Indiana school board: "Cursive writing optional"

[Asher]

I would argue that it is useful to be able to compose a letter in cursive, even if it is used infrequently. In my work, deciphering cursive does come into play (ie, working with primary source documents).

Cool! In my work it comes in handy to design n-tier software architectures. By all means, lets teach that to everyone in public schools.

I learned cursive from the neighbour lady who looked after me afternoons. She taught me when I was 6.

I am glad we agree it need not be taught in schools.

[Lorizael]

The girlfriend and I must write our novels now. Additionally, Apolyton's idiocy is angering my girlfriend, and that's no good for me. Laters.

[Fake Boris]

Asher, you are not correct for your first two points (note-taking), but I can concede that well-designed tablets will do the job - I just didn't know they existed. I would still be concerned about kids who forget their device at home, and costs, but this isn't major.

How do you block kids from installing their own programs?

I also think it's too early for cursives to be dropped.

[Asher]

Asher, you are not correct for your first two points (note-taking)

I am though.

How do you block kids from installing their own programs?

You can do whatever you want. We're basing ours on Android. Software can only be installed via the Android "enterprise push" model. The sysadmins push software to the tablets, that's it.

It's also being paired with our "Sync" product, which means the teachers control when the web browser can be launched and which site it goes to.

An off-the-shelf iPad would not work very well -- it needs to be locked down to ensure focus.

[Ben Kenobi]

Cool! In my work it comes in handy to design n-tier software architectures. By all means, lets teach that to everyone in public schools.

To 6 year olds?

I am glad we agree it need not be taught in schools.

No, obviously it's not restricted to schools only. I didn't know you were making that argument that there exist things that should only be taught by schools.

[Asher]

It also integrates with our interactive whiteboard software, which is pretty damn cool. The teacher can instantly send out a quiz (either anonymous or identified), and gets realtime results. She could put a little poll thing "2 + 5 = ?, (A) 3, (B) 6, (C) 7, (D) 8". Then the kids are prompted with the question on their tablet. They push the answer they select, and on the board it updates a piegraph in realtime with what people are voting. It helps her gauge the comfort level of the class with content.

Little **** like that makes a world of difference. Before, shy kids who didn't get the content would sit in the back while the teacher blazed through. Now they can make sure the kids are keeping up.

[Asher]

To 6 year olds?

I don't know, can your job be done by a 6 year old?

No, obviously it's not restricted to schools only. I didn't know you were making that argument that there exist things that should only be taught by schools.

No, Ben. The argument is things that are not useful to most people should not be taught in elementary school.

[Fake Boris]

I am though.


You can do whatever you want. We're basing ours on Android. Software can only be installed via the Android "enterprise push" model. The sysadmins push software to the tablets, that's it.

It's also being paired with our "Sync" product, which means the teachers control when the web browser can be launched and which site it goes to.

What happens if a smartass jailbreaks them?

And you're not correct about note-taking, you just haven't had lectures like those I had.

Usually in humanities and social sciences, EVERYTHING has to be written down.

In grade 10 History of Canada I literally took ~300 pages of notes. EVERYTHING had to be memorized. Our exam questions were like: "How many slaves lived in Quebec City in 1759?" or "Tell everything you know about the Manitoban School Act".

In my Latin classes the questions were like "Reproduce the family tree of Emperor Nero", etc.

This is how you learn.

[Ben Kenobi]

Little **** like that makes a world of difference. Before, shy kids who didn't get the content would sit in the back while the teacher blazed through. Now they can make sure the kids are keeping up.

And in event of a power failure?

[Ben Kenobi]

No, Ben. The argument is things that are not useful to most people should not be taught in elementary school.

There's a segment of the population that finds cursive more or less useful? Cursive is useful to everyone. Unlike your design architecture.

[Fake Boris]

Asher, what company do you work for?

I thought about using tablets when I got the job (last summer), googled for stuff, but didn't find anything really interesting.

[giblets]

In grade 10 History of Canada I literally took ~300 pages of notes. EVERYTHING had to be memorized. Our exam questions were like: "How many slaves lived in Quebec City in 1759?" or "Tell everything you know about the Manitoban School Act".

In my Latin classes the questions were like "Reproduce the family tree of Emperor Nero", etc.

This is how you learn.

I had no idea the Canadian education system put that much emphasis on rote memorization. Why is being able to memorize obscure stuff you can Google so important?

[C0ckney]

i always wrote in cursive during school and university. my writing was pretty illegible though, to the point i was made to come in and rewrite one of my final year exams. this afforded me an excellent opportunity to change a number of things about my answers which no doubt improved my mark.

so, cursive writing.

[Kuciwalker]

In my Latin classes the questions were like "Reproduce the family tree of Emperor Nero", etc.

This is how you learn.

[Fake Boris]

I had no idea the Canadian education system put that much emphasis on rote memorization. Why is being able to memorize obscure stuff you can Google so important?

1. This isn't the Canadian system, it's my secondary school (private, Jesuit, you see what I mean).
2. That stuff couldn't be googled back then
3. It teaches intellectual discipline, improves memory
4. Why weight lifts if your friends will be helping you when you move?