, though and never got beyond a B. I found it really interesting, but it required more effort to learn than geography or history where it was easier to talk your way out of corners. :P
No shit, that's what 1/2 of here have being doing ever since on Languish. :D
We enjoyed making our chemistry teacher nervous. Whenever a compound got mentioned in class for the first time, we'd ask her questions like, "Would that be a good thing to poison someone with? How easy to detect would it be during the autopsy?".
And Seedy says that HS Chem has no practical value. :rolleyes:
My chemistry teacher was an extremely aloof half-German guy. Once, a house near the school burned down, resulting in one dead; the day after he thought it was a great idea to use the incident to explain the chemistry involved in combustion, and several accelerating compounds.
The more I think of him the more I believe he could've gone full Breaking Bad.
Quote from: celedhring on January 17, 2015, 03:57:06 PM
I never NEVER managed to climb the fucking rope. Fell on my arse every fucking time, and to this day I haven't tried again. If I tried to hang myself I bet my hands would still slip when trying to pull the noose over my head.
I also was never able to do that stuff very well while in high school even though I was very active as a kid in sports type stuff. But after high school I started doing a lot more exercise, martial arts, and other stuff and got into very good shape and could easily climb ropes and just do a lot more than I could when a teen. I'm not in that great shape now though as I'm a lot older, near retirement age. :(