School

I hate homework. If ever a movement were started that tried to get homework outlawed by the 8th amendment to the U.S. Constitution, I’d try my hardest to see what I could do to lead that movement (and hopefully secure world hegemony in the process). I believe that teachers who give out large amounts of homework should have their 8th amendment rights taken away and receive “cruel and unusual punishments.” I hate homework.
Some teachers also bug me because of the intent with which they issue homework. Busy work is a waste of my time, and since time is money, is an unfair tax on my life that I should be allowed to sue for. I believe that learning something just to learn it is stupid. People should only need to learn things necessary to secure a functional and peaceful world, and any learning after that should be at the learner’s choice. You could require learning before granting certain privileges, but learning for the sake of learning is stupid. Forcing a stupid person to learn creates tension and anger which can lead to violence and military coups. Allowing people who want to learn learn what they want to learn leads to happy people. Our whole system is wacked.
Sure I believe that it is good for people to learn, and in order for people to be allowed to live in society they should receive basic education, but studying Edgar Allen Poe doesn’t make one a better citizen. It could perhaps lead to the opposite. There are certain things that shouldn’t be required in general education (i.e. to get through Elementary, Junior High or Middle School, and High School). Art, more specifically watercolors, coloring with crayons, and large tessellations are superfluous to a general education. P.E. is good, but shouldn’t be forced on someone. If the person wants low health care costs, they should take care of their body. If they don’t, they have to pay more. If they can’t pay more, then they don’t get health care. English should be required at least until someone can read and write affluently. Studying literature should only be required to the point of being able to understand it, not having someone analyze it. Math should be career specific. I agree everyone should at least get to Algebra 1, but after that you should only have to take it if your planned career requires a good amount of math. High School diplomas are retarded. Someone should receive a degree or certificate of how far they have been educated that is subject specific. Sure, if someone has achieved a certain level in quite a few subjects, you can give them a diploma, but a diploma shouldn’t be a general rule of thumb that everyone needs to get. If someone is going to become a brilliant scientist, one shouldn’t hold them back by requiring them to take x amount of English before they can progress in their scientific studies, or reject them from society because they haven’t taken enough art or taken classes on how to handle their money responsibly. Far too much stock is held in tests, diplomas, certificates, and other measures of ability that imperfect men have set up in order to judge others.
The whole G.P.A. system is stupid. If the federal government isn’t going to regulate it for the entire country, then why should it even be counted towards or against whether or not you can get into college? Some schools, such as many in Arizona, will give grades higher than a 4 for good grades in a challenging class, such as an A.P. class, and enable someone to get a G.P.A. that is higher than a 4. On the other hand, Utah doesn’t even award A+s anymore, so the highest you can get is a 4, making it quite an achievement for someone to get a 4.0 G.P.A. Their achievement is overshadowed by those in Arizona who can easily get a 4.5 for just a little hard work. Thus, the student from Arizona looks better to college recruiters and the Utahn gets the bad end of the stick just because of where he or she went to school. This is absolutely absurd and should be done away with.
Thirdly, I think it is outrageous that a single person should have such unchecked control over the lives and futures of tens of thousands of students just because they have a teaching license. A single failing grade can make or break a student’s career, and a low citizenship grade can harm their ability to attend or participate in extra-curricular activities that could further their ability to pursue the career of their choice. Teachers have too much power. Students should get a large say in the grading system, as well as what is taught, and they should have the ability to reject a teacher who doesn’t have a compatible teaching style and find another. Students shouldn’t be able to fire a teacher, but they should be able to get a teacher that teaches in a way that they can understand and learn from.
I believe that is the end of my tirade. Thank you for reading it.

Preamble To My Mind

If you haven't been able to guess already by my blog name, the URL, and the title of this post, I think the mind is a fascinating place. The presence or absence of such an object can make life very interesting and exciting, and yet, for those that have them, each is unique in its own special way. I like to think that mine is above normal (remember, everything is relative), and above is a good thing generally.

So...in this blog I'll address whatever I have running through my mind at whatever given time I'm typing the post. Sound like a fair agreement? Good...(I'm assuming you said yes. If you didn't, live with it.)

As to why I'm starting up this blog, I love to write, and I never can seem to find time to do so. It's really tragic, and causes me occasional sadness (when I'm not sad about all the other terrible things that happen in this world today).

I suppose in a small way I'm writing this because I enjoy reading so much, and want to spread the joy by creating words that hopefully others will enjoy reading. So, if you enjoy what you read, please encourage me to keep writing. Some days I need just a little encouragement.

As a last and final note, I am a very busy person, so posting will be sporadic at best. So don't get frustrated if I go a long period without posting. It just means that I'm going through a tough and busy time from which I'll have all the more to write about.

So, in hopes of good posts in the future...I give you My Mind's Notepad