Education Question.

[foxbaron]

If you were to compare the education of our founding fathers to the various levels of education we have today, ie; grade school, high school, college degrees, Mater Degrees, PHD's etc. what would their education level equate to?

We know far more today then they ever did and have progressed tremendously since the "old white guys club" yet their command of the language and their ability to write something as awesome as the Constitution and the Bill of Rights amazes me.

So why does it seem we are all getting dumber and our kids can barely read, write, spell, add, subtract, multiply and put together a complete sentence?

What was it about their education that somehow seems so superior to what our kids are being taught today? What happened?

[slowhand]

If you were to compare the education of our founding fathers to the various levels of education we have today, ie; grade school, high school, college degrees, Mater Degrees, PHD's etc. what would their education level equate to?

We know far more today then they ever did and have progressed tremendously since the "old white guys club" yet their command of the language and their ability to write something as awesome as the Constitution and the Bill of Rights amazes me.

So why does it seem we are all getting dumber and our kids can barely read, write, spell, add, subtract, multiply and put together a complete sentence?

What was it about their education that somehow seems so superior to what our kids are being taught today? What happened?

You can educate, transfer knowledge, but human nature hasnt changed since our forefathers..Take an asshole and educate him, and what you end up with is an educated asshole

[Moby]

You ask a good question.

Hand writing is no longer important. I used to write letters to friends when I traveled just to practice writing. I think in the past few years I only write for taking notes so I'm out of practice again.

I don't need to spell because I have a spell checker.

However while in high school almost 30 years ago I learned computer programming, offset printing, drafting, electronics, photography and levels of science that weren't even imaginable than.

[John Galt]

A select few were educated back then. Most had to work their farms to survive.

Of course, no black people were allowed to get an education...that took some pretty intelligent 'writing' on the part of our FF's.

You refer to the level of articualtion by those who crafted the Constitution. They were not in the majority.

Our population is geometrically larger than it was back then. Couple this with the notion that 'progress' is defined by the invention of methods/machines that save us time/labor.

We've applied this notion to every aspect of our lives. As the decades passed, we've had to use our brains less and less, in order to 'learn'.


Soon, we had calculators, the aforementioned spellcheck, and the biggie....cash registers that tell you how much change to give to the customer.




Throw in a long history of failed social programs, that have taught our entire society the benefits of laziness, and you arrive at our current status in the world.

[Seraphim]

You ask a good question.

Hand writing is no longer important. I used to write letters to friends when I traveled just to practice writing. I think in the past few years I only write for taking notes so I'm out of practice again.

I don't need to spell because I have a spell checker.

However while in high school almost 30 years ago I learned computer programming, offset printing, drafting, electronics, photography and levels of science that weren't even imaginable than.

In what state did you attend high school? That list sounds like a pretty fine school. (Unlike many states.)

[Bill Cosby]

If you were to compare the education of our founding fathers to the various levels of education we have today, ie; grade school, high school, college degrees, Mater Degrees, PHD's etc. what would their education level equate to?

We know far more today then they ever did and have progressed tremendously since the "old white guys club" yet their command of the language and their ability to write something as awesome as the Constitution and the Bill of Rights amazes me.

So why does it seem we are all getting dumber and our kids can barely read, write, spell, add, subtract, multiply and put together a complete sentence?

What was it about their education that somehow seems so superior to what our kids are being taught today? What happened?

I would say as they were the elite then- today that would likely equate to an Ivy league education..

Their works were the products of many great minds, not just one...

Although many of the founding documents & ideals were revolutionary @ the time, I believe the presidency, as it is practiced now, is in fact a problem..

We essentially elect a king- IMO this is to much power to be in the hands of just one man...........

[Binky]

I would say as they were the elite then- today that would likely equate to an Ivy league education..

Their works were the products of many great minds, not just one...

Although many of the founding documents & ideals were revolutionary @ the time, I believe the presidency, as it is practiced now, is in fact a problem..

We essentially elect a king- IMO this is to much power to be in the hands of just one man...........


Electing a king is basically what we do.... And if the powers that be have their way, they will one day, in the future, extend the length of time each can reign, to a much longer one. And it will be done under the radar and the people will have no say. We will all find out about it after the fact.... Just my opinion on it..... It's all about control. The longer the term, the tighter the control over us....

[Moby]

In what state did you attend high school? That list sounds like a pretty fine school. (Unlike many states.)
Fairfax, VA class of 81 so the computer stuff was way back when.

[Bill Cosby]

Electing a king is basically what we do.... And if the powers that be have their way, they will one day, in the future, extend the length of time each can reign, to a much longer one. And it will be done under the radar and the people will have no say. We will all find out about it after the fact.... Just my opinion on it..... It's all about control. The longer the term, the tighter the control over us....

Well hopefully that does not happen..........

Personally I would like a parliamentary system..

[foxbaron]

I would say as they were the elite then- today that would likely equate to an Ivy league education..

Their works were the products of many great minds, not just one...

Although many of the founding documents & ideals were revolutionary @ the time, I believe the presidency, as it is practiced now, is in fact a problem..

We essentially elect a king- IMO this is to much power to be in the hands of just one man...........


I guess that what I am wondering is what were they taught that resulted in their ability to do what they did and to express themselves in the manner they did.

What was the cause of such great intellects coming together to produce the documents they did and to set up a form of government that has been the best this world has ever seen?

What is so different in what they were taught and what we were taught? They could have just as easily set up a monarchy like other countries, and almost did.

What was the difference in the character of the men that formed this nation as opposed to what we see these days?

What was it that inspired these men to create the system they did?

Is it possible that religion played a large part in it? Is it possible that a belief in a superior being, a God, is what inspired them? Is it possible that a moral benchmark of some sort is what kept them from creating something different?

Was it a belief in a man's right to determine his own destiny?

What was it that made them so different from the politicians we see today?

[ROdger Right]

Well hopefully that does not happen..........

Personally I would like a parliamentary system..

Yea because nancy peolsi would be such a great leader.:banghead:

[John Galt]

What was it that made them so different from the politicians we see today?
I don't think that they were all that different.

There were far fewer educated people back then. The Pony Express wouldn't even come into being for almost 100 years.

I really believe that the majority of the nation knew very little about what was going on...at least until it was history..not news.

Our founders did the same thing that today's leaders do...they took care of themselves.

Only male, white, property owners could vote? That took some real genius.



I really think we give too much credit to our founders. They took what they liked from the system they left in England, and tweaked it a tad.

[ROdger Right]

Our founders did the same thing that today's leaders do...they took care of themselves.

Only male, white, property owners could vote? That took some real genius.



I really think we give too much credit to our founders. They took what they liked from the system they left in England, and tweaked it a tad.

More than a tad, we the people instead of we the parliament makes a differance.

Of all the people in America who was the most likely educated. Not woman, nor white non properityowners. As Jefferson said one uneducated voter destroys the entire system oor something like that. As Franklin said that when people figure out they can vote themselves money it will be the end of freedom or something of the sort.

[Moby]

Is it possible that religion played a large part in it? Is it possible that a belief in a superior being, a God, is what inspired them? Is it possible that a moral benchmark of some sort is what kept them from creating something different?
They did speak about Nature's God and not the God mentioned in the Bible or The Koran. Nature's God is something that came from a belief that didn't have evil repercussions or punishment for going against the law. Instead, it's a belief based on harmony.

There are two ways to teach people to do the right thing.

1. Punish them for doing the wrong thing which of courses teaches them to punish as well.
2. Teach them to do the right thing because it's right and they will teach others the same thing without punishment.

Since Deism has no hate or punishment in it people were taught to do the right thing, be equal and live in peace. While Jesus may have preached such views, the Old Testament was more based on fear.

I beleive our founding fathers saw more in Deism than Americans are willing to admit.

[Moby]

As Jefferson said one uneducated voter destroys the entire system oor something like that. As Franklin said that when people figure out they can vote themselves money it will be the end of freedom or something of the sort.
Interesting thoughts.

So who should be allowed to vote in America now?

[doctordog]

Interesting thoughts.

So who should be allowed to vote in America now?

Actual taxpayers would be a great start.

[ROdger Right]

Interesting thoughts.

So who should be allowed to vote in America now?

If you wanna go the radical way then only those who served in the armed service.

Then all we need to do is sure up or improve the payments for college so that we get as many educated people in as possible.

Seeing how the milatarytends to lean right and universities lean left it might make a decent balance.

[Bill Cosby]

Well Rog you stumble into a good point??? lol

I would agree that ppl that served in the military should diffidently have a say in the running of the show----------- Tax paying or not...