Atheist High School of Free Thinking

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Anonymous's picture
Old Man, that's amazing you

Old Man, that's amazing you can remember that far back. bwahahaha I'm so funny!

Cognostic's picture
Last I heard America had

Last I heard America had dropped to 29 in the world in public education. That's just sick. Keep em stupid so you can control them, IMO

johndoe122931's picture
I've been told that an

I've been told that an atheist high school wouldn't be possible because "there's nothing to teach".

I don't understand how anybody could say such a thing. All high schools are "atheist" in the sense that they don't teach any religious doctrine as the main subject. Yet, in some subjects, it is hard not to teach some sort of religion, such as history. If you are taking a history class say early human history or history 1600 or American history it is almost impossible to understand these subjects without understanding the narrative or historical context concerning that point in time of these individuals to drive them to accomplish the things that they did. It is nearly impossible to understand any point of history without understanding the motiving factors of the individuals at that point in time. We can understand some other basic courses without having to understand any type of theology, but it is a hard bargain to understand any of these foundational courses without first understanding the history behind them, most of which are driven deep by some sort of religious theology. That is the name of the game. You would be a lesser student if you were not subjected to the teachings of any religion. As "atheist" it's better to understand the doctrine than to not. Yet, that is not to say that you can not understand math without be subjected to the theological teachings of Isacc Newton or you can not understand the basics of wood working without knowing about the teachings of Jesus Christ. We must accept that there are some aspects of education that we can not fully understand wthout understanding the reasoning behind the individuals we are learing about.

Sheldon's picture
I broadly agree, as I said I

I broadly agree, as I said I have no problem with religions being taught within a secular context, but not if the purpose is to indoctrinate children by proselytising then rather than purely to educate them with facts, and teach them to think for themselves, and of course to think critically and objectively.

arakish's picture
Some of my ideas:

Some of my ideas:

Mandatory courses:
---------------------------
Critical Thinking 101
Critical Thinking 201
Critical Thinking 301
Critical Thinking 401
(a.k.a. — How to Think, Instead of Being Told What to Think)

Going on how it was when I was in high school... I would also raise the standards for Math to 4 credits (instead of 2) and Physical Sciences to 4 credits (instead of 2). You can leave English/Reading at 4 credits. Where I grew up the standard for graduation was 18 total credits. I would raise that to 20 credits. Still easy enough to achieve. When I was in high school, you had the possibility to earn 6 credits each year. Thus, the reason I graduated with 24 credits instead of the minimum 18. And that was with me living by myself and working the last two years of high school. Of course, this only works if "high school" is defined as grades 9-12, as it was in my ancient history. I have heard some school districts define high school as being only grades 10-12.

Anyway, just a few of my thoughts.

rmfr

SeniorCitizen007's picture
Prince Albert, Queen Victoria

Prince Albert, Queen Victoria's husband, actively involved himself in promoting state education for all children that DID NOT include religious education. He was of the opinion that mass indoctrination of children with the then current Christian beliefs would have a detrimental effect upon the country's future development. The Church of England was very much against this ...believing that an educated working-class lacking "Christian Education" would pose a threat to its authority.

Cognostic's picture
Many people in the Midwest

(Looking around) "Where are my bananas? I have to take my schizophrenia medication and I can't do it without a banana."...... (Looking under the sofa) "Nope not here." (Moving to the computer desk.) "Hey, perhaps I left them by the computer...... What's this? A post on AR? Wow! I'm gonna write a response."

Many people in the Midwest opt for home schooling because they do not like the education system offered in the public schools. They are of the opinion that mass indoctrination of children wit ht current evolutionary beliefs would have a detrimental effect upon their children's future development. Their home school is very much against the education system believing that an ignorant byproduct of the government run school system is an "Atheistic Education" and it will pose a threat to God's authority.

Just saying.

arakish's picture
@ Cog

@ Cog

***tree rumbles up, hangs a branch in front, then a bunch of bananas hangs***

Getting to be a habit. First Tin-Man...

rmfr

SeniorCitizen007's picture
I had the highest pass mark

I had the highest pass mark in London in the11+ exam (which determined what type of school we went to) in 1953. I went on to a top Grammar School … where I got 100% in the Maths, 98% in the Chemistry, and 100% in the Physics end of term exams when I was14. Then I had an epileptic fit/stroke? and lost the ability to read for several weeks. I ran away from home and wandered around the Scottish mountains, living out of the dustbins of Lochside hotels for a month or so. After I recovered I returned home, and got a job as a laboratory assistant … within a couple of months I was doing original research (with my own little lab all to myself) … 2 years later I had another bout of loss of the ability to read. EEG tests detected "abnormal brainwaves" … I also had an IQ test and was told I had an IQ "above 160". Someone suggested I'm maybe posting here because I'm "lonely"... yup! spot on!

LogicFTW's picture
An IQ of 161 (you said above

An IQ of 161 (you said above 160) is a higher total "score" putting you at higher then : 1 in roughly 14,000. It climbs to 1 in 219,000 at 171 IQ. Quite the difference. Now they certainly could of done things differently back in the 1950's but typically they give you an exact score, as I highlighted, there is a HUGE difference between 1 in 14,000 (161) and 1 in 219,000.(171)

1 in 219,000 means you are one smartest people in your entire age group for the entire country with maybe a few dozen people that would do better than you would on an IQ test with such a high IQ score you say you have.

The IQ test has been heavily modified since its first real inception back in 1904, back then it measured learning disabilities in children in relation to how well they will do in school and measured based on children older or younger than them. (Kind of like a vision test, where 20/20 is baseline, and 20/400 result means what a "normal" person can see at 400 feet, you can only see at 20 feet.)

It is also quite easy to inflate or deflate IQ test scores. Your own score can vary quite a lot based on how well rested you are, (are you carrying any sleep debt?) Your emotional state, and by drugs, (usually negatively but, sometimes positively.) Additionally you can "practice" for an IQ test by taking similar test to also artificially inflate your IQ. Overall it is a fairly flawed way to measure one's intelligence compared to another.

When asked in a 2004 interview with The New York Times what his IQ is, (Stephen) Hawking gave a curt reply: “I have no idea. People who boast about their IQ are losers.”

I do however also post here at times because I can get lonely, and talking to other like minded people or debating with people not like minded is something I enjoy doing.
 
 

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Anonymous's picture
Logic, re: boasting

Logic, re: boasting

That's not boasting; that's delusion, imo. It's also called "overcompensating" and women see it a mile away. The stench wafts in every direction.

Anonymous's picture
Logic, you wanna hear

Logic, you wanna hear something so stupid and selfish and just plain yucky? This is off topic, but so what, it's my thread. (har!)

This guy gets married, has a daughter. Twelve years later, he "leaves the house" (as he put it) because he thought he was "in jail". So he goes to live with his girlfriend. of course, he's married with a girlfriend, who now only she has two boys... by HIM. It's 2018, and only now did his divorce go through after two years. Only NOW, his divorce goes through. When he has a girlfriend, and two boys. I talked with him yesterday, and now he's dealing with guilt. He's afraid of losing his daughter.

HE'S A PSYCHIATRIST.

He has a high IQ, also. And very little common sense that even rocks have more than he.

ʝօɦռ 6IX ɮʀɛɛʐy's picture
That's generally because

That's generally because decision-making consists of more than intelligence: there is an emotional component to rational decisions. The famous case study was a man named Elliot; the portion of the brain which regulates emotion was damaged. His IQ remained high, as well as the scores on multiple other cognitive tests. His emotions, however, were gone. As such he made decisions that defied common sense, such as investing in shady business ventures, and divorcing from a perfectly good marriage.

LogicFTW's picture
@Magnificent Beast

@Magnificent Beast

HE'S A PSYCHIATRIST.

Yikes. I can only hope he is the the drug pushing kind instead of the kind that specializes in family and marriage counseling. (Which seems likely since you state he is a psychiatrist and not a psychologist or a counselor.

Sounds like someone that is good at school, but not so much at life. He apparently cannot even use his long expensive education to help him deal with his own guilt and fear of loss of his daughter based on his actions. If he is speaking with you about it, apparently the drug side of things is not fully resolving things for him. Cue my sarcastic surprised look.

    ò_ô

 
 

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▮          I am an atheist that always likes a good debate.          ▮
▮   Please include @LogicFTW in responses directed to me.    ▮
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Anonymous's picture
Logic, it wasn't professional

Logic, it wasn't professional, he just brought it up out of the blue. He's feeling guilty. I told him, "good, you should feel guilty."

So selfish. So hypocritical. It really threw me for a loop. Either he loves to see others suffer, or he's just stupid. I couldn't believe how stupid and selfish he could be! Thanks for listening.

Cognostic's picture
I don't get it? What's

I don't get it? What's yucky, stupid and selfish? Doctors have problems just like everyone else? Oh! You mean his IQ way yucky. Now I get it. Ha ha ha ..... very funny. Yes, IQs can be yucky.

Nyarlathotep's picture
LogicFTW - Additionally you

LogicFTW - Additionally you can "practice" for an IQ test by taking similar test to also artificially inflate your IQ.

When I was very young, I was basically coached by my grandfather on how to solve the kinds of puzzles that were common in IQ tests. With the idea that it would open up opportunities for me.

ʝօɦռ 6IX ɮʀɛɛʐy's picture
You can memorize the letters

You can memorize the letters on an eye exam and pass the test, but at the end of the day you're still blind.

Nyarlathotep's picture
I was just affirming that

I was just affirming that practicing for IQ tests is a thing people do (or at least did in the past).

LogicFTW's picture
@Nyarlathotep

@Nyarlathotep

In my brief internet research on IQ test I did yesterday, IQ testing rose to a high in popular culture in the U.S. during World War 2, when recruitment offices utilized a version of the IQ test to help sort recruits into roles they were best suited for. A powerful motive for people to want their children (or grandchildren in your case,) to do well on the test, as it could well be likened to mean the difference of a high ranking officer or more or less more expendable grunt infantry fodder in war with massive casualties.

 
 

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▮   Please include @LogicFTW in responses directed to me.    ▮
▮        Useful list on forum usage. A.R. Member since 2016.      ▮
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Nyarlathotep's picture
LOL, yeah my grandfather was

LOL, yeah my grandfather was an officer in the OSI during WWII.

ʝօɦռ 6IX ɮʀɛɛʐy's picture
Logic, if you're interested I

Logic, if you're interested in the topic, remind me to send you my class documents. I have a ton of important pdf's relating to the topic of intelligence. They're good to have even as reference.

LogicFTW's picture
I am always interested in

I am always interested in learning more.
I Wish I had more time to do exactly that, learn.

I will keep your offer in mind. If I decide I want to do a deep dive into the topic of intelligence with my limited time, I will request your pdf's as part of my search for possible useful information on the subject.

 
 

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▮          I am an atheist that always likes a good debate.          ▮
▮   Please include @LogicFTW in responses directed to me.    ▮
▮        Useful list on forum usage. A.R. Member since 2016.      ▮
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Cognostic's picture
Breezy scores again. See,

Breezy scores again. See, you do have the ability to be concise, to the point, and articulate. So what in the hell is up with all those seven page posts that ramble on and on and on and never say a damn thing?

Breezy steps up to the plate..... and scores!

David Killens's picture
I even gave him a few "Agrees

I even gave him a few "Agrees".

ʝօɦռ 6IX ɮʀɛɛʐy's picture
The quality of my responses

The quality of my responses change based on who I am responding to.

Cognostic's picture
Mushrooms must be kicking in

Mushrooms must be kicking in now... I had the highest heels in the Laguna Beach Body Bump contest in Laguna Beach, California. The judges gave me a perfect 10 (which determined whether or not I would go to the State Championships) in 1963. I went to other contests where I scored 9.8 and 10 for my talented strutting up the runway and singing like Cher when I was 14. Then one day I had a heart attack and lost the ability to wear a bikini. I got fat laying in that hospital bed and being fed intravenously. When I got out of the hospital I went on a tour of Europe and ended up living out of a Greek shrimping boat for 3 years. I ate shrimp burgers, shrimp pasta, shrimp barbecue, shrimp cocktail, shrimp sushi, and shrimp until I could eat no more shrimp. Eventually I recovered and returned to my life as a bridge troll, growing carrots and cabbage under the overpass where I grew up. Then one lucky day I got a job as a human Ginny-pig doing original research in medical waste food management and recycling lab. Two years later one of my eyes dropped out of my head for no reason at all. EEG tests and urine analysis revealed that I was one sick puppy. My brainwaves were cooking hot-dogs and thawing out the turkeys when I walked through the isles at the supermarket. When children stood next to me on the street their ice cream cones would melt and their heads would swell up. When I looked down at them my glass eye would roll out of my head and bounce on the sidewalk. I also had an IQ test and was told that I did have an IQ. Someone suggested that I use my life story to get other people to feel sorry for me and listen to my stories. I haven't yet started asking for money but after a few more testimonials, I will! Until then I will just attempt to entertain the crowd with my understanding of new advancements in science and spirituality. Coming up next, Pyramid Power, Crystal Magic, The Real Story Behind the Pyramids, Crystal Skulls, We Never Went To The Moon, Chem-trails, My Friend Big Foot, Mermaid Sightings, Aliens Among Us, Fluoride In The Water and the Dumbbing of America, Invisible Shrimp, The Real Things That Go Bump In The Night, Things You Didn't Know Before I Told You, Electricity is Alive, Life Without a Brain, and Strange Brown Streaks Appearing on Furniture in My Home.

arakish's picture
I took an IQ test also. They

I took an IQ test also. They said I had a high IQ. I just said, "So what?" and walked out. I still do not know what I scored. And I still don't give a damn.

rmfr

Edit: added clarification

Cognostic's picture
I had a pet IQ when I was 7.

I had a pet IQ when I was 7. I took it to bed with me one night and accidentally rolled over on it. When I woke up in the morning it was all flat and stuck to my Spiderman Pajama top. It's little blue eyes gazed up at me from the spider web and one furry little leg flopped about as if it was waving bye bye. My mom had to peel it off with a knife and then we flushed it down the toilet. I never had another pet after that. But I did have a secret mold garden in the closet where the mushrooms grew.

Tin-Man's picture
I have an I.Q. for everybody:

I have an I.Q. for everybody: How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?

(Ummm, just to be sure, I.Q. does stand for "Interesting Question", right?)

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