Comments on: From Africa to a U.S. high school http://www.joannejacobs.com/2007/05/from-africa-to-a-us-high-school/ Thinking and Linking by Joanne Jacobs Fri, 10 Feb 2012 04:51:22 +0000 hourly 1 By: Cici http://www.joannejacobs.com/2007/05/from-africa-to-a-us-high-school/#comment-33750 Cici Sat, 09 Jun 2007 21:07:27 +0000 http://joannejacobs.com/2007/05/30/from-africa-to-a-us-high-school/#comment-33750 I'm 16 i learn in Harare Zimbabwe and understand the drive of this young man fron Sierra Leone. I ve cellphones, i have access to Mtv,i could get$200 running shoes if i wanted, and im getting a car in a couple of months but i work had like this guy in hope to do something with my life, making education my foundation. Its not the distractions it's being mature and seeing beyon them that counts. I’m 16 i learn in Harare Zimbabwe and understand the drive of this young man fron Sierra Leone. I ve cellphones, i have access to Mtv,i could get$200 running shoes if i wanted, and im getting a car in a couple of months but i work had like this guy in hope to do something with my life, making education my foundation. Its not the distractions it’s being mature and seeing beyon them that counts.

]]> By: mohamed lamin deen http://www.joannejacobs.com/2007/05/from-africa-to-a-us-high-school/#comment-33749 mohamed lamin deen Fri, 08 Jun 2007 19:48:29 +0000 http://joannejacobs.com/2007/05/30/from-africa-to-a-us-high-school/#comment-33749 i wish we can have better school in sierra leone an a sierra leoen too. i live in the u.s. i wish we can have better school in sierra leone an a sierra leoen too. i live in the u.s.

]]> By: Wayne Martin http://www.joannejacobs.com/2007/05/from-africa-to-a-us-high-school/#comment-33748 Wayne Martin Fri, 01 Jun 2007 17:38:02 +0000 http://joannejacobs.com/2007/05/30/from-africa-to-a-us-high-school/#comment-33748 > If the US had no public schools, we might > be able to attain such numbers. Just think of it! > Only the upper class educated! No need to worry > about any such thing as national literacy! (sarcasm intended) Just to remind folks that literacy in the British Colonies and then the United States was always fairly high and not limited to the “upper class”: “In 1650, male literacy in America was 60%. Between 1800 and 1840, literacy in the Northern States increased from 75% to 90%, and in Southern States from 60% to 81%. These increases transpired before the famous Common School Movement led by Horace Mann caught steam. Massachusetts had reached a level of 98% literacy in 1850.” (From an article on the Mises.org WEB-site.) > If the US had no public schools, we might
> be able to attain such numbers. Just think of it!
> Only the upper class educated! No need to worry
> about any such thing as national literacy! (sarcasm intended)

Just to remind folks that literacy in the British Colonies and then the United States was always fairly high and not limited to the “upper class”:

“In 1650, male literacy in America was 60%. Between 1800 and 1840, literacy in the Northern States increased from 75% to 90%, and in Southern States from 60% to 81%. These increases transpired before the famous Common School Movement led by Horace Mann caught steam. Massachusetts had reached a level of 98% literacy in 1850.”

(From an article on the Mises.org WEB-site.)

]]> By: Cal http://www.joannejacobs.com/2007/05/from-africa-to-a-us-high-school/#comment-33747 Cal Thu, 31 May 2007 16:40:52 +0000 http://joannejacobs.com/2007/05/30/from-africa-to-a-us-high-school/#comment-33747 I very much doubt that Sierra Leone educates anything but the top 1% of their students. Pretty easy to move quickly if the class is all smart kids. I very much doubt that Sierra Leone educates anything but the top 1% of their students. Pretty easy to move quickly if the class is all smart kids.

]]> By: allen http://www.joannejacobs.com/2007/05/from-africa-to-a-us-high-school/#comment-33746 allen Wed, 30 May 2007 20:42:06 +0000 http://joannejacobs.com/2007/05/30/from-africa-to-a-us-high-school/#comment-33746 The US, at least in certain school districts, comes fairly close to matching the literacy rates found in Sierra Leone. I'm pretty sure though that Sierra Leone doesn't spend nearly as much to attain its level of illiteracy as those school districts in the US spend to attain their's. The US, at least in certain school districts, comes fairly close to matching the literacy rates found in Sierra Leone. I’m pretty sure though that Sierra Leone doesn’t spend nearly as much to attain its level of illiteracy as those school districts in the US spend to attain their’s.

]]> By: JuliaK http://www.joannejacobs.com/2007/05/from-africa-to-a-us-high-school/#comment-33745 JuliaK Wed, 30 May 2007 20:11:44 +0000 http://joannejacobs.com/2007/05/30/from-africa-to-a-us-high-school/#comment-33745 As Sierra Leone has a 30% literacy rate (20% for women, 40% for men,) I can't join in the praise. If the US had no public schools, we might be able to attain such numbers. Just think of it! Only the upper class educated! No need to worry about any such thing as national literacy! (sarcasm intended) As Sierra Leone has a 30% literacy rate (20% for women, 40% for men,) I can’t join in the praise.

If the US had no public schools, we might be able to attain such numbers. Just think of it! Only the upper class educated! No need to worry about any such thing as national literacy! (sarcasm intended)

]]> By: Wayne Martin http://www.joannejacobs.com/2007/05/from-africa-to-a-us-high-school/#comment-33744 Wayne Martin Wed, 30 May 2007 19:09:52 +0000 http://joannejacobs.com/2007/05/30/from-africa-to-a-us-high-school/#comment-33744 > I wonder if there are such things as “education” > degrees among the teachers in Abdul’s old school in Africa. Probably not. But their are other things that kids don't have in Africa either: cars, cell-phones, televisions, MTV, beer, drugs, parties, $200 running shoes .. and any number of other distractions. > I wonder if there are such things as “education”
> degrees among the teachers in Abdul’s old school in Africa.

Probably not.

But their are other things that kids don’t have in Africa either: cars, cell-phones, televisions, MTV, beer, drugs, parties, $200 running shoes .. and any number of other distractions.

]]> By: What’s the mission? at Joanne Jacobs http://www.joannejacobs.com/2007/05/from-africa-to-a-us-high-school/#comment-33743 What’s the mission? at Joanne Jacobs Wed, 30 May 2007 18:48:17 +0000 http://joannejacobs.com/2007/05/30/from-africa-to-a-us-high-school/#comment-33743 [...] Comments Bart on Promising miraclesdavid foster on From Africa to a U.S. high schoolSuperSub on College athletes escape rape chargeMike Anderson on From Africa to a U.S. high [...] [...] Comments Bart on Promising miraclesdavid foster on From Africa to a U.S. high schoolSuperSub on College athletes escape rape chargeMike Anderson on From Africa to a U.S. high [...]

]]> By: david foster http://www.joannejacobs.com/2007/05/from-africa-to-a-us-high-school/#comment-33742 david foster Wed, 30 May 2007 12:59:27 +0000 http://joannejacobs.com/2007/05/30/from-africa-to-a-us-high-school/#comment-33742 I wonder if there are such things as "education" degrees among the teachers in Abdul's old school in Africa. Somehow I doubt it. Maybe this is related to the seriousness of the education provided. I wonder if there are such things as “education” degrees among the teachers in Abdul’s old school in Africa.

Somehow I doubt it. Maybe this is related to the seriousness of the education provided.

]]> By: Mike Anderson http://www.joannejacobs.com/2007/05/from-africa-to-a-us-high-school/#comment-33741 Mike Anderson Wed, 30 May 2007 10:17:31 +0000 http://joannejacobs.com/2007/05/30/from-africa-to-a-us-high-school/#comment-33741 Abdul's story mirrors my experience with African students: even if they've never SEEN statistics in their lives, they persevere in my class and finish with top scores. And they're already EDUCATED; they're well-read and thoughtful, adding significantly to class discussion and student interaction. I love 'em. Abdul’s story mirrors my experience with African students: even if they’ve never SEEN statistics in their lives, they persevere in my class and finish with top scores. And they’re already EDUCATED; they’re well-read and thoughtful, adding significantly to class discussion and student interaction. I love ‘em.

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