As a higher ed instructor, this is not news to me. I've been teaching remedial English for a decade, and the problem has only gotten worse from every regional district. But the causes are up for debate, and there is no one "fix-all." The emphasis on standardized tests takes time away from reading, writing, and critical thinking, and public schools and state are only preparing students for the minimum standards for graduation, not college.
Also, as a society, we can't tell people they are not college material, and then only offer them $10 an hour jobs with no health insurance or sick leave, and blame them and call them lazy when their work ethic crumbles. I agree some people would be better suited to trades and labor jobs, but the sad fact is, manufacturing and industry jobs don't pay a living wage, and until they do, college will be the only way most people in our society can achieve some level of stability and autonomy in their professions. The alternative is to say those who aren't meant for college also aren't meant for home ownership, a family, health insurance, vacation time, or many of the other benefits and privileges those of us with college degrees take for granted. While I have no doubt many people believe exactly that, I'd personally rather keep teaching remedial classes and help these people who've been predisposed since birth to fail academically, to better themselves through education.
Do people have any idea what's involved in getting a Ph.D.? They don't get the title "doctor" for nothing. It's 8-12 years of school, the same as any MD or DO, and many faculty in engineering, law, business, and many, many other fields actually take a pay cut by teaching at a university as opposed to the private sector.
I don't understand this bitter race to the bottom. Why are people so happy to believe the lowest bidder is the best choice?. It's about quality, especially when we're talking about a college education. And if you don't think YSU has quality faculty, do some research.
I think some one needs to go to anger management class. My guess is "unions" is a college drop out who blames their inability to get a real job on the left wing "pseudo-intellectuals" that just didn't understand him.
That is a great idea. Let's replace our college professors with less costly replacements. I mean no one really wants to be taught by PhDs or anything. Heck, why don't you teach "intro to not knowing what you are talking about" it sounds like you are well suited.
And what part of most of these college students were babies and children when their parents brought them here don't you understand? This is the only home they've known, and I'm not cold and heartless enough to dismiss that very integral fact. Yes, I knowingly and willfully would rather they pursue an affordable education while pursuing citizenship, than be dumped across the border in a country they have no connection to, or worse, be subjected to threats and intimidation for the rest of their lives by employers and landlords out to exploit their illegal status.
Actually, most of the people who will benefit from this were brought here as children or even babies by their parents and are now working toward legal status. But you guys don't care about pesky details or circumstances, do you? Just deport them all all and be done with it, right? That's the American Way.
This is not a free education, and it is something that's available to every Connecticut resident. These students, whose tax dollars support state universities (yes, illegal immigrants pay taxes), will pay the same as all residents of the state for higher education. Furthermore, this will help create a more educated population and will allow these people to become active, productive, and legal members of our society rather than continue to live in the shadows. This is a good thing!
I cannot believe how many people truly, seriously buy into the argument that the those who barely make a median salary are responsible for our economic situation. "Golden healthcare"? "luxury salaries"? Yeah, maybe compared to people working at McDonald's and Wal-Mart.
There's only one thing that runs down hill, and it's not economics.
If the Republican Party has had one success, it's been dividing and conquering. Anyone on this board who makes less than $150,000 and supports SB5 needs to realize their enemies are not the public workers who are struggling just as much to get by. The fat-cat politicians and corporate executives are laughing all the way to the bank to deposit their millions in tax breaks while we squabble and point fingers about who pays an extra $50 bucks more a month in healthcare.
If we'd followed majority rule in 1861, we'd still be owing slaves -- with Biblical justification. If we'd followed majority rule in 1920, that silly fringe group called "women" would not be allowed to vote -- again, based on Christian principles. And if the majority had had to vote on the Civil Rights Act, Blacks would still be a second-class "special interest group". The majority is not always right, and when it's not, yes, it is up to the government to ensure all citizen are treated equally from a legal standpoint.
I just can't help but feel that Rosemond is oversimplifying and grossly generalizing the issue. There is a heck of a lot more going on today than guilty, co-dependent moms. Kids have way more opportunities for enrichment through activities that both parents want their kids involved in; kids are saturated with media that even the strictest parent can't eliminate; and yes, there are far more families that have two parents with careers, not just jobs. We're in a different society with different priorities than those in the 50s. We can't go backward, no matter how much some people want to; we need to figure out how best to parent our kids in the environment we have -- and making constant comparisons to the 1950s isn't helping, especially since many parents today weren't even born until the 70s and 80s.
Yes, Rosemond has some good points about simplifying parenting, but the last thing today's over-worked, under-paid, stressed-out supermoms need to hear is that one more thing is their fault. The underlying implication is that if they'd just stayed home where they belong, all would be right with the world. Nice fantasy for some, but neither fair nor accurate. Perhaps if we were a society that catered to families rather than corporations, we would have things like quality, affordable childcare, flexible work hours, more maternity leave, better health care, and better education. Family values in the 50s were reinforced through living wages, health care, and investments in communities and schools. But that would conflict with the "everybody for themselves" and "I got mine" philosophies that only seems to be gaining steam today. You can't solve widespread social problems by telling everyone "You're on your own. Deal with it." Unfortunately, that's exactly what we're told.
I think it's far worse that in this economic climate, the legislature is pursuing a bill that does nothing to help Ohioans, and in fact makes it harder for many to exercise their rights. We already require some for of ID to vote, so what exactly is the reason for limiting the number of acceptable forms of ID from 5 to 2, especially since they are all equally legitimate and there is no evidence that changing the current law would do anything except make it harder to vote?
This is nothing more than conservative propaganda designed to promote fear and mistrust of all of "those" people who don't live like "us". If you don't have a driver's license or ID, you must be a criminal or an immigrant (legal or illegal), or lazy, or irresponsible, or all of the above, and you sure as heck don't need to be voting -- even if you have every right to.
Youngstown high school grads are not prepared for higher ed
As a higher ed instructor, this is not news to me. I've been teaching remedial English for a decade, and the problem has only gotten worse from every regional district. But the causes are up for debate, and there is no one "fix-all." The emphasis on standardized tests takes time away from reading, writing, and critical thinking, and public schools and state are only preparing students for the minimum standards for graduation, not college.
Also, as a society, we can't tell people they are not college material, and then only offer them $10 an hour jobs with no health insurance or sick leave, and blame them and call them lazy when their work ethic crumbles. I agree some people would be better suited to trades and labor jobs, but the sad fact is, manufacturing and industry jobs don't pay a living wage, and until they do, college will be the only way most people in our society can achieve some level of stability and autonomy in their professions. The alternative is to say those who aren't meant for college also aren't meant for home ownership, a family, health insurance, vacation time, or many of the other benefits and privileges those of us with college degrees take for granted. While I have no doubt many people believe exactly that, I'd personally rather keep teaching remedial classes and help these people who've been predisposed since birth to fail academically, to better themselves through education.
March 7, 2012 at 5:31 p.m. permalink suggest removal
Faculty union says YSU’s reference to small schools isn’t fair comparison
Do people have any idea what's involved in getting a Ph.D.? They don't get the title "doctor" for nothing. It's 8-12 years of school, the same as any MD or DO, and many faculty in engineering, law, business, and many, many other fields actually take a pay cut by teaching at a university as opposed to the private sector.
I don't understand this bitter race to the bottom. Why are people so happy to believe the lowest bidder is the best choice?. It's about quality, especially when we're talking about a college education. And if you don't think YSU has quality faculty, do some research.
September 9, 2011 at 5:57 p.m. permalink suggest removal
Union says it has YSU’s final, best offer
I think some one needs to go to anger management class. My guess is "unions" is a college drop out who blames their inability to get a real job on the left wing "pseudo-intellectuals" that just didn't understand him.
August 25, 2011 at 8:54 a.m. permalink suggest removal
Union says it has YSU’s final, best offer
@unionshateamerica
That is a great idea. Let's replace our college professors with less costly replacements. I mean no one really wants to be taught by PhDs or anything. Heck, why don't you teach "intro to not knowing what you are talking about" it sounds like you are well suited.
August 24, 2011 at 8:50 p.m. permalink suggest removal
Illegal immigrant in-state tuition begins in Conn.
And what part of most of these college students were babies and children when their parents brought them here don't you understand? This is the only home they've known, and I'm not cold and heartless enough to dismiss that very integral fact. Yes, I knowingly and willfully would rather they pursue an affordable education while pursuing citizenship, than be dumped across the border in a country they have no connection to, or worse, be subjected to threats and intimidation for the rest of their lives by employers and landlords out to exploit their illegal status.
July 9, 2011 at 3 p.m. permalink suggest removal
Illegal immigrant in-state tuition begins in Conn.
Actually, most of the people who will benefit from this were brought here as children or even babies by their parents and are now working toward legal status. But you guys don't care about pesky details or circumstances, do you? Just deport them all all and be done with it, right? That's the American Way.
This is not a free education, and it is something that's available to every Connecticut resident. These students, whose tax dollars support state universities (yes, illegal immigrants pay taxes), will pay the same as all residents of the state for higher education. Furthermore, this will help create a more educated population and will allow these people to become active, productive, and legal members of our society rather than continue to live in the shadows. This is a good thing!
July 7, 2011 at 9:08 p.m. permalink suggest removal
1.3 million seek vote on SB 5
I cannot believe how many people truly, seriously buy into the argument that the those who barely make a median salary are responsible for our economic situation. "Golden healthcare"? "luxury salaries"? Yeah, maybe compared to people working at McDonald's and Wal-Mart.
There's only one thing that runs down hill, and it's not economics.
If the Republican Party has had one success, it's been dividing and conquering. Anyone on this board who makes less than $150,000 and supports SB5 needs to realize their enemies are not the public workers who are struggling just as much to get by. The fat-cat politicians and corporate executives are laughing all the way to the bank to deposit their millions in tax breaks while we squabble and point fingers about who pays an extra $50 bucks more a month in healthcare.
It's irony at its cruelest.
June 30, 2011 at 12:31 p.m. permalink suggest removal
Democrat’s pro-gay speech racks up YouTube views
If we'd followed majority rule in 1861, we'd still be owing slaves -- with Biblical justification. If we'd followed majority rule in 1920, that silly fringe group called "women" would not be allowed to vote -- again, based on Christian principles. And if the majority had had to vote on the Civil Rights Act, Blacks would still be a second-class "special interest group". The majority is not always right, and when it's not, yes, it is up to the government to ensure all citizen are treated equally from a legal standpoint.
May 6, 2011 at 9:58 a.m. permalink suggest removal
Speaker: Women can solve parenting problem
Gee, nothing like putting more blame on Mom.
I just can't help but feel that Rosemond is oversimplifying and grossly generalizing the issue. There is a heck of a lot more going on today than guilty, co-dependent moms. Kids have way more opportunities for enrichment through activities that both parents want their kids involved in; kids are saturated with media that even the strictest parent can't eliminate; and yes, there are far more families that have two parents with careers, not just jobs. We're in a different society with different priorities than those in the 50s. We can't go backward, no matter how much some people want to; we need to figure out how best to parent our kids in the environment we have -- and making constant comparisons to the 1950s isn't helping, especially since many parents today weren't even born until the 70s and 80s.
Yes, Rosemond has some good points about simplifying parenting, but the last thing today's over-worked, under-paid, stressed-out supermoms need to hear is that one more thing is their fault. The underlying implication is that if they'd just stayed home where they belong, all would be right with the world. Nice fantasy for some, but neither fair nor accurate. Perhaps if we were a society that catered to families rather than corporations, we would have things like quality, affordable childcare, flexible work hours, more maternity leave, better health care, and better education. Family values in the 50s were reinforced through living wages, health care, and investments in communities and schools. But that would conflict with the "everybody for themselves" and "I got mine" philosophies that only seems to be gaining steam today. You can't solve widespread social problems by telling everyone "You're on your own. Deal with it." Unfortunately, that's exactly what we're told.
April 10, 2011 at 3:51 p.m. permalink suggest removal
Senate Republicans must slow the adoption of photo-ID bill
I think it's far worse that in this economic climate, the legislature is pursuing a bill that does nothing to help Ohioans, and in fact makes it harder for many to exercise their rights. We already require some for of ID to vote, so what exactly is the reason for limiting the number of acceptable forms of ID from 5 to 2, especially since they are all equally legitimate and there is no evidence that changing the current law would do anything except make it harder to vote?
This is nothing more than conservative propaganda designed to promote fear and mistrust of all of "those" people who don't live like "us". If you don't have a driver's license or ID, you must be a criminal or an immigrant (legal or illegal), or lazy, or irresponsible, or all of the above, and you sure as heck don't need to be voting -- even if you have every right to.
March 26, 2011 at 1:15 p.m. permalink suggest removal