The American public again does itself proud

[Elrothiel]

Also, I'm pretty damn sure that Matt Groening (the creator of the Simpsons) has earned a shitload more money than Homer (the author of the Odyssey and Iliad). Reason: TV. They didn't HAVE TV back in the time of the ancient Greeks! They didn't have newspapers, magazines, the Internet, any of that!! All they had back then was word of mouth!

 
THAT was the best thing i read on the internet ! EVER !!!!

dude, you rock.

Wow thanks... that was certainly unexpected from you... thanks a lot!

[SLCPUNK]

U.S.A., U.S.A., U.S.A.

What do you want, most people still think "Born In The U.S.A." is a positive song

It was about Reagan winning the cold war stoopid!

[SLCPUNK]

I'm gunna say one thing, it doesn't bloody matter if more young people know more about the Simpsons than the Odyssey and the Iliad!! For fuck's sake! The Odyssey and the Iliad are not publicised like the Simpsons is!!

They are taught in 9th grade if I recall............

[the dirt]

U.S.A., U.S.A., U.S.A.

What do you want, most people still think "Born In The U.S.A." is a positive song

It was about Reagan winning the cold war stoopid!

YEAH! Heroic rock at it's finest.

Stewpid 

[Kujo]

Wait a minute.......................9th Grade?

I need to get out of Florida, I thought we stopped after 6th here.

[SLCPUNK]

Wait a minute.......................9th Grade?

I need to get out of Florida, I thought we stopped after 6th here.

9th grade is when you have your baby...........

[Kujo]

10th Grade - Married
11th Grade - Pose for inappropriate photos
12th Grade - Make first appearance on COPS

[Elrothiel]

I'm gunna say one thing, it doesn't bloody matter if more young people know more about the Simpsons than the Odyssey and the Iliad!! For fuck's sake! The Odyssey and the Iliad are not publicised like the Simpsons is!!

They are taught in 9th grade if I recall............

Whereas the Simpsons is played almost constantly on television all over the world...

[Mal Brossard]

I went to private schools my whole life, two different ones.  On the first day of my US History class at a school rated as one of the top 100 private schools in the US, the teacher handed all of us a blank map of the US and told us to fill in all the state names and capitals.  Out of 20 of us in the class, at least half of whom had been attending this school since middle school, 1 of us got the whole map correctly filled in.  4 of us got 75% or more correct.  9 (including only one of the two German exchange students) got less than half.

Now I could understand not being able to fill in a whole WORLD map with all the country names and capitals, but your own country?  Good lord, you've got to be kidding.  Granted, I could fill in about 75% of a world map, but still, not being able to get at least 80% of your own country right is pathetic.

And I read The Odyssey in 10th grade.  Never read The Iliad, however.

[Axl4Prez2004]

I live here, and yes, like all countries, we have our issues.  Education is one of them.  It's a combination of the breakdown in family structure and discipline, coupled with institutional apathy, low expectations, and lack of discipline.  Parents don't read with their children.  They are selfishly preoccupied with their own matters when their children should be the focus.  It's so easy to park them in front of an idiot box, a.k.a. tv.  By the time the kids hits elementary and middle school, the parents wonder why their kids are out of control. 

When I say discipline, I don't mean corporal punishment which solves nothing.  I mean tough and consistent consequences. 

I was a substitute teacher full-time for a year and a half and I saw it all.  3rd graders who came in to class visibly soiled through lack of bathing, kids unable to spell their name, and kids who couldn't tie their shoes.  I would see a kid whose mom was strung-out on crack, and whose "father" aka sperm-donor, was in jail.  I'd have pregnant students and students who were mothers already in high school.  You'd see kids who just didn't care about learning, and when they were sent out of the room to the principal, the principal would just send them right back with no penalty.

There are alot of great kids and parents in the US, so don't get me wrong.  All hope is not lost.  Changes do need to be made though.    

[SLCPUNK]

I'm gunna say one thing, it doesn't bloody matter if more young people know more about the Simpsons than the Odyssey and the Iliad!! For fuck's sake! The Odyssey and the Iliad are not publicised like the Simpsons is!!

They are taught in 9th grade if I recall............

Whereas the Simpsons is played almost constantly on television all over the world...

You missed the point........

Maybe you were talking about anal sex during that class?

[RichardNixon]

And people wonder why we were so easily duped into a war against a fake threat..............duh.

Yup, it's true, Americans are retards...

[sandman]

it was hilarious to hear howard stern try to name 2 supreme court justices. he was struggling big time. he finally did it, but only after a few incorrect guesses.

[Elrothiel]

I'm gunna say one thing, it doesn't bloody matter if more young people know more about the Simpsons than the Odyssey and the Iliad!! For fuck's sake! The Odyssey and the Iliad are not publicised like the Simpsons is!!

They are taught in 9th grade if I recall............

Whereas the Simpsons is played almost constantly on television all over the world...

You missed the point........

Maybe you were talking about anal sex during that class?

Actually you'd be surprised what the ancient Greeks got up to regarding that matter...

[SLCPUNK]

Actually you'd be surprised what the ancient Greeks got up to regarding that matter...

I suppose you were paying attention in class afterall............

[Jim]

Also, I'm pretty damn sure that Matt Groening (the creator of the Simpsons) has earned a shitload more money than Homer (the author of the Odyssey and Iliad). Reason: TV. They didn't HAVE TV back in the time of the ancient Greeks! They didn't have newspapers, magazines, the Internet, any of that!! All they had back then was word of mouth!

Alleged author.