School and Education

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I've scanned this "old" textbook which belonged to my father when he was at school.
Look at the sentences, they are sometimes very funny, compared to what you can read
in today's textbook!  
































Happy reading!  

I enjoyed reading all those words and expressions. It is interesting to see how fast a language is evolving.

I have read this issue in a previous vocable of mine and found this conversation very interesting;
It is important that our children (or grandchildren) see leaders of all shapes and colours, African barbies as well as European ones, fat people in office as well as thin people in office, people with different opinions in positions, I wish  they could grow up in a multicultural world. Children should  find around them inspiring models who look like them, even in books and even in dolls. I have never seen a fat Barbie and I would like to see one. Diversity is not just about race but about beliefs, tastes when there is respect and understanding for the others.

Hi Muriel,

Right but...
When watching other people "in position", we see what we want to.

Thus, nowadays' youngsters can see top models and singers, soccer players and drug dealers but rarely scientists and industrials.

Hi everyone,

-> (The Daily Texan) Americans suffer from inadequate foreign language education
The United States is largely monolingual. In fact, only about 15-20 percent of Americans consider themselves bilingual, compared to 56 percent of Europeans surveyed in 2006 by the European Commission. This difference is problematic for a number of reasons, especially on the 40 Acres, where we like to think that “what starts here, changes the world.”

Any comment?

Hi Gérard everyone
  Americans suffer from inadequate foreign language education  In internet, more than 90% of the websites are written and created in English. And even when you see some sites in other languages, they also give you the option to translate into English. Why bother themselves with learning an other language ?

It's true that language-learning is time-consuming . Once you have chosen to learn a language you have to keep learning it all your life. I hope one day Europe will be interesting enough for the Americans to start learning our languages. I keep my fingers crossed for that.

Hi everyone,

-> How schools cope with teaching children who speak 14 different languages
How the schools where nine in ten pupils do not speak english as their first language help bring their pupils up to speed

what is moving in this story is that the motivation is very high : "The parents are aspirational, they want their children to go to university, to be doctors and highly skilled professionals." Sure the children are sharing the thoughts and hopes of their families! Every pupil in our european and developed countries should be aware of how lucky we are . But of course if we take everything for granted, we cannot value Education and educational opportunities as they should be.
Thank you Gerard for this article

you can correct me  whenever my mistakes make you frown

Hi Jean-Pierre,

JeanPierreD a écrit:... Thank you Gerard for this article

You are very welcome Jean-Pierre. I'm glad the article pleased you.

you can correct me  whenever my mistakes make you frown

Thanks for your confidence.
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Barbie Exposure May Limit Girls' Career Imagination
Hi everyone,

Last week, it was my grand daughter's birthday and before this day, I told a friend that I was about to choose a gift... I was rather upset when she suggested a Barbie! I responded it was the last thing I would offer my grand daughter as I hate Barbie! LOL

I was right! I let you read!

-> (Scientific American) Barbie Exposure May Limit Girls' Career Imagination
Researchers had groups of girls play with one of three dolls. One was a Barbie doll dressed as a fashion model in a clingy dress. A second Barbie was a doctor in a white coat and jeans. The third doll was a Mrs. Potato Head.

But toys such as dolls or action figures can influence a child’s ideas about their future, she added.

I think it is wise to let your child have a lot of different toys ! in this way he can choose for himself his own toys and influence himself what he what he wants to become.

Hi Muriel,

> child... he can choose for himself what he wants to be.
Why boys only?

Ok He or she I don't know what to write !

Better in pluriel ! I remember now (Sorry at the moment i am taking the phone calls for my husband and I am a bit confused)   

 Yes Muriel, you understood what I meant -> "they"!

Don't be upset, Gérard even if your grand daughter wants a Barbie. My daughter had oodles of barbies ! she is now an international lawyer (avocate), strong-minded and has spent 5 years in US

Hi Muriel,

MurielB a écrit:... My daughter had oodles of barbies...

There was no Dora at the time

... strong-minded and has spent 5 years in US

5 years in the US made her strong-minded.
Barbies are for European girls; if an American girl mimicks Barbie, it's intentional, she knows what she's doing. American women are far from being stupid.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/01/education/single-sex-education-public-schools-separate-boys-and-girls.html?_r=0

Single-sex education, common in the United States until the 19th century, when it fell into deep disfavor except in private or parochial schools, is on the rise again in public schools

Hi everyone !
We all agree that Angeline learns differently from Angelo but is there evidence of substantial difference in brain development between boys and girls ? The idea of separating Girls and boys could, on the contrary reinforce stereotypes. What do you think ?

Hi Paula !
When I was a little girl, I was in a separate school. There were only girls.  At that time there were specific jobs for boys and specific jobs for girls. Sex stereotypes were important.  Nowadays we tend to think that each person has individual desires, thoughts, and feelings, regardless of their gender. it's not perfect but it's improving. It's sad to go backwards.