Ok, the Great Experiment is Over... So let's Let it End!

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When we showed up to school one morning, we were greeted with something new and different in the halls. Up until then the only vending machines in the school contained apples, milk and school supplies (boRING). That January morning, when the second semester started, we were emancipated from the No Choice duldrums. No longer did we have to risk life and limb (and suspension), sneaking off campus to get our lickies and chewies and cold fizzy caffiene. There they were, against the wall in the main hall. All the four basic food groups were well represented (the chips group, chocolate group, pastry group and soda pop group)... and there was much rejoicing.. (yea). About a decade earlier another Great Experiment began. Educators felt confined by the old school methods of teaching school. Phonics was flung aside for the "look say" method. Calculators were not only allowed in basic math classes, but supplied by the schools. History was taught with a de-emphasis on names and dates. When students asked "does spelling count", the teacher was now free to say, "this isn't a spelling class, as long as I know what you are trying to say, I won't deduct for it." So what did that teach the students? "Look Say" taught kids that there's no reason to work out the word for themselves, just ask the teacher. Calculators in basic math taught kids that math is just numbers in lights with no relationship or real meaning. Without a basic understanding of dates and geography, events in history became isolated tales with no relevance or relationship to each other. The words "Their", "They're" and "There" became interchangeable and the only thing wrong was correcting someone who couldn't see the big deal. Almost 3 decades later, many school officials are watching obese kids belly up to the candy machines several times a day. The students who celebrated with munchies grew up to be parents... Parents and kids were no longer close, why? Because our bellies clashed when we hugged. So the junk food in the machines are now being replaced by more "healthy alternatives", or removed from the halls completely. So, the great experiment of freedom of choice is now apparently over... I don't know if I think the machines should be removed, but I do know that the other great experiment should be laid to rest also. Let's put the "education" back in... well... Education.