From: y41@aix320c.urz.uni-heidelberg.de (Jeffrey Hazelwood)
Subject: LAZY, NOT!!!
Organization: University of Heidelberg, Germany
Date: Thu, 17 Dec 92 15:37:30 GMT

Ok, were not lazy, I just wanted to stir up things a little.  Since we
got on the topic of education.  Here are my personal comments.

Well, here we go....   First of all let me clarify a few things.  My 
information about American public schools is based on my experience in
attending school in Arizona, Mississippi, and Kentucky.  A good cross-
section, if I say so myself. (Also Germany)

I witnessed that the majority of the students were not taking education 
seriously enough and spent very, very little of their own time on education.  
This may or may not be there own fault.  They usually just meet the 
demands. (True in Germany as well) 


Having lived around the world, the discussions are always the same...
everybody is LAZY.  The fact is, that the students may not actually
be LAZY, I admit.  This is what I coin as "The Old Folks Argument" and
can be readily found in the elderly populations of the world.

 
Students only do what is demanded of them.  In Japan, Germany and other 
countries the demands are higher, so the students generally learn more. 
The test scores are higher, but so are the suicide rates! I'll take lower
test scores anyday. 

For example here in Germany, an 'Abitur' or equivalent to a high school 
diploma, is considered equal to 2 years of college in the States. (It is 
though 13 years, instead of 12).  If an American student wishes to apply 
directly to a German University, they must have first completed 2 years of 
college in the States.

The original point I wanted to make was that even if the school system is
really bad, students that are determined CAN and WILL do well! This is
not to say we shouldn't spend more on education or try to attract the
best teachers.  However, all of the blame does not lie with the teachers.
The students are going to have to take a little initiative. Often times
though there are other obsticles to overcome.  Within Hispanic, and African 
American groups, doing well and learning is sometimes equated with "acting 
white" and unfortunately frowned upon.  This is sad. 


Most American students are opting for the easy way out. Just go down to 
your university's local Physics, Engineering, or Math department and count 
the number of American grad students in relationship to the number of foreign 
grad students. The facts are that a great deal of the research done in 
America is done by foreigners, while Americans are busy with corporate
buyouts and shuffling paper back and forth.

Someone mentioned Success in the scope of the debate.  I agree Success has
nothing at all to do with education. Look at Ross Perot. (big grin!) He's
no rocket scientist, hell he would fit right in dressed in a white shirt
and bow tie wiping off tables at Arby's!!  But that's another topic.  

Let's get back to this Japan business. Since I am in Germany, I haven't 
heard alot of news on how Clinton will revive the industries in the U.S.
What are his thoughts on Japan? Anyone want to comment? How does Clinton
plan to make America the economic Superpower it should be?


Ciao.
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Jeffrey T. Hazelwood                    Universitt Heidelberg
EMAIL: y41@ix.urz.uni-heidelberg.de       Heidelberg, Germany 

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Newsgroups: soc.culture.usa