The World needs more men like Mr. Regan, not just Texas. He was a man ahead of his time, and clearly committed to the education of young people. I like how clearly he outlines the issues, and provides solutions. I didn’t realize quite how dangerous illiteracy was until a counselling session I had with a young woman. She was pregnant and in tears, begging me to help her learn to read FAST. I was explaining that we could get her into a class, but she needed to be patient…it takes time to learn. She blurted out, “You don’t understand! I’m going to have a baby, I am scared I will harm her. Do you know that both Pam and Raid come in red and yellow spray cans? What if I make a mistake and use the wrong can?”. That actually shook me, as I had not thought of illiteracy in that way before. I also know that not everyone learns in the same way, and that we need to teach in the way a person learns. I see there are fewer and fewer people today who can spell or use good grammar, because they rely on computers to do that. I saw footage of a couple of educated 20 year olds puzzling over a book they found, and giving up because it was written in cursive. They knew it was cursive, but they didn’t know how to read it. What we took for granted, they weren’t even taught in school. This man is very clear on what the problems are, and some positive solutions, I hope his wisdom is heard today. Thank you David, for sharing this, and for bringing to light a long-standing problem. In a time that people are moving to ban certain books and subjects from being taught…there are students who cannot read those books anyway. You are always on point and on time with your postings.🖤🇨🇦
@@TinLeadHammer I got her together with a one on one teacher who was willing to give her 2 hours of his time every second day. I remained counselling her for a couple of years, and she learned quickly, she was very motivated. I went to supermarkets with her, and helped her recognize where in the store dangerous products were, and how to look for the skull, and the corroded hand on packaging. Then I helped her organize her kitchen and cleaning supplies so they wouldn’t be mixed up.🖤🇨🇦
@@TinLeadHammer I am not sure, but I suspect a combination, I remember her sounding words out at one stage, so phonetics was a part of it…and it was associated with letter grouping recognition. My role was finding ways to help her until she could read, and helping her navigate the social and government systems that were new to her.🖤🇨🇦
We have been desperately improving education for at least 30 years and it isn’t as good as it was 30 years ago. It isn’t about education anymore. It is the business of presenting curriculum. I really hope that the American Genius starts kicking in soon.
Given the material wealth of the United States, the conditions and operating philosophy of our education system is the single greatest national embarrassment in the history of the country. All this insane dramatic crap in our politics today is the result of THIS exact problem come home to roost.
Place that with a lack of common sense, self control, and in tact family units, add in delusional self entitlement, we are definitely worse off in 2022.
To be honest I knew nothing about Billy Reagan, after watching your film interview on Billy that I found very interesting I did a little research. He has devoted more than 50 years to improving education. He come across as someone who love educating the minds of children and adults alike. Thanks David Hoffman.
I think the genius move and a lot of my friends and peers think that getting your trade first is “it.” Step 1: get your trade out of HS 2: work the trade to pay your way through college 3: graduate college with no student loan debt. 4: use the degree, or if you can’t find a job with the degree, fall back on the trade until you can. And/or use the trade Coming from a barber and violinist
Bingo. When I studied social policy in Europe one my profs told us how a major factor in the establishing "social democracies" in Scandinavia was the high rate of literacy amongst the population. When the people could read, they could learn, from there they organized to demand and win the rights they wanted. I'm sure there were other factors, but it's no wonder why Americans are the most propagandized nation in the world.
Having no options, we never sent ours to school. Taught them ourselves. It was the biggest blessing for us as a family. Public education is a sinking ship in most cases. Believe me, it wasnt our preference, but our conviction.
@@TinLeadHammer They are raised in an environment where they are treasured, not measured.....where learning is enjoyable.....where they receive life skills in addition to book knowledge......where they are taught to care about others....they escape peer dependency and are able to comfortably carry on a conversation with a 2 year old and an 82 year old. Its a more wholistic approach where the needs of spirit, soul, and body are met as opposed to being treated as another cog in the machine.
@@Antron7000 not sure if you are referring to me, but, no, we are not part of a cult..... Just my husband and I.....I was brought up through the public system in the 60s and 70s and saw the gaps in my own education.
@@suzannecarrier287 No judgment on you personally because you may very well have done everything right, but generally speaking homeschooled kids and those educated in most private schools (particularly religious ones) have shown to actually be no more (and sometimes less) educated or prepared for real life than kids coming out of public schools. Public schools are demonized as "THE problem", but I believe it's a more fundamental problem with America's conservative anti-intellectualism ideals. I learned at a young age that intelligence was seen as threatening, and it was best to keep my mouth shut because the smart kids would get bullied. Intelligence is far more often mocked than valued in this country, so few people strive for it. Education is also becoming increasingly disconnected from financial success, because we now live in an America where the great majority of wealthy people are born into wealth, and fewer people are becoming wealthy from their education--in fact education has become one of the leading causes of debt, with the irony being that even the most educated cannot afford to pay for the cost of their education. We have problems far beyond school, we have a country where many people oppose the very idea of community. We have become selfish beyond our ability to properly function as a society. We are the wealthiest country in human history but cannot even provide basic health care for our citizens (making us the ONLY developed country without it). America has an education problem, but it starts WAY before the schools, we have far more basic problems just functioning as a civilized society. www.publicschoolreview.com/blog/new-study-confirms-that-private-schools-are-no-better-than-public-schools www.allisonacademy.com/parents/parenting/disadvantages-of-homeschooling/ www.orlandosentinel.com/opinion/letters/os-op-letters-america-getting-selfish-20210916-f36hdvx4gbawpfck7x37q4d2aq-story.html
Wow! He did a great job summing up a lot of the issue, I too have noticed the quality of the textbooks to be garbage. My daughter’s six grade textbook for reading was so dry and boring it would foster a hate of reading in almost anyone. Also “new “ math… don’t get me started on “new” math 🤦🏼♀️
You would think after 14+ years of school, Including nursery and kindergarten, graduation day would offer the kids a bright future. Unfortunately a majority of the graduates can barely read at 6 th grade level or balance a checkbook, and have absolutely No job skills. The Ideal plan would be to provide skill testing at an early age to identify abilities and interests and then provide specific Job training such as the apprentice programs offered by the Numerous trade unions. There is a huge demand for high paying positions as Electricians, Plumbers, sheet metal workers, and other such trades. Life skill training courses such as home Economics were common years ago. At the minimum high school graduates were able to prepare Nutritious meals and develop basic household management skills. It doesn't take 14+ years to learn academic skills such as critical thinking, entrepreneur & negotiating skills, basic reading, writing and simple math. A Useable education that provides the graduate the ability to earn a liveable income.
I'd note that just because one is intelligent, can problem solve, is a genius, etc, does not inherently mean they are good. Knowledge can be applied for good or ill, and unfortunately, far too often, the latter option was chosen.
David... reading is absolutely the most important skill we learn as we are growing up... I asked my sister to teach me how when I was 3... so I could figure out that beautiful chart under glass on my father's desk... the periodic table 🌟 he was a major in the US army going to the Naval postgraduate school in Monterey, California.. he was a nuclear engineer.. he read.. my mom read.. my sister and brother read... I read.. I didn't learn how from school... I learned how to read... and I learned how to love reading.. mostly from my mom.. sitting with me in her lap sharing her books... reading my first few with me... ❤️ it's the gateway to the Universe... 🛸 going places that I've never been seeing things I may never see again... etc etc etc education is not something someone else does to or for us... education is what we do to satisfy our own curiosity... we learn how to behave by watching our parents ✌️ I got my education at the library... and on the playground ✌️🙏♾️☯️♾️🙏
last year I got involved with the Tibetan refugee community here in the southwest.. they have a language school for their kids.. their whole culture is geared towards education... some of those folks are Buddhist nuns... they often get to India with absolutely nothing... not even an education... they learn to read... and most become teachers... not because they get summer off.. because they understand the value of reading ཞི་བདེ་
I was over in Albuquerque at the time.. my truck was in the shop... I was staying in... inexpensive motels.. they are not cheap.. dispite rumors to the contrary... around me were many homeless people.. not old winos and crazy veterans... young people.. people who had no skills to sell... and no way to get any because they are functionally illiterate... breaks my heart, y'all... those are not someone else's responsibility.. those are our kids forcing people to attend 🤯🤑🤯 school and regurgitate factoids to get a better job does not actually lead to an education... the very best teachers make you want to pick up a book and find out more you can't make people smart... they already are... and given the opportunity.. most people are curious about just about everything but you might actually already know that 🤠
we're going to try to do something about this problem... around Arizona and New Mexico where we live and work... as far as education goes my agenda is somewhat different.. but certainly employment is part of that... I was an auto shop teacher for a while.. I enjoyed it more than any other job I've had... vocational training goes beyond preparing for working for someone else... prosperity begins when we can keep the fruits of our labor... you can't do that working for someone else... but if you don't know how to do anything... it's really hard to get a job of any kind.. as minimum wage goes up... those people are the most vulnerable to being laid off because they are not as profitable for the employer.. almost everyone is capable of.. learning how to read... it is absolutely the foundation for everything else... learning a trade you are interested in.. or finding an occupation requires effort... none of them would be there by choice... no matter what they tell you... begging is, hopefully, not a vocation .. I sure hope not I'm going to see what I can do... see.. as far as taking care of myself.. I am in a wheelchair.. but I can get a job today.. in an hour or so... probably the first place I walk into... as a mechanic... or something.. dishwasher if I was really hungry... I think I can find teachers that will help... self reliant people to show other people how... we can change the World a day at a time
It's interesting hearing about the 'no child left behind' remembering when it was first implemented, our teacher told us, "we are in the moment of change in US history" and if I remember correctly the question was "what motivates you guys to learn?" and TBH IDK if the students had an answer "Because I dunno is not an answer"
That's called capitalism. Unfortunately the world in which we live in demands we wage economic warfare (usually against ourselves), but perhaps learning history and philosophy can change that? Learning, however, covers many areas and skills such as the creative arts, craftsmanship, mechanics, engineering, science, languages, teaching others, etc. People don't read nearly as much as they need and it shows, especially when literacy rates are falling. All this does is divide us even more than we are already.
@@deirdremorris9234 Good point Deirdre. What if you had to teach Abraham Lincoln who attended school for a total of 2 years? I am sure you would abandon standardized test. I had twins. One was magna cum laude and the other was I.ndividual E.ducation P.lan. The system spent all of the resources on the academic son because he offered the most bang for the buck on the test.
@@noble604 I have a degree in chemistry and it would be wonderful if more people could live in the rigid reality that I occupy, where the evidence matters. But nothing matters if the kids can’t effort. Yes! Science, as long as it is not easy. I like your question. I would like to add Science to my list.
Mr. Reagan has some insightful points here. I think the most insightful ones are the importance of reading, dwindling attention spans, and publisher influence. However I don't think the comparison of USA teacher-student lecture time to those in east asian countries is a useful metric (~3.8 vs ~11 hours) to prove his points. Education in places like China and Japan are largely product-based, particularly in k-12. This means that much of their education is based on memorizing a single correct answer on standardized tests, rather than a basis on the thinking and learning process itself. The output there are students with great knowledge of what they have learned, but ones who shy away from open-ended questions that don't necessarily have a single "correct" answer. That's what you are paying for with 11+ hour school days. Memorization.
It took me years of training and teaching myself laws of thought and logic to rewire my brain. We all believe we're "rational/logical" yet literally don't know the first thing about it. It's not intuitive at all so kids should learn to use the laws of thought and not just memorization or appeals to authority.
I ran community meetings twice a month for 6 years in a violent city in CA 1. Citizens could not articulate the problem they want solved. 2. Most meeting in city turn into emotional rants - useless 3. In my meetings I forced them to identify the problems they want solved; on average it took 4 tries. a) On my email, and had the authority to direct a detachment of police to solve their problems b) My district was successful...lowest crime in the city c) I got tired, resigned, and went back to focusing on making money in my private sector job.
I have kept up with this for years. THANK YOU MR Hoffman, for all you do for years to enlighten people🌅❤💕.Capitalism is the problem. NEW IDEAS FOR HUMANITY.
NASA Scientist George Land developed a test for creativity and found that going to school makes people stupid. This is also the historical reason for compulsory schooling. If you think about it though it makes a lot of sense.
I am a product of late 50s and early 60s. It was when the Soviets put Sputnik in orbit for that first time. Three shop courses at the High School were axed, and replaced with three foreign languages. French, German, and Russian. I was encouraged to take Latin. I should have taken Spanish. At my workplace I could understand what was being said when Spanish was being yacked in my ear. I have learned more about History by spending time on this here You Tube. I have learned more of Geography by being on the end of that joystick with FLIGHTSIM X. I will always feel the Old School is Dead. It has been dead for a long time.
I graduated from UHS in 99, same school that Ray Liotta attended. Excellent school... we had all the vocations on premises, but once 2000 came, they begun to get rid of those classes. What a shame!
Sing Spell Read and Write is an excellent reading program. Included are are workbooks for cutting, pasting and coloring. Games, rewards and step by step readers.
Very good point. I check with CZcams before I do anything. It is amazingly useful. I work in a school technology department and I see point that it could be a distraction. It is so easy. I think that part of my education was the effort of looking up words in the dictionary if I suspected a misspelling. Those were challenging times. Gen X troubles.
Teachers are given no authority, time, resources, or compensation. They are dictated a strict curriculum. The curriculum makes no allowance for kids that need more 1 on 1 attention. Instead the curriculum is made to serve the 10-30 percentiles only. Often all other kids are left behind or bored to death. Often those kids underperform, develop behavioral problems,and/or drop out as a result. Often school systems lack basic things like books heat or air conditioning where it is needed (like when it is 90-100 degrees out). Teachers are chronically severely underpaid. Teaching too often is an afterthought for administrators in school systems who treat school systems like any other bureaucracy/Administration hierarchy career ladder to climb. There are a school system that have lost millions of dollars in a single year while running out of money to buy books/educational material or other necessarily learning materials who nevertheless have most of their staff in non/teaching roles and pay top administrators a quarter of a million dollars per year. Some high schools get AP classes, some don’t. Almost perfect students in poor schools are treated the same as barely passing students in those schools, by staff, and even by colleges.
Vendors do have an influence (agree Billy Regan) on what is shown to the students and they a lot of times do not show their source code in computer program. Used to be when you got a electronics or air conditioner you would get schematics to help you repair it. Now companies have planned obsolescence in products. So much teaching to the test. Leaves little to no time to explore on here and in books of choice to enjoy and thus want to read more.
This sounds like what the kids in the sixties were rebelling against . a lecture on what's important in life and the rules and testing necessary to get there .
I read ton of books, even as a young teenager I did. But man, having to read books in school always sucked, because it felt like a chore. Often they were outdated or in an old language style that as a teen just unpleasant to read. Book and reading culture needs to be nurtured but especially outside of the school system so it's fun
Instead of rejecting videogames as toys that rot the brain, we should use them as the teaching tools. I learned reading comprehension, navigation skills, social skills, math skills, how to keep a schedule. All from playing videogames for hours after school. I wasn't interested in books at all. At least until we were awarded with prizes for reading. This is a hard pill to swallow for educators, but some kids will just never be readers. No, this doesn't mean we should just accept illiteracy as standard. It means that you can continuously try to foster an interest in reading, but there are students who will never genuinely be interested in it. They'll see it as a chore and nothing more. Drop this "professional" garbage and find ways to make education fun and relatable. I guarantee you'll see scores increase.
Sadly, many video games ARE teaching tools. They have taught people who now use those learned "skills" in warfare, killing people around the world. Regarding reading, absolutely we need to increase this skill and practice. I taught ESL in a foreign country for several years and I can tell you that even "professional" adults don't like to read, and usually won't. They need English to keep or advance in their job, but almost always seek a technology shortcut. Even if some could hold a conversation it would be short. Why? Because they have no vocabulary. Where do you get vocabulary? READING. So I'd instruct them to read things they're interested in regardless of the topic, anything to keep them reading, then to make vocabulary flash cards and memorize what is new to them. Rinse. Lather. Repeat. But they invariably would seek an app instead. "Hey teacher, I have an app on my phone that does that". Congrats, your phone speaks English. Now explain to me what you read ..... I no longer bang my head against that wall. So, yeah. Reading is the key. But how to get people to do it in this technological day and age?
Sweet God's, I had no idea the government took over education. I kept wondering wth they were teaching this new generation. I figured it was because I'm generation X and just wasn't understanding, even more scared that I was becoming like my dad's generation and just set in my ways. This is very disturbing! So glad I grew up in the age of studying at libraries and actually reading books.
politicians corrupted the education system by dumbing it down, discouraging learning and encouraging rote memorization. discouraging intelligent people from the teachnig profession, defunding the system to make it uncompetitive and selling out to special interests by encouraging religious schools/homeschooling.
@@Nobodyspecial11 Yes!! although I seriously believe that we cant take it back, but must withdraw and teach our own or start cooperatives....while we are attempting to take it back time is slipping by and its the children who are suffering....and missing out on a better kind of education.
There are two reasons why American education doesn't work. The first is the teachers unions, and the second is the departure from core fundamentals. The teachers unions make it almost impossible to fire ineffective teachers. In colleges and universities it's far worse. The minute a teacher gains tenure it's essentially a get out of jail free card. Unless you are grossly incompetent, and even if you are in a lot of cases, the only way you can actually get fired is if you break the law, and even then in some cases it's simply ignored. Then you have these same teachers deprioritizing the fundamental essentials of education. Math, Science, English, Reading / Literature, Civics, the core of what education should be, and they're replacing it with critical race theory, gender ideology, things that are the polar opposite of what needs to be taught. American public schools spend more per capita, per student, than any other country in the world. Yet our schools are performing at such a low level that we aren't even competing in the quality of education. It's beyond disturbing. Teachers consistently complain about lack of pay, and lack of funding. They make more than the teachers in any other country. They are funded better than the school system in any other country. It's an excuse, not a reason. The American public school system is an abject failure. It's the perfect example as to why the federal government should not be allowed to interfere in local or state matters that it's not mandated to explicitly get involved in. It has absolutely failed on every single front. The American public school system is performing worse now than it was 30 years ago. It was performing worse 30 years ago than it was 60 years ago. Instead of improving, or addressing the problems within, it's simply chosen to not only ignore the problems it faces, but pretend they don't exist, and instead make up problems that simple do not exist. Such as the claim that standardized tests are systemically racist. That's simply a lie. However claiming that it's the cause of poor performance allows schools and teachers to seek a solution that not only fails to address the core issues, it allows them to implement changes such as critical race theory that instead magnify the issues causing the problem.
As far as tenure/unions go- prior to getting it (which is becoming less common, from what I've heard), it is rather stressful, as schools have and will screw over professors. It's a catch 22- if you don't allow people the space to work, no improvements will be made, but if you have a system which has tortured and abused people (the journey to get tenure is, at least these days, hellish, though it depends on the institution, field, etc), once they get that space, it's much easier to just not care. As far as the claims about pay, we have not paid our teachers the most in a LONG while- European countries lead, by a wide margin (depending on source, on the order of like 10-40K, depending on field, level at which teachers are teaching, etc). I live in AZ, I went through the public school system- the claim that that they are better funded than European countries, at least at the student/teacher level, is laughable. I agree we're in a bad spot though- no arguments there.
Yes. CZcams recommends that if you don't have an initially decent response in viewership from your subscribers, change the title quickly. That's what I did. My wife did this edit and she and I believe that if people watch this, they will find it of interest. The question is how can I reach people who would be interested. My first title didn't do that. Will this one? David
@@DavidHoffmanFilmmaker I wasn’t poking fun at You Sir! I was just surprised and wrote the comment on impulse. I feel honoured You replied to me. You are a talented Gentlemen. Thank You for all Your impressive work.
@@TinLeadHammer pls delete your comment. The words your using can be viewed as offensive. Thank You. Update: Didn’t even realize the actual word was in the new video title. I apologize.
Most people believe that public schools are a shining example of democracy. Educating our children is a sacred act, and the democratic process is equally as sacred. When you put the 2 together in a public school system, you have something so sacred that it is surpassed only by free healthcare for all. In a public school system, every one of us is allowed--even encouraged--to participate in the system by attending a large town hall that is open to all. When everyone's voice has been heard, we act collectively to make important decisions about our children and their fertile young minds. Greed, selfishness, and inequality have no place in the public school system. Some people who think progressively want to abolish private schools altogether, since they exist only for the privileged and the few.
@@billfriedley8229 I *like* how you say "comrade", like I'm a Communist. In fact, I am a Democratic Socialist--and I'm proud of it. I believe in giving the people the social services that we want, and in doing what is in the best interests of society. I believe in democracy and fairness. Only a fascist would oppose that.
Excellent interview! However, would have liked to hear more ideas on solutions to this crisis. I liked his comments about how we as a nation once would try to understand and solve problems. Clearly we are seeing the terrible fallout from a hollowed out, weak educational system. A Large percentage of the public is now so ignorant, that they are easily manipulated by some very bad actors and seem incapable of critical thinking. No names please.
In North carolina, I was able to quit school at the age of 16. I quit in the 8th grade. I had much to offer but no one noticed it. I am what some would call a savant. I understand things I cannot explain, mostly science and philosophy. Two things that seem to be valuable in society yet I was excluded. I was able to accomplish things on jobs that people could not explain and many people resented. I was often fired. I was a victim of resentment. They do not make a place for us, in the face of evidence to the contrary. I now equate red white and blue, apple pie and baseball, to bigotry and racism. American ideation is not perfect. There is no freedom in America for someone like me.
Because the more “modern” we become the less we think for ourselves and the more we are told what to think. Some of us have lived long enough to have seen the changes that have been made and what there conclusions have brought. Hind sight is 20/20.
It was neither cut nor edited. The videotape ran out and there were also several glitches in the recording as video degrades over time. David Hoffman filmmaker that is the information that I put in the crawl at the end of this video.
He seems to be a dedicated person and he has a lot of validity, but let's face reality. We don't have institutions of education, we have institutions of indoctrination.
You mean American people grew up with an inflated ego about themselves and being educated better than others in the world, Americans are the only peoples that only speak one language, European people speak at least 5. Lets start there. Even the boy bringing you a drink at a beach in Acapulco speaks English, this doesn't mean they're educated but at least they can communicate in more than one language. An educated civilized peoples aren't in poverty, sick and at war with one another, that's a sign of ignorance, barbarism, an uncivilized society who can't fix basic issues, that element is prevalent all over, so where is genius there? Smart people know how to settle differences in a civilized manner, Americans like Russians and many other countries settle disputes of something like a borderline with a war or increasing social problems because of borderlines, yup blow it up and disrupt livelihood, or don't set healthy boundaries, that's very educated of a peoples. By the way all those people know how to read or write one language, that doesn't make someone educated. No child left behind don't begin to address the barbaric, uncivilized mentality of what educational systems are producing in a peoples or we wouldn't have the poverty, illness, anxious, depressed societies we have today.
The World needs more men like Mr. Regan, not just Texas. He was a man ahead of his time, and clearly committed to the education of young people. I like how clearly he outlines the issues, and provides solutions.
I didn’t realize quite how dangerous illiteracy was until a counselling session I had with a young woman. She was pregnant and in tears, begging me to help her learn to read FAST. I was explaining that we could get her into a class, but she needed to be patient…it takes time to learn.
She blurted out, “You don’t understand! I’m going to have a baby, I am scared I will harm her. Do you know that both Pam and Raid come in red and yellow spray cans? What if I make a mistake and use the wrong can?”.
That actually shook me, as I had not thought of illiteracy in that way before. I also know that not everyone learns in the same way, and that we need to teach in the way a person learns.
I see there are fewer and fewer people today who can spell or use good grammar, because they rely on computers to do that. I saw footage of a couple of educated 20 year olds puzzling over a book they found, and giving up because it was written in cursive.
They knew it was cursive, but they didn’t know how to read it. What we took for granted, they weren’t even taught in school. This man is very clear on what the problems are, and some positive solutions, I hope his wisdom is heard today.
Thank you David, for sharing this, and for bringing to light a long-standing problem. In a time that people are moving to ban certain books and subjects from being taught…there are students who cannot read those books anyway. You are always on point and on time with your postings.🖤🇨🇦
@@TinLeadHammer I got her together with a one on one teacher who was willing to give her 2 hours of his time every second day. I remained counselling her for a couple of years, and she learned quickly, she was very motivated.
I went to supermarkets with her, and helped her recognize where in the store dangerous products were, and how to look for the skull, and the corroded hand on packaging. Then I helped her organize her kitchen and cleaning supplies so they wouldn’t be mixed up.🖤🇨🇦
@@TinLeadHammer I am not sure, but I suspect a combination, I remember her sounding words out at one stage, so phonetics was a part of it…and it was associated with letter grouping recognition. My role was finding ways to help her until she could read, and helping her navigate the social and government systems that were new to her.🖤🇨🇦
We have been desperately improving education for at least 30 years and it isn’t as good as it was 30 years ago. It isn’t about education anymore. It is the business of presenting curriculum. I really hope that the American Genius starts kicking in soon.
He lays out the problems and causes clearly. Solutions? I would've been quite interested to hear them. It's a shame that's where the video ends.
Such Knowledge and Wisdom. I agree. We are worse in 2022. Our Population is very under educated.
Some wisdom and a whole lot of short sightedness and generational/ideological blindness
Given the material wealth of the United States, the conditions and operating philosophy of our education system is the single greatest national embarrassment in the history of the country. All this insane dramatic crap in our politics today is the result of THIS exact problem come home to roost.
@@TD-ln2tg from him or from the educational system?
Place that with a lack of common sense, self control, and in tact family units, add in delusional self entitlement, we are definitely worse off in 2022.
To be honest I knew nothing about Billy Reagan, after watching your film interview on Billy that I found very interesting I did a little research. He has devoted more than 50 years to improving education. He come across as someone who love educating the minds of children and adults alike. Thanks David Hoffman.
The trades and vocational training need to play a part for the kids that just can't, or won't succeed in the regular way. In my opinion.
Agree. What happened to auto shop? We didn't have anything like that when I was in school or just teach me to use a forklift at least.
Agreed
@@MonarchPoolPlaster my school had auto collision, mechanic shop, welding, and carpentry classes and maybe some others I missed. I graduate in ‘18
I think the genius move and a lot of my friends and peers think that getting your trade first is “it.”
Step 1: get your trade out of HS
2: work the trade to pay your way through college
3: graduate college with no student loan debt.
4: use the degree, or if you can’t find a job with the degree, fall back on the trade until you can. And/or use the trade
Coming from a barber and violinist
You still need to be literate to pursue vocations.
He was, and is, wholly accurate and correct.
Billy Reagan knew the business and really projected the concern he had for America’s children. A great man!
There is a reason the slave owners didn't want the slaves educated, same as today...
Bingo. When I studied social policy in Europe one my profs told us how a major factor in the establishing "social democracies" in Scandinavia was the high rate of literacy amongst the population. When the people could read, they could learn, from there they organized to demand and win the rights they wanted. I'm sure there were other factors, but it's no wonder why Americans are the most propagandized nation in the world.
Having no options, we never sent ours to school. Taught them ourselves. It was the biggest blessing for us as a family. Public education is a sinking ship in most cases. Believe me, it wasnt our preference, but our conviction.
@@TinLeadHammer They are raised in an environment where they are treasured, not measured.....where learning is enjoyable.....where they receive life skills in addition to book knowledge......where they are taught to care about others....they escape peer dependency and are able to comfortably carry on a conversation with a 2 year old and an 82 year old. Its a more wholistic approach where the needs of spirit, soul, and body are met as opposed to being treated as another cog in the machine.
@@suzannecarrier287 got it its a cult.
@@Antron7000 not sure if you are referring to me, but, no, we are not part of a cult..... Just my husband and I.....I was brought up through the public system in the 60s and 70s and saw the gaps in my own education.
@@suzannecarrier287 No judgment on you personally because you may very well have done everything right, but generally speaking homeschooled kids and those educated in most private schools (particularly religious ones) have shown to actually be no more (and sometimes less) educated or prepared for real life than kids coming out of public schools. Public schools are demonized as "THE problem", but I believe it's a more fundamental problem with America's conservative anti-intellectualism ideals. I learned at a young age that intelligence was seen as threatening, and it was best to keep my mouth shut because the smart kids would get bullied. Intelligence is far more often mocked than valued in this country, so few people strive for it. Education is also becoming increasingly disconnected from financial success, because we now live in an America where the great majority of wealthy people are born into wealth, and fewer people are becoming wealthy from their education--in fact education has become one of the leading causes of debt, with the irony being that even the most educated cannot afford to pay for the cost of their education. We have problems far beyond school, we have a country where many people oppose the very idea of community. We have become selfish beyond our ability to properly function as a society. We are the wealthiest country in human history but cannot even provide basic health care for our citizens (making us the ONLY developed country without it). America has an education problem, but it starts WAY before the schools, we have far more basic problems just functioning as a civilized society.
www.publicschoolreview.com/blog/new-study-confirms-that-private-schools-are-no-better-than-public-schools
www.allisonacademy.com/parents/parenting/disadvantages-of-homeschooling/
www.orlandosentinel.com/opinion/letters/os-op-letters-america-getting-selfish-20210916-f36hdvx4gbawpfck7x37q4d2aq-story.html
Wow! He did a great job summing up a lot of the issue, I too have noticed the quality of the textbooks to be garbage. My daughter’s six grade textbook for reading was so dry and boring it would foster a hate of reading in almost anyone. Also “new “ math… don’t get me started on “new” math 🤦🏼♀️
You would think after 14+ years of school, Including nursery and kindergarten, graduation day would offer the kids a bright future. Unfortunately a majority of the graduates can barely read at 6 th grade level or balance a checkbook, and have absolutely No job skills. The Ideal plan would be to provide skill testing at an early age to identify abilities and interests and then provide specific Job training such as the apprentice programs offered by the Numerous trade unions. There is a huge demand for high paying positions as Electricians, Plumbers, sheet metal workers, and other such trades. Life skill training courses such as home Economics were common years ago. At the minimum high school graduates were able to prepare Nutritious meals and develop basic household management skills. It doesn't take 14+ years to learn academic skills such as critical thinking, entrepreneur & negotiating skills, basic reading, writing and simple math. A Useable education that provides the graduate the ability to earn a liveable income.
109s are desperate to destroy this country. They r destroyers. Their teachers unions are a big factor in degrading our schools
This guy equates conquering the Native Americans, stealing their lands, and committing genocide with genius ???
Right? For a guy pushing reading, he ought to pick a book himself.
I'd note that just because one is intelligent, can problem solve, is a genius, etc, does not inherently mean they are good. Knowledge can be applied for good or ill, and unfortunately, far too often, the latter option was chosen.
David... reading is absolutely the most important skill we learn as we are growing up... I asked my sister to teach me how when I was 3... so I could figure out that beautiful chart under glass on my father's desk... the periodic table 🌟
he was a major in the US army going to the Naval postgraduate school in Monterey, California.. he was a nuclear engineer.. he read.. my mom read.. my sister and brother read... I read.. I didn't learn how from school... I learned how to read... and I learned how to love reading.. mostly from my mom.. sitting with me in her lap sharing her books... reading my first few with me...
❤️ it's the gateway to the Universe... 🛸 going places that I've never been
seeing things I may never see again... etc etc etc
education is not something someone else does to or for us... education is what we do to satisfy our own curiosity...
we learn how to behave by watching our parents
✌️
I got my education at the library... and on the playground
✌️🙏♾️☯️♾️🙏
want your kids to read
read
now that you know how
go ahead
hug your kids and read to em
you will be glad you did
peace
last year I got involved with the Tibetan refugee community here in the southwest.. they have a language school for their kids.. their whole culture is geared towards education... some of those folks are Buddhist nuns... they often get to India with absolutely nothing... not even an education... they learn to read... and most become teachers... not because they get summer off.. because they understand the value of reading
ཞི་བདེ་
I was asking them about attending classes with the kids... maybe if I ask really nicely 🙏🤠
I was over in Albuquerque at the time.. my truck was in the shop... I was staying in... inexpensive motels.. they are not cheap.. dispite rumors to the contrary...
around me were many homeless people.. not old winos and crazy veterans... young people.. people who had no skills to sell... and no way to get any because they are functionally illiterate...
breaks my heart, y'all...
those are not someone else's responsibility.. those are our kids
forcing people to attend 🤯🤑🤯 school and regurgitate factoids to get a better job does not actually lead to an education... the very best teachers make you want to pick up a book and find out more
you can't make people smart... they already are... and given the opportunity.. most people are curious about just about everything
but you might actually already know that 🤠
we're going to try to do something about this problem... around Arizona and New Mexico where we live and work... as far as education goes my agenda is somewhat different.. but certainly employment is part of that... I was an auto shop teacher for a while.. I enjoyed it more than any other job I've had... vocational training goes beyond preparing for working for someone else... prosperity begins when we can keep the fruits of our labor... you can't do that working for someone else... but if you don't know how to do anything... it's really hard to get a job of any kind.. as minimum wage goes up... those people are the most vulnerable to being laid off because they are not as profitable for the employer.. almost everyone is capable of.. learning how to read... it is absolutely the foundation for everything else... learning a trade you are interested in.. or finding an occupation requires effort... none of them would be there by choice... no matter what they tell you... begging is, hopefully, not a vocation .. I sure hope not
I'm going to see what I can do... see.. as far as taking care of myself.. I am in a wheelchair.. but I can get a job today.. in an hour or so... probably the first place I walk into... as a mechanic... or something.. dishwasher if I was really hungry... I think I can find teachers that will help...
self reliant people to show other people how...
we can change the World
a day at a time
It's interesting hearing about the 'no child left behind' remembering when it was first implemented, our teacher told us, "we are in the moment of change in US history" and if I remember correctly the question was "what motivates you guys to learn?" and TBH IDK if the students had an answer "Because I dunno is not an answer"
The challenges remain and success has been spotty at best.
This video is very educational, thanks for sharing this video David Hoffman film maker.👍😎📸👍
I absolutely hate this philosophy.
It seems it all boils down to learning...not to learn...but learning...to participate in economic warfare.
That's called capitalism. Unfortunately the world in which we live in demands we wage economic warfare (usually against ourselves), but perhaps learning history and philosophy can change that? Learning, however, covers many areas and skills such as the creative arts, craftsmanship, mechanics, engineering, science, languages, teaching others, etc. People don't read nearly as much as they need and it shows, especially when literacy rates are falling. All this does is divide us even more than we are already.
We need to teach three things. Literacy, Math and Effort.
Financial literacy and hard work.
@@deirdremorris9234 Good point Deirdre. What if you had to teach Abraham Lincoln who attended school for a total of 2 years? I am sure you would abandon standardized test.
I had twins. One was magna cum laude and the other was I.ndividual E.ducation P.lan. The system spent all of the resources on the academic son because he offered the most bang for the buck on the test.
Science?
@@noble604 Yes.
@@noble604 I have a degree in chemistry and it would be wonderful if more people could live in the rigid reality that I occupy, where the evidence matters. But nothing matters if the kids can’t effort. Yes! Science, as long as it is not easy. I like your question. I would like to add Science to my list.
Mr. Reagan has some insightful points here. I think the most insightful ones are the importance of reading, dwindling attention spans, and publisher influence. However I don't think the comparison of USA teacher-student lecture time to those in east asian countries is a useful metric (~3.8 vs ~11 hours) to prove his points.
Education in places like China and Japan are largely product-based, particularly in k-12. This means that much of their education is based on memorizing a single correct answer on standardized tests, rather than a basis on the thinking and learning process itself. The output there are students with great knowledge of what they have learned, but ones who shy away from open-ended questions that don't necessarily have a single "correct" answer. That's what you are paying for with 11+ hour school days. Memorization.
The students aren’t motivated to read books? Says the state who famously banned popular children’s books? Get Out 😂
This is so excellent, thank you.
We are managed by those who follow the path of least obligation. It's best for them if we remain ill-equiped to challenge their wide seats of power.
CORRECT
It took me years of training and teaching myself laws of thought and logic to rewire my brain. We all believe we're "rational/logical" yet literally don't know the first thing about it. It's not intuitive at all so kids should learn to use the laws of thought and not just memorization or appeals to authority.
I ran community meetings twice a month for 6 years in a violent city in CA
1. Citizens could not articulate the problem they want solved.
2. Most meeting in city turn into emotional rants - useless
3. In my meetings I forced them to identify the problems they want solved; on average it took 4 tries.
a) On my email, and had the authority to direct a detachment of police to solve their problems
b) My district was successful...lowest crime in the city
c) I got tired, resigned, and went back to focusing on making money in my private sector job.
I just found your CZcams channel. Why didn’t I find this along time ago? Love your stuff! Thank you keep it up, we need your historical videos.
Thank you! Will do!
*David Hoffman Billy Reagan educated TX appreciate your videos Listening 🌟 from Mass USA TYVM 💙 David Billy*
Thanks, David!!
I have kept up with this for years. THANK YOU MR Hoffman, for all you do for years to enlighten people🌅❤💕.Capitalism is the problem. NEW IDEAS FOR HUMANITY.
NASA Scientist George Land developed a test for creativity and found that going to school makes people stupid. This is also the historical reason for compulsory schooling. If you think about it though it makes a lot of sense.
I am a product of late 50s and early 60s. It was when the Soviets put Sputnik in orbit for that first time. Three shop courses at the High School were axed, and replaced with three foreign languages. French, German, and Russian. I was encouraged to take Latin. I should have taken Spanish. At my workplace I could understand what was being said when Spanish was being yacked in my ear. I have learned more about History by spending time on this here You Tube. I have learned more of Geography by being on the end of that joystick with FLIGHTSIM X. I will always feel the Old School is Dead. It has been dead for a long time.
I graduated from UHS in 99, same school that Ray Liotta attended. Excellent school... we had all the vocations on premises, but once 2000 came, they begun to get rid of those classes. What a shame!
Sing Spell Read and Write is an excellent reading program. Included are are workbooks for cutting, pasting and coloring. Games, rewards and step by step readers.
CARL SAGAN AND GEORGE CARLIN WERE 100% RIGHT!!!!
CZcams is great for learning, I suppose good or bad would be another debate.🤔
Very good point. I check with CZcams before I do anything. It is amazingly useful. I work in a school technology department and I see point that it could be a distraction. It is so easy. I think that part of my education was the effort of looking up words in the dictionary if I suspected a misspelling. Those were challenging times. Gen X troubles.
This black pilled me into a bottle. Too bad these kinds of people are leaving.
Teachers are given no authority, time, resources, or compensation. They are dictated a strict curriculum. The curriculum makes no allowance for kids that need more 1 on 1 attention. Instead the curriculum is made to serve the 10-30 percentiles only. Often all other kids are left behind or bored to death. Often those kids underperform, develop behavioral problems,and/or drop out as a result. Often school systems lack basic things like books heat or air conditioning where it is needed (like when it is 90-100 degrees out). Teachers are chronically severely underpaid. Teaching too often is an afterthought for administrators in school systems who treat school systems like any other bureaucracy/Administration hierarchy career ladder to climb. There are a school system that have lost millions of dollars in a single year while running out of money to buy books/educational material or other necessarily learning materials who nevertheless have most of their staff in non/teaching roles and pay top administrators a quarter of a million dollars per year. Some high schools get AP classes, some don’t. Almost perfect students in poor schools are treated the same as barely passing students in those schools, by staff, and even by colleges.
And as superintendent, this guy helped build that broken system.
Vendors do have an influence (agree Billy Regan) on what is shown to the students and they a lot of times do not show their source code in computer program. Used to be when you got a electronics or air conditioner you would get schematics to help you repair it. Now companies have planned obsolescence in products.
So much teaching to the test. Leaves little to no time to explore on here and in books of choice to enjoy and thus want to read more.
Every once in awhile, those Texans make me a proud American, too.
This sounds like what the kids in the sixties were rebelling against .
a lecture on what's important in life and the rules and testing necessary to get there .
I read ton of books, even as a young teenager I did.
But man, having to read books in school always sucked, because it felt like a chore.
Often they were outdated or in an old language style that as a teen just unpleasant to read.
Book and reading culture needs to be nurtured but especially outside of the school system so it's fun
Instead of rejecting videogames as toys that rot the brain, we should use them as the teaching tools. I learned reading comprehension, navigation skills, social skills, math skills, how to keep a schedule. All from playing videogames for hours after school. I wasn't interested in books at all. At least until we were awarded with prizes for reading. This is a hard pill to swallow for educators, but some kids will just never be readers. No, this doesn't mean we should just accept illiteracy as standard. It means that you can continuously try to foster an interest in reading, but there are students who will never genuinely be interested in it. They'll see it as a chore and nothing more. Drop this "professional" garbage and find ways to make education fun and relatable. I guarantee you'll see scores increase.
Sadly, many video games ARE teaching tools. They have taught people who now use those learned "skills" in warfare, killing people around the world. Regarding reading, absolutely we need to increase this skill and practice. I taught ESL in a foreign country for several years and I can tell you that even "professional" adults don't like to read, and usually won't. They need English to keep or advance in their job, but almost always seek a technology shortcut. Even if some could hold a conversation it would be short. Why? Because they have no vocabulary. Where do you get vocabulary? READING. So I'd instruct them to read things they're interested in regardless of the topic, anything to keep them reading, then to make vocabulary flash cards and memorize what is new to them. Rinse. Lather. Repeat. But they invariably would seek an app instead. "Hey teacher, I have an app on my phone that does that". Congrats, your phone speaks English. Now explain to me what you read ..... I no longer bang my head against that wall. So, yeah. Reading is the key. But how to get people to do it in this technological day and age?
Sweet God's, I had no idea the government took over education. I kept wondering wth they were teaching this new generation. I figured it was because I'm generation X and just wasn't understanding, even more scared that I was becoming like my dad's generation and just set in my ways. This is very disturbing! So glad I grew up in the age of studying at libraries and actually reading books.
@@Nobodyspecial11 I Absolutely agree 💯 with you on that.
It is a conditioning and a brain washing.
politicians corrupted the education system by dumbing it down, discouraging learning and encouraging rote memorization. discouraging intelligent people from the teachnig profession, defunding the system to make it uncompetitive and selling out to special interests by encouraging religious schools/homeschooling.
@@Nobodyspecial11 Yes!! although I seriously believe that we cant take it back, but must withdraw and teach our own or start cooperatives....while we are attempting to take it back time is slipping by and its the children who are suffering....and missing out on a better kind of education.
There are two reasons why American education doesn't work. The first is the teachers unions, and the second is the departure from core fundamentals.
The teachers unions make it almost impossible to fire ineffective teachers. In colleges and universities it's far worse. The minute a teacher gains tenure it's essentially a get out of jail free card. Unless you are grossly incompetent, and even if you are in a lot of cases, the only way you can actually get fired is if you break the law, and even then in some cases it's simply ignored.
Then you have these same teachers deprioritizing the fundamental essentials of education. Math, Science, English, Reading / Literature, Civics, the core of what education should be, and they're replacing it with critical race theory, gender ideology, things that are the polar opposite of what needs to be taught.
American public schools spend more per capita, per student, than any other country in the world. Yet our schools are performing at such a low level that we aren't even competing in the quality of education. It's beyond disturbing.
Teachers consistently complain about lack of pay, and lack of funding. They make more than the teachers in any other country. They are funded better than the school system in any other country. It's an excuse, not a reason.
The American public school system is an abject failure. It's the perfect example as to why the federal government should not be allowed to interfere in local or state matters that it's not mandated to explicitly get involved in. It has absolutely failed on every single front.
The American public school system is performing worse now than it was 30 years ago. It was performing worse 30 years ago than it was 60 years ago. Instead of improving, or addressing the problems within, it's simply chosen to not only ignore the problems it faces, but pretend they don't exist, and instead make up problems that simple do not exist. Such as the claim that standardized tests are systemically racist. That's simply a lie. However claiming that it's the cause of poor performance allows schools and teachers to seek a solution that not only fails to address the core issues, it allows them to implement changes such as critical race theory that instead magnify the issues causing the problem.
As far as tenure/unions go- prior to getting it (which is becoming less common, from what I've heard), it is rather stressful, as schools have and will screw over professors. It's a catch 22- if you don't allow people the space to work, no improvements will be made, but if you have a system which has tortured and abused people (the journey to get tenure is, at least these days, hellish, though it depends on the institution, field, etc), once they get that space, it's much easier to just not care.
As far as the claims about pay, we have not paid our teachers the most in a LONG while- European countries lead, by a wide margin (depending on source, on the order of like 10-40K, depending on field, level at which teachers are teaching, etc).
I live in AZ, I went through the public school system- the claim that that they are better funded than European countries, at least at the student/teacher level, is laughable.
I agree we're in a bad spot though- no arguments there.
A smart man indeed. Thank you David. ❤️
The miseducation of children is the greatest threat to the development of world.
"When we had a problem we would sit down in churches and"... ... then I switched off.
Well, the schools teach kids what to learn not how to learn.
Woah, that video titled changed drastically!
Yes. CZcams recommends that if you don't have an initially decent response in viewership from your subscribers, change the title quickly. That's what I did. My wife did this edit and she and I believe that if people watch this, they will find it of interest. The question is how can I reach people who would be interested. My first title didn't do that. Will this one?
David
@@DavidHoffmanFilmmaker I wasn’t poking fun at You Sir! I was just surprised and wrote the comment on impulse. I feel honoured You replied to me. You are a talented Gentlemen. Thank You for all Your impressive work.
@@TinLeadHammer pls delete your comment. The words your using can be viewed as offensive. Thank You.
Update: Didn’t even realize the actual word was in the new video title. I apologize.
Most people believe that public schools are a shining example of democracy. Educating our children is a sacred act, and the democratic process is equally as sacred. When you put the 2 together in a public school system, you have something so sacred that it is surpassed only by free healthcare for all. In a public school system, every one of us is allowed--even encouraged--to participate in the system by attending a large town hall that is open to all. When everyone's voice has been heard, we act collectively to make important decisions about our children and their fertile young minds. Greed, selfishness, and inequality have no place in the public school system. Some people who think progressively want to abolish private schools altogether, since they exist only for the privileged and the few.
Ok comrade lol. Abolishing schools is progressive you say? Your understanding of democracy sounds oddly of an authoritarian regime.
@@billfriedley8229 I *like* how you say "comrade", like I'm a Communist. In fact, I am a Democratic Socialist--and I'm proud of it. I believe in giving the people the social services that we want, and in doing what is in the best interests of society. I believe in democracy and fairness. Only a fascist would oppose that.
College is mostly a racket here too, which I feel isn't an issue in these other countries, that's a different documentary!!
As a veteran homeschool mother I agree! Would love to see video on this.
Excellent interview! However, would have liked to hear more ideas on solutions to this crisis. I liked his comments about how we as a nation once would try to understand and solve problems. Clearly we are seeing the terrible fallout from a hollowed out, weak educational system. A Large percentage of the public is now so ignorant, that they are easily manipulated by some very bad actors and seem incapable of critical thinking. No names please.
In North carolina, I was able to quit school at the age of 16. I quit in the 8th grade. I had much to offer but no one noticed it. I am what some would call a savant. I understand things I cannot explain, mostly science and philosophy. Two things that seem to be valuable in society yet I was excluded. I was able to accomplish things on jobs that people could not explain and many people resented. I was often fired. I was a victim of resentment. They do not make a place for us, in the face of evidence to the contrary.
I now equate red white and blue, apple pie and baseball, to bigotry and racism. American ideation is not perfect. There is no freedom in America for someone like me.
In the title, it should be "got to" or gotta, not "got a". Sorry, just being pedantic...
Yep.
This is rational thinking. Americans did away with rational thinking in the 80s.
It’s always the same:
The older you get, the better you were.
Because the more “modern” we become the less we think for ourselves and the more we are told what to think. Some of us have lived long enough to have seen the changes that have been made and what there conclusions have brought. Hind sight is 20/20.
11:35 it was cut and edited wonder what he was going to say about my people
It was neither cut nor edited. The videotape ran out and there were also several glitches in the recording as video degrades over time.
David Hoffman filmmaker
that is the information that I put in the crawl at the end of this video.
He seems to be a dedicated person and he has a lot of validity, but let's face reality. We don't have institutions of education, we have institutions of indoctrination.
This is explains how we got Trump.
Homeschool 😎
👏😐
You mean American people grew up with an inflated ego about themselves and being educated better than others in the world, Americans are the only peoples that only speak one language, European people speak at least 5. Lets start there. Even the boy bringing you a drink at a beach in Acapulco speaks English, this doesn't mean they're educated but at least they can communicate in more than one language. An educated civilized peoples aren't in poverty, sick and at war with one another, that's a sign of ignorance, barbarism, an uncivilized society who can't fix basic issues, that element is prevalent all over, so where is genius there? Smart people know how to settle differences in a civilized manner, Americans like Russians and many other countries settle disputes of something like a borderline with a war or increasing social problems because of borderlines, yup blow it up and disrupt livelihood, or don't set healthy boundaries, that's very educated of a peoples. By the way all those people know how to read or write one language, that doesn't make someone educated. No child left behind don't begin to address the barbaric, uncivilized mentality of what educational systems are producing in a peoples or we wouldn't have the poverty, illness, anxious, depressed societies we have today.
Obviously we need the Federal Government to get out of the way and let the local authorities govern the education of our children.
How about letting the parents do the governing? Local authorities are still government, ya know?
@@suzannecarrier287
I have to agree with you. When it comes to the children, it’s parents first.
Trump can't read and look how far he's gotten. #inspiration