Re: Better Book Bargains?

[don ohmes <d_ohmes@yahoo.com>]

> >From: dinoboygraphics@aol.com 

> >There is no statistical evidence to substantiated that
> reading level or 
> >comprehension has dropped in our public schools. 
> That's not to say 
> >that there aren't problems that need to be addressed
> (many of them 
> >involving funding) but qualitative generalizations like
> yours usually 
> >reflect objections to larger sociopolitical issues
> rather than any 
> >actual data on how well our kids read (or do math, or 
> >even...gasp...science).
> >
> >Now, our adults on the other hand, are indeed
> performing worse in terms 
> >of both reading level and science understanding, but
> that's a different 
> >issue.  And so I end with two quotes worth
> reflecting on:
> >
> >
> >"The children now love luxury; they have bad manners,
> contempt for 
> >authority; they show disrespect for elders and love
> chatter in place
> >of exercise. Children are now tyrants, not the servants
> of their 
> >households. They no longer rise when elders enter the
> room. They
> >contradict their parents, chatter before company,
> gobble up dainties at 
> >the table, cross their legs, and tyrannize their
> teachers."
> >
> >(Attributed to Socrates in Plato's Republic Book 4)
> >
> >
> >"I see no hope for the future of our people if they are
> dependent on 
> >frivolous youth of today, for certainly all youth are
> reckless beyond
> >words... When I was young, we were taught to be
> discreet and respectful 
> >of elders, but the present youth are exceedingly wise
> >[disrespectful] and impatient of restraint"


Er, wasn't this a good call by Socrates, relative to the future of his people?