Adarra:

You go to school in Sweden,right,Shaddow? What's it like there? I heard something once that they take education more seriously in Europe than they do in the states.

well, I've never been to the states so I can't really compare, but as far as I know from talking to Americans and from what I've heard / read, it would seem we do take it more seriouse here, in general anyway

ofc, it varies a lot depending on school and the pupils personality... some people pretty much just go to school to pass, no more, others work like hella to get good grades
but it seems to me most people do work pretty much to get good grades to get into good schools to get better grades to succeed in life, no matter what they decide to do after school... there are certain courses that are better than others, since they are more all-around... if you finish those with good grades, you can go on studying for pretty much any profession when you go to University
a lot of people my generation knows that, therefor they try to accomplish that

hehe, I used to go to a private elementary school, and that led to some embarassing situations when I began in High School... habits that had remained, like standing up when the teacher entered the classroom
such things kept happening the first few weeks, just by habit, since I had done them several times a day, 5 days a week for 9 years, but no one else had... there were also less rules suddenly, and no punishments at all... no one really bothered if you arrived too late to class, or if similar things happened, so I guess I have slacked off a bit this first year ^^
but surprisingly, it was also easyer to get good grades than I had thought... some subjects still demanded struggeling, but others surprised me when I got the grades last week, since it went better than expected ^^

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BORK!

A difference I know thats out there, also is that the US education is very Americentric.  Courses that study other parts of the world, such as geography, world history, or culture are extraordinarily limited in the USA, while they are encouraged in many European countries.  Heck once you get out of 4th grade in the USA, youre not required to take another geography class for the rest of your life, and for me geography in 4th grade dealt simply with the geography of the USA.  And throughout my years grades 1-12, I only took 2 cultural classes, and I didnt want to avoid them.

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If at first you dont succeed, dont try skydiving
Both diapers and politicians need to be changed--and usually for the same reasons

Sadly, the lack of 'foriegn' geography lessons for American students leads to the adage 'it takes Americans two tries to find Canada.'

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Nihil est ab omni partum beatum.
(Nothing is an unmixed blessing)

I had to take foreign geography classes, but I went to a private school.

I particularly love it when people use  the word "American" like the people in Canada, Mexico, South America, and Central America aren't technically American.

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I swear, now you're just doing it to piss me off.

I say American only because 'United Statesian" doesn't sound right.  However, I recongize the American-ness of South America, Central America and Canada.

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EPSC: She's crazy, lazy and oh-so-lovable!


"The deific powers I emit will surely burn your retinas!!!"

EPSC's World of Art!
GHE Art Department

 I tend to call myself a Tennessean,on account that that's the state I hail from.

 As for geography in the United States,I've noticed that we are seriously lacking when it comes to history and geography in general and tend to focus on the maths and sciences.I read something recently that hardly any of the major universities require classes in those subjects.Has anyone in the education system heard the adage,"Those who do not learn from the past are doomed to repeat it."

  It's typical,my best subject is the one no one cares about.

 

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The penguins...They steal my sanity

Hmmm some call us Mass-holes on account we are from Massachusetts.  I think of myself more of a New Englander though.

Well there is still a demand out there for history and geography majors...you just have to know about it first   The geography department was quite small in my college, but generally Id say it was the best of all departments.  Sociology was also quite good

Many people dont understand that phrase anymore.  I can point out several things in the current government that seemingly are straying down paths that have been wandered down before and failed.  But oops, thats a political discussion, and just like religion, over the boards that does tend to lead to messy discussions

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If at first you dont succeed, dont try skydiving
Both diapers and politicians need to be changed--and usually for the same reasons

Californian. More locally, Newarkers are known in the Newark/Fremont area as Warks. I'm not kidding.

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I swear, now you're just doing it to piss me off.

I think, though I would not swear to it, Western Australians are referred to as 'Sand Gropers'.

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Nihil est ab omni partum beatum.
(Nothing is an unmixed blessing)

and swedes are known as IKEA Meatballs, sad but true

j/k that's just what some North Americans I know use to call me and other swedes

I say americans for the same reason as EPSC, and I think it's the same with most people
as for USA geography...
all I say is: http://youtube.com/watch?v=Ihf_qdaX_G8&search=map%20americans
poor Australia

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BORK!

I know quite a few 'people on the street' were gungho to invade Australia but given their geography skills, I am not worried. They will never find us and if they do, our cunning disguide as English-speaking white people will confuse them so much they'll think someone else already invaded (which technically, they have).

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Nihil est ab omni partum beatum.
(Nothing is an unmixed blessing)

Of course they only show the retards who don't know north from south on that video Truely if I was asked 'Where should we go next on the war on terror?" I'd reply "We don't need a war anywhere, we need to fix this country first before we go throwing our weight around the globe.  And even then, I think it's none of our business what other countries do." (knowing this, they'd never allow my answer to air as it isnt media-condusive/looks cool for the camera)

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EPSC: She's crazy, lazy and oh-so-lovable!


"The deific powers I emit will surely burn your retinas!!!"

EPSC's World of Art!
GHE Art Department

You bring up a good point. 

No matter how much you agree or disagree with anything you see on tv or over the net, if its broadcast and its trying to tell you something, chances are there is a level of bias to it.  Of course since youre seeing it, there is some truth to it, but whatever theyre arguing against often gets phased out because it hurts their argument.  It all can be very deceptive and biased.

I mean in the middle school and high school essays, teachers told me to never argue against your point, which is teaching the students to actually be biased in their arguments.  In college that all changed, where its been proven that if you address the other side of the argument too, it strengthens your argument, especially if you can address the other side.

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If at first you dont succeed, dont try skydiving
Both diapers and politicians need to be changed--and usually for the same reasons

 It's that sort of thing that makes me not trust the media.Sensationalism to get ratings is not news in my opinion.Only one instant came to mind where I've been proud of the media.About a year ago,some church from Kansas came down here to protest two soldiers' funerals.They only came here to get publicity in my opinion,but the media down here refused to film the protest.No matter what your opinion on the war,I believe in respect for the dead and that church shouldn't have come down here to try and throw their weight around while those families were grieving.

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The penguins...They steal my sanity

Tybaltus:

Hmmm some call us Mass-holes on account we are from Massachusetts.  I think of myself more of a New Englander though.

Being from New England wouldn't that make you New English and hence a New Englishman?

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Scratchit: But he's a cripple!
Blackadder: He's not a cripple, Mrs Scratchit. Occasionally saying "Phew! My leg hurts!" when he remembers to wouldn't fool Baldrick!