..but after reading this, I left somewhat confused :confused:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_flying_machine#Claims_to_first_flight_by_dat e

Well, the Wright brothers certainly made the first controlled flight. However, if you read their writings you'll find they make many references to the "flights" that took place before them.

btw. Many think Lindberg was the first man to fly across the Atlantic. Totally untrue of course.

He made the first solo flight.
One thing's for sure, he was a bona-fide national hero, and the kidnapping of his son in 1932 remains the ultimate American crime.

The strange thing is, many have said that they executed the wrong man. (Bruno Richard Hauptmann).The Governor of New Jersey had serious doubts about his guilt.

..but after reading this, I left somewhat confused :confused:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_flying_machine#Claims_to_first_flight_by_dat e

I was taught many things in school that proved to be incorrect. Fortunately, I did not limit my education to the approved school curriculum. One reason that happens is that we dumb down the schools to give easy answers to children. The real world is seldom so simple.

I was taught many things in school that proved to be incorrect. Fortunately, I did not limit my education to the approved school curriculum. One reason that happens is that we dumb down the schools to give easy answers to children. The real world is seldom so simple.

Of the courses, taught at the high school level, which do you think served you best later in life.

When I look back I think typing, bookkeeping, basic economics and literature gave me the most practical preparation for real life.

Math, english, history, etc. are necessary to function, but I am speaking of the fact that I believe students should be prepared more for what I call real-life functions as well.

I agree. I cannot think of a single instance since I left school when I used algebra.
Kids would be better served by being taught how to balance a checkbook, compound interest rates, figure percentages, how to find a good mortgage or credit card, how to manage money.

I say this because I made straight F's in algebra, but somehow avoided summer school, thank god.

PS. Kids do learn these things in business class if they take one. Also parents setting a good example of living within your own means.

There's also nothing like being burned a few times.

Of the courses, taught at the high school level, which do you think served you best later in life.

When I look back I think typing, bookkeeping, basic economics and literature gave me the most practical preparation for real life.

Math, english, history, etc. are necessary to function, but I am speaking of the fact that I believe students should be prepared more for what I call real-life functions as well.

I have been trying for several minutes to think of anything I learned in high school classes that turned out to be practical. I think that our gym class in dancing was probably the most practical thing. This was in ninth grade, and being forced to ask a girl to dance, and actually dancing, did wonders in overcoming teenage awkwardness.

On the academic side, I learned little of practical value. I had aleady developed a love of reading from trips to the library, and in general found the academic offerings pretty lame. Speech class was perhaps the most practical course I remember. I learned to speak in front of groups, and to organize my thoughts and present coherent arguements. That has proven to be a valuable skill.

I agree. I cannot think of a single instance since I left school when I used algebra.
Kids would be better served by being taught how to balance a checkbook, compound interest rates, figure percentages, how to find a good mortgage or credit card, how to manage money.The real value of algebra (beyond making the study of higher mathematics possible) is that it compels the student to think logically and critically, a skill that carries over into many aspects of daily life.

that it compels the student to think logically and critically, a skill that carries over into many aspects of daily life.

Well, that explains THAT---to me, it was torture of the highest order.:eek:

My favorite class was history--not so much the memorization of dates, treaties, and personages, but the how and why behind the cataclysmic events that shaped our world.

Well, that explains THAT---to me, it was torture of the highest order.:eek:What. Did I just call you uncritical and illogical? Oops! I guess I did. Well, if the shoe fits ... :)My favorite class was history--not so much the memorization of dates, treaties, and personages, but the how and why behind the cataclysmic events that shaped our world.Same here, though I have a wicked brain for dates and trivia. Someone should start a trivia thread.

History always comes with a point of view, both in writing and reading. Take for instance the current stance that the Iraq war is ‘Bush’s war’. I’m not exactly sure what planet those coining the phrase were visiting at the time, but there seems to be a grow minority of those that remember it as a ‘post 9/11 reactionary opportunistic stance’. Yeah, history and things of that nature are such a drag, and utterly boring, not to mention the lack of name recognition. Something really sweet, like WMD. I like it! Weapons of mass destruction. Explitive! They had Weapons of mass destruction in ancient times. Heck, Greek fire was condemned by all civilized societies on a level that isn’t even seen in nuclear arms. See, I can’t even help myself. Greek fire! I wonder what it really was called.

Greek fire! I wonder what it really was called.Naptha.

History always comes with a point of view, both in writing and reading. Take for instance the current stance that the Iraq war is ‘Bush’s war’. I’m not exactly sure what planet those coining the phrase were visiting at the time, but there seems to be a grow minority of those that remember it as a ‘post 9/11 reactionary opportunistic stance’. Yeah, history and things of that nature are such a drag, and utterly boring, not to mention the lack of name recognition. Something really sweet, like WMD. I like it! Weapons of mass destruction. Explitive! They had Weapons of mass destruction in ancient times. Heck, Greek fire was condemned by all civilized societies on a level that isn’t even seen in nuclear arms. See, I can’t even help myself. Greek fire! I wonder what it really was called.

All history does in fact contain a point of view. What is most useful, although not always possible, is to read more than one account from more than one point of view. If that is not possible, try to account for the inaccuracies by remembering that there is a point of view and that everything said is not neccesarily true. A good understanding of human nature is also helpful.