[CW] Re: [Fists] Let's Face It!!

[N7DC@cs.com]

Some 10 years or so ago, I was teaching a ham class to a group of Scouts in 
the next county over.  I carefully explained some antenna theory, showed the 
half wave dipole formula, ran thru a couple of displays on a blackboard and then 
gave them the question.  It was something like:  "What is the length of a 
halfwave dipole for 7.150 MHZ?"

When I looked around, there they all sat, hands hung at their sides, or 
scratching their heads.  The formula was still on the board.  Not one was working 
on the problem.  When I asked them to talk me through solving the equation, 
they were able to quickly tell me to divide 468 by the frequency of the supplied 
signal.  But, once again none of them could do it.  When I asked them simply 
to divide the two numbers a couple of hands shot up.  "We dont have a 
calculator," was the reply.  EGODS: not a one of them knew how to divide by hand.  They 
were never required to do that in school and always used calculators, and had 
no idea how to even start using paper and pencil.  

Last week, at the college where I work, I passed a group of students waiting 
to get into one of the English classrooms:  "Yeah I seen that yesterday."  Now 
I am not an English teacher, and its been over 3 years since I even 
substituted at a high school level, and that was in a special education classroom, but 
this sets my teeth on edge when I hear such an error.  I waited around until 
the professor arrived and caught her out in the hall.  I mentioned what I had 
just heard and she just grinned and said: "You should read some of their 
papers," and she added, "they are not taught parts of speech in high school these 
days."  

A month ago, I was invited into one of the freshman English classes, to speak 
and do my show-and-tell on ham radio.  I took in a rig, a mobile HF antenna, 
some QSL cards, maps, etc.  Also one of the major subjects of my talk was 
about the 4000 year old design Chinese Junk "Tai Ki" and its expedition, in which 
I had been heavily involved back in the 70s.  They were each to critique my 
presentation and write a couple of pages on what they had learned.  The next 
week, the instructor gave me a half dozen of those written reports so I could 
read them.  Heaven help us!  These college freshmen Couldnt spell Tai Ki, even 
though I had shown them two books written about the ship, and written the name 
on the white board.  Their though processes were completely jumbled, and most 
either missed or completely missed the major points of the presentation.  Only 
one of them had what I would have considered a decent 9th grade paper.  The 
instructor says that this is a typical entering class of students.  We are 
expected to turn them into educated members of the working class, but I grieve for 
our chances.  

What does all this mean?  Well, I have noted that those who listen, take 
notes and practice sample questions or do projects, do indeed do much better.  
But, the ones who do best of all, are the ones who have a great memory.  Thats 
all it takes to pass most college classes.  Just memorize your way through.  You 
dont have to know what it means.  Thats what has to be happening with the 
youngsters who pass ham tests today.  If you cannot divide or multiply, just 
memorize the question and answer.  Its all right there in the study books, Me, I 
have a terrible memory and had to work for everything I studied and passed.  
But, you know what?  I know it a sight better than those who only memorized the 
answers, without knowing how they got there.  Thats the way I teach too.  
Understand, Understand, Understand.  That is the object of education.
Danny


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