Hey, s'me, bflover. I have to say I am pretty disappointed in katrock AND the Times Editor. Sure, ok, I admit that U.S. schools could be better, but there is no reason to diss them.
We do learn about Canada, but there are sooo many countries to learn about as well. There are only 12 grades and over 200 countries. And did you even ask as to how old that person was?
Some kids don't want to learn, no matter how great schools are. They sleep during class, and there is nothing we can do but watch them waste their education.
But most of us (from America) can tell you where Saskatchewan is, or Winnipeg, or Montreal. So don't judge our schooling system unless you have talked the talk and walked the walk.
Thanks for listening,
bflover
Editor's Note: Given katrock's experiences, I'm not surprised she feels the way she does. Perhaps you're right, and most U.S. kids do learn about Canada, but she's only run into the ones who didn't bother to learn or the few who were never taught. She still has a right to be bothered by it, and to wonder if that's all there is.
As for my comments, I'm sorry they made you feel that way! That was certainly not what I meant -- hey, we're from the U.S., too!
The fact is, we have a lot of great ideas about improving education, and they're things that almost nobody is doing, in any country. Our company was founded by researchers, teachers, and just plain smart people, so I think I can confidently say we've talked the talk and walked the walk. For us, it's not a matter of saying, that stinks, let's fix it (although we know some folks who feel that way). We prefer to say, so far so good, now let's make it even better!
In the long run, we really hope the Whyville Way will even excite those kids you see wasting their education every day in school.
I hope that helps you all see our POV a bit better, and my apologies again for offending you.
Times Editor
