AH MUCH NEEDED REST!

Coming off a rest day today...ready to work tomorrow.

Since I'm second, here comes a plug:

Check out www.CrossFitStickers.com

and get yourself an AUTHORIZED CrossFit Bumper Sticker (Or 2 or 3 or 4...)

Dan D.

How funny. I was just talking about Moore's Law.

Gotta drive through the heels!

One of the greatest pictures ever posted on CrossFit.com

I'm super sore but I'm going to make up the clean and jerks that I missed. Then it's rest before the Gymnastics Cert this weekend! I'm excited and nervous.

I'm not as bendy or bouncy as I was when I was a kid.

Thank you Crossfit for an amazing couple days of workout...nothing better than saying to yourself " I got no idea what we are doing tomorrow" right after ripping out Barbara's and being able to trust in the fact that because of the level of professionalism and expertise from the trainers, whatever they post is exactly what my body needs.

thank you guys

Just wanted to say thanks to all of you who contributed your thoughts on large group PT yesterday and today. I got alot of great info from all of you. Thanks again.

Maybe I can workout again on Thursday... still nursing the bum ankle cause I can't stand on two feet....

sigh,

Karin

Public schools need to disappear. They exist to fill a social niche that they've grown to fill and that we've become accustomed to their filling. Basically they exist because they're there and we don't get rid of them because we're waiting for something better. Well, now we have that. And little kids won't have to deal with school anymore!

is it just me or have the .mov files been without sound for the last few days?

Semper Fi

Whoo-wee, that a lot of scalp! Great pic. God bless the United States Marine Corps!

"Freedom is not free, but the U.S. Marine Corps will pay most of your share."
Ned Dolan

Its really too bad, I am always on the forefront of the next best technological thing...my computer is always updated with the newest processor, RAM, video card (yes I'm a gamer).

Yet at the same time, I have a very extensive library of old books, new books, books on culture, religion, science, and yes technology.

Technology isn't our downfall, nor are our schools. People's laziness is. We expect things immediately now, and if we don't get that instant gratification, we complain.

What I like about CrossFit - there are no instant results - you have to work to get better at working. You can't Google picking up a barbell and make it happen. You have to do it.

For now, I'm going to start downloading me some MIT lectures. =)

Otter,

I think It's just you. They are working fine for me.

22/M/5'7"/190

OOOOHHHRRRAAAHHHH DEVIL DOGS!!!

USMC ALUMNI

As a public school teacher, the article infuriates me. Yes, our schools are facing problems. And if you only watch the news or read the paper, you would rarely find an argument to the contrary.

However, just like a workout on this site, I post a challenge to you. Go to your local high school (or your old high school) and talk to the teachers. Ask about their success stories. Ask why they're motivated to teach. You'll find that our schools are still motivating students daily. And creating authentic scholars.

I do agree that technology is changing the way our youth thinks and operates. I agree our students need more stimulus in the classroom. However, it does not mean that our education system is outdated.

Andrew M. Meador, do you really think parents across the country would be willing and able to teach their children to read? Would the disappearance of our schools really help the moral and physical development of our youth?

I have a favor to ask...

A few friends and I have begun construction of a garage gym. All 3 of the other guys in on it with me think that mirrors are a key component of the gym, while I am holding my ground and saying that we don't need them and in fact they are not used in most Crossfit gyms, if any. If someone could post on here a simple statement as to why we do not need mirrors, I am looking to get it in writing so that my garage gym doesn't turn into the Globo-Gym that I was previously working out at. Before I know it they're going to have TV's, a cable crossover, and a leg press machine....thanks everyone, enjoy the rest day....

Just finished "I Am Legend" written by Robert Matheson in the 70's. Completely different from the movie. It was only 170 pages and the author has been looked up to by the likes of many modern horror authors, with Steven King calling him his greatest influence. It is an amazing book and i reccomend it to everyone.

Otter - click on the speaker icon at the bottom of the file (if you are opening it within a browser) and make sure that the volume is turned all the way up - I had the same problem for about a week and it was frustrating.

Andrew Meador - frankly, I'm curious to know why you made that statement. Yes, I think No Child Left Behind is quite possibly one of the most backwards bits of well-intentioned legislation that I have run across, but I would not for a minute think that my mere four years of public high school was less valuable than my 10 (and counting) years of parochial schooling.

I worry about how technology that would make no-campus education possible is distributed. Clearly not everyone has a computer, nor high-speed internet access. This may lead to serious inequality.

Second, it's not just a question of putting a kid in front of a computer screen. They need to be monitered, graded, etc. That would require a stay-at-home somebody or hired help. Stay-at-home somebody goes against changes in demographics and hired help = school campuses.

AngryG is on to something, as well. The worry might be that a self-regulated education is worth squat, since students aren't that self-motivated (there's a reason truancy is a crime.) Deregulating educational experience (especially in a democracy where national identity is important) might have unforseen consequences.

So I think his case is plausible that communication technologies undermine the need/value for face-to-face time. But, those technologies aren't everywhere and they aren't the whole picture. I wish he had considered the consequences a little more.

Actually, let me take part of that back. His idea of an ISO for education would eliminate the problem of unregulated educational content. But I'm not sure how enforcement would go. Would graduation rates drop? I don't know.

The problem with technology distribution and shifts in demographics making home-schooling less feasible would be my two worries. Bandwith isn't infinitely elastic, either...Moore's Law I thought dealt with transitors per square inch, but what about gigabytes per second? Isn't that a problem?

Wow. What a great three day set of workouts. I haven't been this sore since my first week of CF.

A few good friends of mine are involved in bringing the Crossfit style workouts to the Recon School at School of Infanry West. They are seeing great results. The picture looks like a bunch of new recruits being taught the basics.

Keep it up Chris, we're stoked about the progress.

Petey

i don't think public schools are outdated. although i am one of those students who got bored and graduated early.

what our school system should do is embrace this technology and throw all of its energy and most of its money into integrating more and more technology into the classroom.

for instance, i am shocked when i run into fellow schoolmates who can't type properly. this may have been acceptable for my parents, but today being able to graduate junior high without knowing home row is as outrageous as the same graduate 100 years ago not knowing how to read.

now, as a senior in college, i rarely buy books (and only partly because i spend all my money on climbing gear...). i download Kant, Hume, and Plato. i can even get sections of more current publications for free. and i'm not even super technologically-oriented. imagine what we could do with some thought and planning.

MIT courses online!?! - here is a weight training course with videos:

http://ocw.mit.edu/OcwWeb/Athletics--Physical-Education-and-Recreation/PE-720Spring-2006/Video/index.htm

I apologize for any grammatical or factual errors in this post, it's been a long day:

With the open source nature of information, the assumption that one must attend a university or established institution to develop skills or to learn is obviously wrong. Thus we should not evaluate people by what pieces of paper they have, such as diplomas or personal trainer certifications, but rather by their performance. The reasoning that X went to highly-regarded university, therefore X is intelligent or capable, is not true in many, if not most cases. I also reject the related argument which holds that Y never went to a highly-regarded university, therefore Y is stupid or incompetent.

I am a junior at university with a very good reputation, especially in my field of international relations. Despite its reputation, there are very few things I have learned here that I could not have learned more efficiently on my own, or at least outside of the university. The books we read are all available cheaply on Amazon or in libraries. The facts we learn are nearly all quickly available on the internet, and failing that, they can be found in freely available books. In terms of intelligent debate, I have participated in very few such discussions in college, and not for lack of trying. I have come to the conclusion that the only compelling reason for me to remain in college is the clear utility of a diploma in the job market.

My university is renowned for its Arabic program, yet I have learned the vast majority of what I know through self-study. I have several friends in advanced Spanish classes, and I speak, read, and write Spanish better than most of them do, despite not having taken classes for four years, because I study it on my own using free resources online and practicing occasionally with Spanish speakers I know.

It is my observation that mastery of a skill requires consistent, even obsessive self-study. Classes and discussions are useful, but the basis of learning is self-study. I have met too many students here who are passive learners. They rely on the professors to teach them information, and when read they do not thoroughly analyze what they have read.

I do not think that book learning is no longer useful or necessary, however, or that we can get everything we need through Google searches. Information is only useful if we analyze it logically and in its context. A foundation of specific knowledge and skill in logical analysis are necessary in order for information in any subject to be fully beneficial.

As a side note, group and individual empowerment is a big deal in security studies as well. State affiliation is no longer necessary for large-scale destructive power. Terrorist groups can find safehavens for training and communication in the many poorly governed and non-governed areas of the world, outside of the reach of states. The FARC in Colombia and Al Qaeda and the Taliban in Pakistan are two obvious examples in which terrorist groups have sanctuaries despite the national governments being mostly cooperative with the U.S. Terrorist groups can raise more than enough money for their operations through illicit trade, so state funding is unnecessary. The Madrid attack in 2005 cost $50,000, yet it was discovered afterwards that the terrorists involved had earned at least $2 million from the drug trade. That is enough funding for an estimated four 9/11's (September 11th apparently cost around $500,000.) Biological and Chemical weapons, as well as fissile material are increasingly available on the black market. Furthermore, our own power plants, factories, planes, ports, and the rest of our infrastructure can easily be used against us by terrorist adversaries, costing billions in damage and thousands of lives.

Are our current national security bureaucracies (DHS, CIA, DOD, etc) up to the task of defeating these unconventional threats? Our special operations forces may be, but they rely on actionable intelligence to be useful. We cannot kill or destroy what we cannot find. The CIA has a very poor track record of obtaining such actionable intelligence. The government's human intelligence and covert action capacity does not appear to be improving, judging by the many terrorist sanctuaries that remain intact.

Defense is insufficient against these unconventional threats, yet the U.S. does not have the intelligence-gathering capacities necessary for an effective offensive policy.

reading the article, I can tell that it is a move away from the broken portions of our education system and towards a system that really works. Teachers, when they are doing their job right, do not teach. They help people learn.

The problem with our over-administered educational system is that it does not put the right emphasis on critical thinking. Instead, they try to teach to a test. Sad, but it's one of the reasons some of the most successful people of our time are self-didactic, people like Coach who have gone their own way.

Ah. I usually start my rants with this isn’t my strongest subject but….

No so today. I know my crap when I smell it.

I think the gist of the education conversation that we are not addressing is what do we want our education system to accomplish? Following the Pareto Principal only 20% of the students are going to be worth a spit. The other 80% are below average. Technically that shouldn’t be true. What are we going to do with the 20% of minds that can excel and what to do with the 80% who are just mucking their way through? The US adopted the Prussian model of education. A ‘free’ compulsory education with a set curriculum based on age where students answered to a bell and moved from class to class. They were not to ask questions even on the subject matter being studied. They were to be obedient. The Prussians adopted this educational system after Napoleon spanked them in battle (Hey, I’d make big changes to if we lost to the French.) It was designed to take the 80% and create good soldiers and factory workers. Go where you are told and do what you are told. Leave the thinking to us and for the 80% that is a fine solution. But the Prussians knew they had to train somebody to think. The other 20% went to different schools (usually taught the trivium; grammar, logic, rhetoric latin was good for this.)

The US not wanting to appear elitist sent everybody to the same school. (Couldn’t have the perception of inequality could we Mike? We celebrate it in athletics but somehow think it is a moral crime in the ability to think.)

Our current mandated system is not designed to create people who think. It creates people who can be led. The students Cringley mentions that opt out early to get on with life have seen behind the curtain and wish to get on with it.

If someone any ONE had made me a deal that you take everything I learned in High-school and as soon as I had learned it I could graduate I would have been done in 6 months. Heck I would have developed a proof for the Riemann Hypothesis to get out of there and get on with life.

If follower is what we aim to create the system will live on; for those who do not wish to be followers they will follow a different path. And those paths are finally being created.

“Education still seems to define knowing as more important than being able to find, yet which do you do more of in your work? And what's wrong with crimping a paragraph here or there from Cringely if it shows you understand the topic?”

Knowing is important for general conversation and making your way through life. It’s tough to know what to look for if you don’t have a basic level of knowledge. Although today at work a considerable amount of money change hands based on if the Tucker Torpedo had a helicopter engine and whether Jerry Seinfield had more Porches or vintage VWs. We had to search for those answers to judge a winner.

What if you crimp your paragraph from Wikipedia? Hey teach, I didn’t like what wiki had on that so I rewrote hit. That’s why it looks similar.

“This is, of course, a huge threat to the education establishment, which tends to have a very deterministic view of how knowledge and accomplishment are obtained - a view that doesn't work well in the search economy.”

DJS is this the part that gets you? Your intentions don’t matter. Only the product you put out matters and saving the odd student doesn’t make it a good system if another system could produce better citizens (People who can produce or trade those are the only two real functions in an economy.)

“What is it, then, that makes an MIT education worth $34,986?”

I had two friends that both went to Kellog for their MBAs. They said that in any given class there were 4-5 people that knew more about the subject than the professor. The didn’t go for the learning they went to meet the other people that could get into Kellog and had the money to pay for it.

#20
“AngryG is on to something, as well. The worry might be that a self-regulated education is worth squat, since students aren't that self-motivated (there's a reason truancy is a crime.)”

What is their to motivate students? Lets put this in perspective I’m 35. If coach told me all the hard work I’m doing now is fantastic but I won’t see any change in my condition until I’m 45 I’m out. No more crossfit for me. The gap between stimulus and response is just to long for most children to comprehend. The need for obedience is the reason Truancy is a crime.

"Deregulating educational experience (especially in a democracy where national identity is important) might have unforseen consequences."

Tru dat. We have a list of the positives what are the negatives? Lets weigh the pros and cons and see if it is worth the risk

Bill Gates dropped out of college his freshman year for a reason.

#17
One simple answer. You said it is a few guys right? The mirrors are for checking out the girls.

oo-freakin-rah

What you know is quantitative. This can be duplicated through Google. The complex patterns you can form through internal manipulation of what you know--of what is latent within you--is qualitative. This cannot be duplicated by Google.

People seem to have this unfortunate understanding that the ONLY point of education is to create what might be termed "functional units" that operate without signal loss to generate income in a global economy. This is the argument that functional knowledge can be duplicated decentrally.

However, there is also--at least, should also be--a socialization aspect of education that invokes a common culture, and shared set of historical values. Something which tells you what is worth doing, and why. Something which inculcates some form of shared virtue, within very broad limitations.

All systems of thought have their limitations, and Capitalism is no different. It is by far the best system for generating peaceful increases in global income and harmony ever developed.

Having said that, it can have the effect of reducing everything to its economic value: to its price. Marxism, of course, is reductive as well. They want to know what you value to the State is, and by comparison Capitalism, as a decentralized free enterprise, is much less damaging.

However, without the balance of personal virtue, it is equally destructive of the finer things in life, things like love, honor, committment, family, country. This needs to be kept in mind.

I don't think the article says anything especially technological or new. "Aging programmers just need google"; "why cut and paste when you can bookmark" [paraphrase]. Students have been saying for generations "why do I have to learn this when I can look it up in a book?" This is a valid question, and one that instructors should be able to answer. But it doesn't change with technology. Ultimately the interweb is a library and a phone cord.

A decade ago there was a meme in higher education for "distance learning" courses. There probably still is. Administrations saw a way to get more students with fewer costs. Clever profs were putting their courses on CD's and mailing them to student who were paying absurd sums to watch bad videos of lectures. The profs included little fill-in-the-blank exercises. Students could email profs questions.

The same thing existed 20, 30, 50 years ago. Then we called those correspondence courses, and they had books and fill-in-the-blank booklets and the USPS. But nobody considered a degree from correspondence courses the same as one from a university. That isn't to say that there weren't some smart people who got their degrees from correspondence universities; just that on average it wasn't the same. And there's a reason for that.

The thing that schools offer is an interaction with a teacher. One of the key elements of a good education is a small class size so students can have meaningful back-and-forths with their teachers.

Sure, people can get all the information elsewhere. They always could. You could dump kids in an old public library, too, among the stacks, and say "here's a list of what's important; go read it". Nobody would expect these kids to learn as well on average as if they had the back-and-forth, give-and-take with teachers or profs.

Granted there are good and bad teachers, and there are major structural problems with many public schools. But the article misses the point. Saying that technology makes getting information easier isn't the same as saying it helps students, especially, figure out what information is worth getting. What are students using the internet for? Picking apart complex political arguments? Figuring out how to do proofs? Or facebook, blogs, and porn?

By way of comparison, you can get a ton of information from crossfit's instructional videos. But people still go to certs. Why? I assume it's because they want the one-on-one instruction from people who know what's important with crossfit.

#17
Go with the mirrors. They help you check your form. Also make the room look brighter and bigger if that's an issue.

I not only agree with Robert Cringely's article, my family and I are living proof of the change personally.

My 12-year old daughter is home schooled (for 2-years now) on a curriculum that is mostly book based, and some internet based. My lovely wife (who by the way hates the transition, but is gutting it out) realizes the economic power of this and is considering taking our 9-year old son into the fold next year (I can already see the battle of computer time brewing).

I also see how the internet has created a complete online business, with a very "strong" community, that can sustain and enrich others by providing them a lifestyle of their choice (huge economic gains here), with little or no advertising expense.

So much so that we are willing to pay $1,000 dollars, and travel cross-country to learn how to deliver this product within our locales. Not only that...we are willing to pay more for additional information, including printed material over the internet to further our education and increase our income! Who would ever think of doing something like this?

(It's called CrossFit folks and we are the disciples. And I'm proud to be a small part of it).

If it can work in that venue, it most assuredly will work for home schooling/ education too.

VIVA LA INTERNET!

ha! ...i knew when i woke up this morning, and dragged myself to the computer, that it was gonna say 'rest day'

it would be hard to dig out the nergy after yesterday. Barbara is lovely, but deadly, lady.

off to get my motorcycle license with the extra time. wish me luck!

--
christian
http://run50miles.org

Socialisation is one aspect of schooling that is hard to duplicate at home.

Additionally, a good teacher guides students, puts work in context, and so forth. Consider fitness. Let's assume Crossfit is the pinnacle of fitness. How long did it take you to find Crossfit? How much crap did you read and time did you waste before you found this site? How much time could you save others now? Take the metaphor back to education... a good teacher cuts out the crap and gets the students straight to the good stuff. You can educate yourself, but it will take longer than if you're guided by a good teacher.

Andrew.

I do not share your views on public schools at all, I come from public schools and I personally received a great education, was accepted to a great school (University of Hawaii) and regret not one minute of my public school education. The quality of schooling one receives is 100% on that person, I have friends that went to private schools, and now work as airline baggage handlers, but me the poor kid who went to a public school has a bachelors degree and works as a air tarffic controller. You are entitled to your opinion, but you sound personally bitter.

first time posting times...scary!

28/f/5'5/120

barbara from yesterday:
6:04 (10 real pull-ups/ 10 jumping)
4:09 (assisted pullups)
3:42 "
4:10 "
4:12 "

heading to crossfit morris county for first time on friday;anyone familiar? i'm in somerset county nj.

I just want to send sincere gratitude to all the men & women in our armed forces who fight daily for the freedom I enjoy. ALL OF YOU are valuable.

(I wasn't able to enter the military, I busted my knee up before the ADA laws.) But I do serve the public as a medic/firefighter. I try to make it a point to express my thanks to anyone I see in uniform, or that I find out is a vet. (The coolest thing was giving emergency care to an elderly gentlemen who had served with my grandfather in WW2 and Korea. What a surprise) but I digress...basically.....
All of you guys and gals ROCK!!!! THANK YOU AND WE SUPPORT YOU!!!!!

Wow, what an article by Cringely and definitely food for thought. I do not see our public school system going away any time soon, though.
As a dentist working with the public, I see kids who are home schooled and kids that are not. Basically the difference is responsibility. I fear most kids would simply not ever get an education, regardless of technology. In my experience only the very responsible, hands-on parent is going to be able to home school a kid. It is not an easy job. I would like to see some other reforms take place in our schools, like more school choice and technology incorporated into curriculums.

#17

Go into your local GloboGym and check out all the people using the mirrors ...

How many are facing sideways so they can properly check your form?

Now how many are facing forward trying to check out how good they look while working out?

Just my opinion, but I find it very hard to do quality workouts and have my head turned to the side trying to check my form in a mirror, which is why I get personal training from my local CrossFit Affiliate - we are constantly checking each others form.

"Squatch"

3 rounds 21-15-9

35# KB snatch each arm, goblet squat and 400m run

17:10

Saw this on one of the affiliate pages, not sure which one. Don't know if that was the appropriate KB weight. KB snatch is just plain awkward. I was all jacked up in form at the "catch" portion of the snatch. The weight is light enough to just whip up overhead, but the one arm catch in a squatting position just plain sucks. Trying to keep good form slowed me down, and I'm pretty sure my form was comedy at best.

Not my best work. My hands are still sucking from the 120/120 and even with lots of chalk, this felt like it was tearing up my hands (thank God no rippers).

Then did 3 x 50M slosh pipe walk and some other core exercises.

43/M/75"/200#
"embrace the suck"

"Active rest" - warm up and ovhd sqt 210 x 5 reps, previous best was 1.

Wonder what will happen when competitive alternatives to govt monopoly schools finally emerge - how long will it take to bring the beast either down, or kicking and screaming into a functional role, in which competition winnows the less effective from the more effective approaches.

Socialization from schools, yes, but what kind? Is is positive? Does it teach the best socialization that can be taught? The question is not "public schools or home schools", socialization or no socialization, the question is what sort of educational approach delivers the most functional group of children to adulthood?

We pay twice as much, in real dollars, per student than we did in 1970 - ~$10,000 per kid for K-12, as a national average (~2 year old data). I can't help but think we will generate a far better outcome with that money - somehow, someday - via the emergence of some modality which is as radical as a coercive govt monopoly on schools was (with the power to compel attendance at gunpoint) when that beast was born.

Just a thought experiment: Since 50% of kids are below average, how will the emerging education revolution deliver the best outcome for each kid, maximizing the strongest of their intelligences while getting the most from their weaker intelligences without wasting time forcing them to work towards outcomes they will never achieve? Can we devise a system that won't force Mozart's to spend too many hours shooting hoops, and won't force Michael Jordans to spend too many hours reading music (noting that some balance of all these factors is necessary for optimization)?

Paul

Paul

#27 Wes--great answer

As for the article, I did a stint as a long-term substitute teacher in an "Office Applications" class for high school freshmen, teaching them how to use Microsoft Office. They are all obviously far more advanced than when I was that age, which was actually only 10 years ago.

I agree with #16 djs that public school teachers are able to motivate students. On the other hand, from my experience, there are so many students in public schools that are unwilling to be motivated to do work or to advance their education that class sizes are too big and teachers are spread too thin. This, in my mind, is where the problem exists, when teachers are babysitters rather than educators.

If given the opportunity, I could have been able to teach high school freshmen (14-15 years old) more than most graduating college seniors know as far as working with Microsoft Office and other applications. My days, however, were filled with pleading with students to do something other than watch YouTube videos or check their MySpace pages during class (both of which were supposedly 'blocked' by the network, but all of the kids knew a way to get around it). I actually had to fail kids (with grades in the 30s and 40s because when I asked them if they were going to hand in or finish assignments they would just say 'I'm not doing it, I don't care if I fail. I'll take this class again next year'). That's the mentality that too many teen-aged kids have--there are no consequences.

As a result of my babysitting, the students who were more advanced, and probably could have been learing how to use Microsoft Access to build databases or learn how to design web pages, were so far ahead of the class that they were on addictinggames.com (also blocked) after they finished their work. Trying to get them to do extra work to learn more was out of the question--they knew that they had finished work that others wouldn't even do. Extra credit didn't matter to them, as long as their grades were high enough so that their parents wouldn't be all over them and take their cell phones or iPods away (I'm speaking about the majority. A handful of students constantly came to me after class wondering why their 96 wasn't a 98 or 100. Those are the students that made it fun. They were never satisfied-with anything).

So I think I've addressed 2 separate issues here. The first is that there are so many students that are just in school to go through the motions and hang out with their friends between classes (or during class while skipping), that they are diluting the teachers' power to educate effectively. The students who are not doing their work take up so much time for teachers that the other motivated students (who will actually benefit from more interaction with teachers) suffer in the long run because they're not getting everything they should out of their classes.

The second issue that I think I've addressed is the advancement in technology that I've seen with high school students. If I asked my class to get on Myspace.com, a blocked site, every single one of them could figure out a way to do it, whether they just knew or they had to search for it on google. If, however, I asked them to create an Excel spreadsheet with their grades from all of their classes, along with formulas, page numbers, footers, etc., only about half would know how to do it, and a couple might try to figure it out using the help function. So what are we seeing here? Generation Y is the most advanced generation as far as computers and technology goes, but the problem is that they don't know and aren't willing to use that knowledge the right way. What does this mean for the future of business? Are we going to have leaders and managers who can download music, find a youtube video for any topic, or get the high score on an internet golf video game but can't create a spreadsheet to track production or costs?

This is the longest post I think I've ever put on here. Sorry if the thoughts are all over the place, I've got 15 women in my office giggling because someone brought their baby in (which, is a whole other topic, but it really bothers me) so I'm getting irritated.

Public Schools need to be worked on, not abolished. I am a product of a mix of private schooling and public schooling. Trust me when I say that I have seen way worse intentioned and evil personalities in the private schools I attended.

Im a Knuckle Dragger though.. this article just gave me images of The Movie Terminator 2...
RLTW

"Liberty cannot be preserved without a general knowledge among the people, who have a right...and a desire to know." - John Adams

When in the throes of declaring independence, John Adams began thinking of what this new government of ours should include, this new government by, for, and of the people. Among his ideas were a bicameral legislature, an independent judiciary, and, yes, public education. The founding fathers realized that public eduation is the foundation of democracy and the heart of the American Dream.

Not that the above directly addresses the article, but some food for thought nonetheless.

If we spent a glimmer of the money on education that we spend on the military, the public school system would be vastly different. I'm not saying we shouldn't be spending that on the military, but I think educating our children should be that high of a priority. If we paid teachers more, the differences would be astounding. No one offers a CEO $30,000 and says, "you should really love running this company so much that pay should not be an issue."

All of these ideas for privitization and home-schooling are nice for the right income bracket, but relying on them would limit access by the poor, making them much poorer.

Since everyone is so revved up about the gov't check out this link.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1656880303867390173

That being said - did the Clean & Jerk today.
NOT happy with result. But, whatever.

55#-65#-85#-91#-101#-95#-95#

Oorah Marines!!

The problem with our educational system today has nothing to do with technology or the concept of organized, public schools. The problem is our reliance on public servants (teachers, police) to raise our children, our refusal to take responsibility for our actions, and our focus on doing what is best/easiest/most lucrative for self rather than making those difficult choices that will best benefit our society.

I still cant move my arms good! And on the (4th) day, we rested!

I think the poll question at the top of that page sums it all up: "Will schools survive? 1) Yes, what's the alternative? Daycare?..."

Right there in itself it sums up exactly what schools are. As a matter of fact, my parents have been pushing the issue with us and our four year old daughter (just turned four in January), they think she should be in preschool. I say to them "why? she's taught at home more than she'll ever learn at preschool, and she doesn't learn to do the stupid things that other kids are going to teach her, the habits we'll have to teach her to un-learn". Then, one of their "benefits" of preschool is "Well, it'll give [my wife] some more free time without having to watch her so she just has to watch the other two kids" (aka daycare).

I dunno, social development is their other reason, and it's a sad one. Think about it "Oh, your kids will learn social development at school". No, my kids will learn social development while being around OTHER KIDS. The only social development they will learn in school is negative social development when they learn they can socialize when they're *supposed* to be paying attention to the teacher. They play sports, dance, go to church, have friends in the neighborhood, and all sorts of other things to learn do deal with people. When they're "in school" they're supposed to be paying attention to the teacher, not learning how to socialize, so why teach them how to get away with socializing when they're supposed to be paying attention to something else? Especially when there's other much more effective forms of learning socialization than "in school"?

I tried to post earlier, not sure what happened, but I don't think it went through.

#27, great answer, thanks

As far as the article goes, I think I have 2 main points (I was a long-term substitute teacher for about 6 months last year. I have a degree in accounting, so while I was finishing my masters I was teaching a freshman class called "Office Applications" which is part of the Business Dept. at my former high school)

1. One problem with public schools is the fact that students are at opposite ends of the spectrum. There are too many students who just plain don't want to be there and don't care about their grades. Therefore, teachers (who I agree are underpaid for what they do. If, I feel bad saying this, the salary was competitive with what I can make as an accountant, I would have chosen teaching in a heartbeat.) end up babysitting half of the students, and 'neglecting' the students who will benefit most from the education. Some believe that this is the other way around--that the students who don't do well or fail are the ones who are neglected. After working in a public high school, I feel that this is completely the opposite.

2. Students now are obviously so much more advanced with technology than even 10 years ago when I was a high school freshman. Through my experiences, however, I have discovered that their knowledge of technology may not be as effective as it should be. In my classroom, sites like myspace and youtube were blocked by the network, but almost every student knew how to get onto them or could figure it out by searching google. They could all figure out ways to change the background colors of windows so that the screen was black and the font was bright green when they were using Word or Excel. But, after about a week of teaching Excel and formulas, functions, formatting, etc., I asked them to create a spreadsheet of their grades from their classes and compute their averages. It had to have a header with their name, a footer with the class and the date. I gave specific intstructions for the layout of the sheet. So many of them didn't know how to do half of the assignment, although I had presented it for 3 previous classes and worked with most of them individually during class to help them do average formulas and formatting.

So, yes, technology is there for these kids now. But, the problem is that they are learning how to do so much other than what they need to know to be successful. I guess this has to do with culture and the condition of the schools. If I wasn't forced to babysit half of my students everyday, then those kids who were advanced and finished work early could have learned how to create databases and would have been far ahead of the curve. But, instead, a class of 25 would have 12 who handed in the work on time, 5 who would do it a week late, and 8 that would not do it at all, and would need to be supervised constantly.

I wish that I could offer a solution, but this "No Child Left Behind" thing is killing teachers and schools. I don't think we should be turning them away at the doors, but there needs to be a line drawn. The ones who are there to socialize and are constantly beind disciplined (suspended, even expelled) always have to be taken back. They are the ones that are diluting the power of the teachers, and I think that public schools will benefit if kids are held responsible for the way they act in school and some kind of '3 Strike Policy' is enacted. If that's the case, I'll quit the accounting job and teach high school forever. It would certainly give me more time to open a CrossFit affiliate in Connecticut somewhere...

I'm new at this (1 week), older (47) and carrying a few extra pounds. There aren't any rings at my home gym, and even if there had been I sorta knew I wasn't going to be able to do 30 muscle-ups for time on Monday. So it was 120 pull-ups and dips, more than I'd ever done in one workout.

Came Tuesday, my eyes popped when I saw 100 more total pull ups on the score card, along with push ups, sit ups and squats - I started thinking, "Maybe this isn't right for me." But

But on Wednesday we rested. Thank God.

God love SOI. You can just see it on the Marines' faces...man, this CrossFit stuff is worse than IT.

Everyone has hit around the subject but nobody has talked to it and that is We as Parents are the largest part of the problem. We do NOT do what our parents or grand parents did teaching us every day at home. I read to my daughters almost every night until they were able to do it themselves and they love to read books and they are both straight A students too! The do the work, their mother (a teacher) did not go to work until they were of school age. We parents, in general do not take care of our children when they are younger. Day Care kids and their parents do not "get it" at all! Teachers are so under-paid and we do not need to spend less on our military; we need to drop all the public assistance stuff and stop hiring illegals.

Melissa-

Thank you for your support and encouragement! I'm just an Air Traffic Controller so I really don't put my life on the line when i go to work, but for all of those soldiers that do I respect you. I only hope that one day i can clear your freedom bird for takeoff...on your way home to all your loved one's of course! enjoy th rest day everyone, and mahalo!

#17 drew-ct,

Mirrors don't do a great job on critiquing your own form. There are many exercises (such as the squat) where you need to be facing forward to have your body in the correct position (like the spine). So if you use a mirror you either a) are facing the mirror and can't get a good look at your form (arch in back, depth, etc) or b)you're parallel to the mirror and need to rotate your head while performing the action, which is bad form.

My advice is to have somebody watch you and correct form while warming up, and vice versa. Another option would be to buy a video camera and tape yourself performing the movement. This would probably be slightly more (but not by much) than outfitting your gym in mirrors and you can throw some videos up on youtube.

Just my $.02

-Rob

Drew

If you can't completely get rid of mirrors, try to compromise with one or two mirrors. I have always found one mirror to be helpful for when I practice form alone. Especially on a deadlift, snatch or clean...

This discussion made me think of my CF experience. For the first year or so I was working out by myself in my garage trying to learn as much as I could from the videos, CJF articles and general internet searches. While I did ok, my understanding since joining an affiliate has been exponentially greater. For me I generally agree that most real learning is done through self study but you cannot replace the knowlsedge of a teacher and interaction with other students struggling through the same learning that you are.

Ultimately, my opinion is that school will always be needed for 1) developing a strong general base of whatever knowlege you need (e.g. learning to read, write, 'rithmatic) and 2) returning to for specialization (who wan't a surgeon who's self-taught)?

Also I second #51--if your head is turned sideways to check your form while doing a deadlift, your form is already wrong.

Great picture. Love those guys, volunteers all. What the hell would we do without them?

I find myself practicing my own milder (much milder) form of Moore's Law. Back in September '07 I did Michael in 39 minutes. My fastest run was 4:33 and my slowest was 4:52. All sets of sit-ups and back extensions were broken. The last time I did Michael was January 9, 2008. My total time was 23:48. That's 15:12 off my year ago time. My slowest run was 4:18 and my fastest run was 3:53. That's a minute faster. The sets of sit-ups and back extensions were mostly unbroken. So, by my milder form of Moore's Law, in about 20 years I'll be able to do Michael as fast as Speal, that is, if I don't die of old age first - I'm 52.

Nice!

Wish I was still at Pendleton.

There is a school in Indianapolis where they take underperforming inner city kids, and they basically do computer tutorials all day long. They are together in a group, each with their own computer. They have a gym. They have teachers and aids they can ask questions. But everyone proceeds at their own pace, and it has made a large difference for many of them. They can't go to the next level until they demonstrate proficiency in the previous level.

This is a good idea, in my opinion. It is a variation on the old idea that kids have to learn in order to progress, and need to have learned a minimal amount in order to graduate. It seems to me our declining educational standards are a function of declining demands. Declining demands are a function of the growing social understanding that life is supposed to be easy, and that work is bad.

This is part of it. The other part is the growing emphasis on purely technical achievement, and not immersion in our common culture. It seems likely to me that we graduate tremendous computer prodigies who have never heard, much less been forced to memorize, the Gettysburg Address.

This is my principle concern. How content is delivered is irrelevant to the outcome. Currently, our system is delivering culturally illiterate kids. In large measure, this is due to the squeamishness the Politically Correct feel in discussing American history in a positive light.

Excellent outcomes can be delivered with less money if the curriculum is clear, the teachers clear, and the kids--backed by responsible parental supervision--motivated to learn. Poor outcomes can be delivered with large monetary outlays if the curriculum is watered down, the teachers ambivalent, and the kids motivated not at all, and prone for that reason to abandon the sytem altogether.

This is rambling. I probably should have stopped a couple paragraphs ago. Do with these thoughts what you will.

Schools provide much more than merely learning. At earlier stages in life - they help provide a foundation for learning, and interaction with other people (i.e. respect, honesty, etc.), which children sometimes - and it seems more often today are not taught at home (or at least not reinforced).

Secondly, although it is possible to learn through one's own trials and tribulations, desire, self-empowerment, etc. there is another aspect to schooling that makes people more intellegent than they were before that stepping foot on campus. Dialogue and the free flow of ideas -- the dialogue and dissemination of various ideals, values, and ideas are what makes schools important. Learning to see the other person's point, not merely learning facts, how to solve problems, etc.

The problem with the American educational system is not merely with the technological changes that are occurring. It is part of the fact that too often students (I did this for some classes as well) merely memorize, repeat, and regurgitate instead of truly learning, discussing, debating, and learning how to think about a problem (once again the desire of the individual comes into play here). Obviously in classes like philosophy you can read a book on a subject and learn the writer's point of view, and perhaps formulate your own. But, one needs to be able to discuss with others, to become more-open minded. The downfall of the 'liberal' education is what is hampering schools today as well, as so many college aged students are focused on a 'major that will get them ahead' (why so many business majors, when people can learn in college and take earn an MBA or be taught on the job?).

31/m/190

Made up Sunday's Clean and Jerks today

177
187
197 (f)
197 (PR)
197
197
205 (f)

So glad for the rest day. I dont think I would even be able to do the pull-ups in the warmup today.

Speaking of schools and education, Im graduating from Duke University in may w/ a degree in biomedical engineering and still jobless. anyone looking to hire?

As a teacher I feel the way in which we define meaningful education can be reduced to two questions: Is it rigorous? Is it relevant? If the answer is “No” on either front, regarding whatever method of instruction or theoretical restructuring of the institution is at hand, then it is not worthwhile.

I apply this discipline every day in my classroom, yet can only hope the outcome is a worthwhile education for my students. I can only hope because I am only a fragment of influence within their lives. However, if my lessons key on relevance for adolescents, through rigorous thought to achieve them, then maybe I can outshine some of the negative forces.

There is no pat answer to our educational woes, because they redefine themselves, constantly, or at least-if Moore's law is correct-every 30 years. But if those two questions keep being asked, then a path through can be seen.

#48 Lex
Welcome. Ive been doing this slightly less than a year...was 47 when introduced to the program, turned 48 5 months after starting and haven't looked back. It is absolutely worth the effort. Go through every aspect of this site with a fine toothed comb, and do it often. The rewards are worth every bit of the effort required.
Good luck.
Semper Fidelis.

So I gave CF a real go for the first time yesterday. I have been doing modified work outs on my own using the daily as a guideline. Much more respect for all of you that hit it hard every day. I'm looking forward to the next one, that is if I can stand up without getting wobbly by tomorrow. Nice easy night on the bike tonight to get keep the legs loose, the I go for day two tomorrow. This is the first time I've been truly excited to "work out" in a long time. Thanks CF!

Not sure if I was going to be able to throw down tomorrow so I hit it today. A long version of "ms. leslie" from the mike's gym site.

"leslie hates me"
Pullups
Back Squat (135#)
Push Press (135#)
Sit ups
20-19-18-17-...-3-2-1

52:49

WOW - education - this is one HOT topic for me! I have a LOT of thoughts on this. For starters - I work in a computer-based educational facility on a military installation. I have taught overseas in the past and also in a private school in the U.S. As full disclosure, I spent 12 years of my life in a college-prep school and 5 years in a private university.

My job gives me a pretty good idea of what public education has as an output. My students come from all over the U.S. and the world. So, it's like a microcosm of schooled (educated would be a misnomer) individuals. This is what I see - the majority of our students can not do basic multiplication without the aid of a calculator and have completely forgotten fractions. You would think that a high school graduate would know how to add a fraction and multiply! I ain't not going to even touch on the area of grammar. (intentional double-negative - if you recognized that you are dating yourself -most of this generation doesn't know what this is.) The past participle is dying a slow and quiet death. Additionally, students are not taught how to think analytically. Higher reasoning skills of synthesis, induction, etc., are not taught. This is clear when students attempt to solve word problems.

This isn't to say that we don't see a few individuals who have come out of the public school system with an education intact - however, that is certainly NOT the majority. Does teachers' pay have something to do with this - certainly. However, I also blame the system and the unions. I took a master's level education course at the local public university. I was shocked to hear the professor propose that qualifying scores on national tests be lowered for individuals from specific ethnic backgrounds so that they would be better represented. I questioned this on the basis that you would be lowering the quality of the educator and was rebuffed. There seems to be little competition within the educational system - either for the teachers or for the schools themselves. Yes, in some places, teachers are compensated for stellar results. However, a teacher has to be pretty bad - REALLY bad -to be terminated. If the NEA union would be somehow moved out of the picture, there might be hope for some competition and some changes. Bar that, we'll keep getting what we've gotten.

To be sure, a larger part of the blame for the problems - the root of the problems - lies squarely on the shoulders of the American public. Education is enculturation. (Barry - are you familiar with Christopher Dawson? If not, look for some of his writings.) There is a direct correlation between education and culture. Each reflect the other. My experience is that the American culture values entertainment over education. When I taught and studied in Europe, I found that most individuals with a basic high school-level education were more capable of discussing philosophy, politics, history, geography, et. al., than the typical college-educated American. This is clearly a reflection on the value placed on education overseas, at least in Europe. Many American parents will cause a ruckus if the football coach is not successful. However, how many of these same parents know the success rate of the math teacher? Until our culture as a whole values education, vs. schooling (utilitarian view of education), things will not change. I really feel for the teachers in the public school system who are truly motivated. They are fighting an uphill battle, and their victories are rarely noticed or applauded. I salute you for slugging it out, and thank you for doing so.

As far as technology and home schooling being the answer. This is really idealistic. This sort of system would work for me as an individual. However, I recognize that I am not the norm. I am very individualistic and intrinsically motivated - this is my personality. I work in a technology-based educational facility. There are very few students who would be able to benefit from our program if I and my co-worker were not present to help out with motivation and clarification of the material. The military had considered replacing us - we're called facilitators by the way - because some Education Ph.D. (and SES for those in the know) thought that students didn't need our assistance. Thankfully, he washed out, and we remained. In the context of our learning facility, technology works extremely well. I find that the computer-based education is active learning vs. passive learning. Students seem to retain the material much better. However, I realize that this is not the solution for every student. However, technology and more independent study can, and should be, incorporated into the lesson plans for all students.

Finally, I want to respond to cfog's post. I agree with almost everything you say! I have tried to get into a field that would use my analytical brain at the service of the country. Unfortunately, I do not hold a pedigree degree from a designer university (just a measly bachelor's with a dual major of biology and history from a private parochial school). The other option of military service is out - first a blown ACL and now my age (I'm in the 2nd half of my 30's). Without a "pedegree" or military service, you would have a hard time getting any of the agencies you mentioned to take a second look. The ability to teach yourself a language doesn't seem to count. So, get your degree from the fine institution you are attending. It will open doors up that your brain might not. That is reality. I argued with a professor in my college days who told me it's not what you know, but who. I now see the error of my ways. :)

Sorry for the plethora of verbiage. However, I am very passionate about education. It kills me that there are so many undeveloped minds in this country of opportunity. Let's bring competition back into education for teahers, students and institutions. That's the only way things are ever going to change.

In simple terms (if possible), what are the pros and cons of "No Child Left Behind". I have two young boys just about to enter school and I'd like some perspective. I hear quips like, "It only teaches to the test", but that doesn't help me. If the test is valid and relevant, why not teach towards it. If it is invalid, then don't. So, how does it help (if at all) and how does it hurt?

#2 Dan

I checked out you sticker website. Ya'll should offer a sticker of just "Pukie" by himself.

It appears the filter didn't like my post last night. I'll try again.
--------------------------------
I think the gist of the education conversation that we are not addressing is what do we want our education system to accomplish? Following the Pareto Principal only 20% of the students are going to be worth a spit. The other 80% are below average. Technically that shouldn’t be true. What are we going to do with the 20% of minds that can excel and what to do with the 80% who are just mucking their way through? The US adopted the Prussian model of education. A ‘free’ compulsory education with a set curriculum based on age where students answered to a bell and moved from class to class. They were not to ask questions even on the subject matter being studied. They were to be obedient. The Prussians adopted this educational system after Napoleon spanked them in battle (Hey, I’d make big changes to if we lost to the French.) It was designed to take the 80% and create good soldiers and factory workers. Go where you are told and do what you are told. Leave the thinking to us and for the 80% that is a fine solution. But the Prussians knew they had to train somebody to think. The other 20% went to different schools (usually taught the trivium; grammar, logic, rhetoric latin was good for this.)

The US not wanting to appear elitist sent everybody to the same school. (Couldn’t have the perception of inequality could we Mike? We celebrate it in athletics but somehow think it is a moral crime in the ability to think.)

Our current mandated system is not designed to create people who think. It creates people who can be led. The students Cringley mentions that opt out early to get on with life have seen behind the curtain and wish to get on with it.

If someone any ONE had made me a deal that you take everything I learned in High-school and as soon as I had learned it I could graduate I would have been done in 6 months. Heck I would have developed a proof for the Riemann Hypothesis to get out of there and get on with life.

If follower is what we aim to create the system will live on; for those who do not wish to be followers they will follow a different path. And those paths are finally being created.

“Education still seems to define knowing as more important than being able to find, yet which do you do more of in your work? And what's wrong with crimping a paragraph here or there from Cringely if it shows you understand the topic?”

Knowing is important for general conversation and making your way through life. It’s tough to know what to look for if you don’t have a basic level of knowledge. Although today at work a considerable amount of money change hands based on if the Tucker Torpedo had a helicopter engine and whether Jerry Seinfield had more Porches or vintage VWs. We had to search for those answers to judge a winner.

What if you crimp your paragraph from Wikipedia? Hey teach, I didn’t like what wiki had on that so I rewrote it. That’s why it looks similar.

“This is, of course, a huge threat to the education establishment, which tends to have a very deterministic view of how knowledge and accomplishment are obtained - a view that doesn't work well in the search economy.”

DJS is this the part that gets you? Your intentions don’t matter. Only the product you put out matters and saving the odd student doesn’t make it a good system if another system could produce better citizens (People who can produce or trade those are the only two real functions in an economy.)

“What is it, then, that makes an MIT education worth $34,986?”

I had two friends that both went to Kellog for their MBAs. They said that in any given class there were 4-5 people that knew more about the subject than the professor. The didn’t go for the learning they went to meet the other people that could get into Kellog and had the money to pay for it.

#20
“AngryG is on to something, as well. The worry might be that a self-regulated education is worth squat, since students aren't that self-motivated (there's a reason truancy is a crime.)”

What is their to motivate students? Lets put this in perspective I’m 35. If coach told me all the hard work I’m doing now is fantastic but I won’t see any change in my condition until I’m 45 I’m out. No more crossfit for me. The gap between stimulus and response is just to long for most children to comprehend. The need for obedience is the reason Truancy is a crime.

Deregulating educational experience (especially in a democracy where national identity is important) might have unforseen consequences.

Tru dat. We have a list of the positives what are the negatives? Lets weigh the pros and cons and see if it is worth the risk

Bill Gates dropped out of college his freshman year for a reason.

QUESTION: I missed the clean and jerk WOD on Sunday - I was forced to take a rest day. Should I do the clean and jerks today and rest tomorrow? Or, should I take a rest day today? Thanks for any input you can provide.

#68
I missed the workout on easter too, but I always found its easier just to take the rest day that way you will be on track with the WOD. As much as it sucks to miss a day, its easier just to get back on track.

I have a few examples of why I am no fan of our state run schools.

I remember from my days at Ohio State watching 2 of my friends do their class project. They were education majors and their class project was to make a school calendar. They were not required to take math beyond Algebra 1 and were often seen using crayons and poster board for homework assignments. But because they received a certificate they are qualified to teach whereas my B.S. in engineering is worthless even though I know as much or more math than any tenured member of the STRS.

I didn’t really think much about how our skewed view of teacher qualifications affected children till a friend recommended I read The Underground History of American Education by John Taylor Gatto. It’s a scarier read than the Shining.

I will finish with a parable a friend sent me some time ago.

During a visit to the mental asylum, a visitor asked the Director "How do you determine whether or not a patient should be institutionalized"

"Well," said the Director, "we fill up a bathtub, then we offer a teaspoon, a teacup and a bucket to the patient and ask him or her to empty the bathtub."

"Oh, I understand," said the visitor. "A normal person would use the bucket because it's bigger than the spoon or the teacup."

"No." said the Director, "A normal person would pull the plug. Do you want a bed near the window?"

This is not really a sanity test. It's a test to determine if you have been in the public school system which, for the purpose of social control, gets people in the mode of following suggestions instead of thinking for themselves.

#18
"I Am Legend" was written in 1954.
Richard Matheson was a genius, this book is the reason we have zombie movies: 'Omega Man', Living Dead Movies, 28 days/weeks later, and etc.

-marc

It actually costs $34,986.0545432453212342345321987676787382 per year at MIT. These absurdly accurate figures the author uses are really entertaining. Another example of why HS chemistry might not be completely useless. I'm a biochemist, so I admit that I'm a little biased.

It does matter where you get an education. If it didn't, then I would go to Liberty University to learn evolutionary biology. I hear they have a really good program . . .

Thanks Keith. Rest days suck but they're good for you... kind of like broccoli.

M/39/6’2”/225lb

#48 - Lex, be sure to scale your workouts! I've been at this for ~6 months and I still scale them.. but steadily increasing to full WOD's as my equipment and ability allows. I am stronger than ever, and I’ve lost ~25 of the extra 50# I’ve been carrying. I’ve recently returned to the Basketball court after over a year hiatus and can run up and down the full court with the young Steve Nash wannabes all night long.

This morning the puppies arrived at 0530 and we did a modified Barbara:
4 Rnds for time of 10 pull-ups, 15 push-ups, 20 sit-ups (over the plyobox), 25 squats, 400-meter run
We all completed it in ~25 minutes
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

I am amazed at the leaps and bounds in technology (and I work in the semiconductor industry)! My 5 year old is now learning to type by G-Chatting with distant family.

Several years ago my wife went to enroll my twin boys in kindergarten – they were at the age break and she intended to enroll them early. She came home angry and stated that the majority of the people in the session were working parents looking for all day ‘daycare’. When the school explained that the kids needed to have started reading, know basic numbers, and be able to recite the alphabet, several parents argued “That’s the school’s job!”

Shortly thereafter she began home-schooling (book work and on-line) three of our five kids. In the beginning there was a lot of ‘your kids won’t be socialized’ argument from people we knew – one neighbor was very outspoken on that until her kid became involved in a gang and drugs, introduced by his ‘clique’ AT SCHOOL!! Recently we’ve had news reports from two local schools of porn use on the part of students and faculty.

We long ago came to the conclusion that the public school system was little more than daycare and trainig ground for future cubicle dwellers. Train them to sit quietly for 8 hours a day and don't demand too much of their imagination & creativity.

'Absorb what "WE" tell you and regurgitate it on the next quiz or test.. do that well and "WE" will reward you with a passing grade or diploma'

My kids learn at their own pace, they chase the things that interest them. Yes, she does have to kick ‘em in the butt occasionally to do the ‘hard things’ but they are doing great – and socialization? They speak cogently and respectfully with adults, where many of their peers are turning into texting zombies. They have video games (I’m a ‘gamer’, too), but they don’t live for it! The other night I went into their room and they were listening to their CD player… when most kids would be sneaking the latest MTV hip-hop, they were listing to an audio-drama of the civil war and Gettysburg address – they chose that on their own!

It goes to personal drive and responsibility – we are each responsible for life-long learning, in whatever form that may take. To me, that meant recently completing my MBA, subsidized by my employer. To my wife, that means keeping ahead of the kids coursework AND leaning new things on her own. While I work and apply my learning in the corporate world in the same company for the past 18 years, she has started and sold several small businesses and is now a rising star wedding and portrait photographer in addition to being Mom, Wife, and Home-school teacher! What a great example to the kids, learn something useful AND make money doing the fun things you’ve learned.

We live in the ever-changing information age and as technologies advance and are adopted by society at large, many will suffer from data overload and analysis paralysis.

Some few, however, will embrace the brave new world and make great things happen as a result.

Kinda like CrossFit!

Thanks Coach for a phenomenal “OpenCourse” system!!!!

#18, #71

Yeah I loved I am Legend, the ending and the meaning of the title gave me chills. Watching the movie and that horrible ending and the way they weaseled that line into the end gave me indigestion. I also have problems picturing anyone other than Charlton Heston as the main character because of Omega Man, heh. It's funny, right after I read I am Legend about a year ago I happenned to read Cell by Stephen King which is dedicated to Richard Matheson.

#34 Karianne,

I grew up in Morristown so I know for a fact it's a beautiful area. I'm sure the cf will be awesome. Check out the affiliate page if you haven't already done so.
Also welcome to the comment page!

made up barbara today:
rx'd

5:03
5:23
5:06
5:17
5:39

a mix of kipping and strict pullups
assisted sit ups

thought I was going to throw up but kept going and thought, if if happens it happens. In the past I would slow down to avoid puking cuz just the thought of puking makes me sick. This time though, I said, no, I'm NOT going to slow down, bring on the puke. That may mean I'm getting tougher, not sure but I'm happy I plowed throughand ignored the nausea.

M/35/5'10"/215
"Barbara"
Five rounds, each for time of:
10 Pull-ups
30 Push-ups
40 Sit-ups
50 Squats
Rest precisely three minutes between each round. (did not rest between).

Time: 31:43

Filter blocked my previous posts- I hope they don't flood later. Here's the WOD data w/o the reading commentary

M/39/6’2”/225lb

#48 - Lex, be sure to scale your workouts! I've been at this for ~6 months and I still scale them.. but steadily increasing to full WOD's as my equipment and ability allows. I am stronger than ever, and I’ve lost ~25 of the extra 50# I’ve been carrying. I’ve recently returned to the Basketball court after over a year hiatus and can run up and down the full court with the young Steve Nash wannabes all night long.

This morning the puppies arrived at 0530 and we did a modified Barbara:
4 Rnds for time
10 pull-ups,
15 push-ups,
20 sit-ups (over the plyobox),
25 squats,
400-meter run
We all completed it in ~25 minutes

I Graduated from college a few years ago and my best semester was the one I did not buy books but did all my research online. I had classes where I completed group projects over the span of a month with only one meeting a day before it was due, thanks to email, Instant message and filesharing. (we got B's or better).

I do have to admit there where many classes where I was bored. I did not see the need for alot of the classes because i could do the research and learn it online. Now dont get me wrong there are basic things though painful that everyone should know and a google search now more than ever will bring to you in a matter of seconds. Though they are diminishing in the school systems but art music and recreation are just as important as math and english to a childs development. As is technology, if they are going to survive they have to understand technology and by fighting the progression the school systems are failing at preparing the student for the world they will be walking into.

Technology has changed the way do business, the way we communicate and the way we live. The school systems will eventually have to change to as well. Traditional schooling are good for one thing though, Teaching students how to work with others and deal In a social setting. Social skills are still important and most people who tend to do well in the "real world" are those who can communicate using technology and in face face situations as well. There needs to be a balance that will not deprive children from learning but at the same time keep them prepared for the day they walk out of school and into their first job, the day they get married, etc.

And with that said. Remember they are kids,They will be adults soon enough, Please let them be kids.

Hey,

Not related to anything today. Does anyone have a good schematic for building something much like the picture for the BARB workout? I need to figure out how to make something like that...sturdy but also that I could break down and put back up. Im thinking I could drill through holes and uses bolts and washers to fasten it all together. I may get evicted though. I have vaulted cielings and want to put it inside my 2nd floor apt. they won't let me leave it outside. ideas?

42yom / 147

Active rest and Skills day.

Navy Seal WOD from 03/24/2008

45# - 10 Hang Squat Snatch (HSS)
65# - 8 HSS
65# - 2 Overhead Squats (OHS)
75# - 6 HSS
75# - 4 OHS
85# - 4 HSS
85# - 6 OHS
95# - 2 HSS
95# - 8 OHS
105# - 10 OHS

for time:

8:08 as rx'd. Changing the weight took more time than necessary. Otherwise good work out and good practice on the snatch which I needed.

Post - 1.5 pood waiter walking lunges

This is off subject, but I am looking into new shoes for the summer and some weightlifting shoes are in order to go along with my running shoes. I've already got my running shoes well worn in (New Balance), but I just read a Mark Rippetoe article about good ol' Chuck Taylor All Stars for my lifting shoes during Oly days. If anyone would care to share experience or make a recommendation, please don't hesitate to e-mail me so I can learn something new.

Crap, I forgot to post the article for your reference... http://www.exrx.net/WeightTraining/Weightlifting/WeightliftingShoes.html

19 / F / 5'7" / 142

The weather was WAY too nice to take a rest day. So I took off running and ended up going

6.15 miles in 49:49

(know distance thanks to a post-run "gmap-pedometer" trace of my course)
which ends up with an overall pace of about 8:10. And I'm happy with that. Running a half marathon - my first - in just under a month and I'm sure I'll finish running (which is my only goal for it).

Solely my opinion and rant, no facts other than my personal experience.

We need a school program called "No Underachiever Advanced". I'm not sure where the change took place, but there was a point in the last 25 years where we quit holding people back because they couldn't pass an academic gate for their grade level. I guess parents blamed teachers for the failing grades of their children instead of parents ensuring that their kids followed through and did the appropriate work. Schools couldn't take the heat, so they started pushing kids through the system instead of retraining them to standard. Now those kids that couldn't meet the standard have kids that can't meet the standard.

Not only has the system failed by not upholding the established standard, now technology has advanced to the point where it masks these basic academic inadequacies. Schools teach and provide tools to kids that become useful later in life. Spelling, grammar, penmanship, basic math, basic science principles and general social skills. Kids should be able to do these things reasonably well. As more and more work is done digitally, the basics fall by the wayside and it is hard to determine where the weakness with the student lies. I can remember doing math class and specifically being told that we couldn't use a calculator and had to show our work. As painful as it was, it showed the teacher that we actually understood the concept.

School is not daycare, but that is what it has become. Schools don't raise children, parents do. Somewhere, we got to the point where it is OK to push people through, afraid to tell them they aren't meeting the standard. I've seen people at the university level that can't read out loud, write, reason, or research. Then they get their feelings hurt when the professor fails their work.

How many of you have been in a briefing or meeting where every Powerpoint slide has words misspelled, poorly constructed sentences and the speaker cannot communicate in complete sentences? The program has the ability to correct these errors and people are too lazy to even fix that, or they think the machine is incorrect so they leave it the way it is. These are indicators of someone pushed throught the system. Even if the information that is being briefed is correct, the delivery is so distracting that you can't take it seriously. When you can't read, write, add, subtract, or spell without some form of technical tool, an employer will find you out. You'll hit the fast track to nowhere and all the technology in the world won't help you move another step out of mediocrity.

For the love of all that is holy please no running tomorrow! Just made up Barbara lite and my legs and abs are just plain gone, I think I left them in the garage in a puddle of sweat and chalk. It would have been sweat, chalk, and BLOOD if Katrina hadn't suggested I tape my knurled pullup bar of death! Saved my hands today, thanks Katrina!

M/50/6'/196

Missed some workouts lately so threw in a 5K today. My best yet at this weight, up from 170.

29:29

# 39 Apolloswabbie

What do you mean “when” alternatives come to the government monopoly on education? There are already alternatives. Private schools and home schooling being the two I know of.

Re: #65 Pukie stickers....I bet you could make a couple sheckels here & there. good idea.....

anyone have any ideas what tomorrows wod will be???

just found out i passed my sgt exam. good times.

I'm thinking CFT for tomorrow

Perfect day for a rest! I don't think I could do but a few pull up's today! Rest is running 6 miles with the troops and nursing a shredded hand from the pull-ups! Good luck to all and stay fit...Crossfit that is!

The filter dumped me too. Suffice it to say, the problem with the education system is we keep pushing people up whether they meet the standard or not. It seems that no one will look a kid in the eye and tell them that their work is substandard and they won't advance until they meet that standard. Public school has turned into day care with uninvolved parents that can not do the work that is expected of the kids. Kids don't have parental involvement, don't learn, and still advance.

I have never seen so many young adults that can't read out loud, write, spell, do simple math without a calculator or speak and articulate a thought according to the audience. Worse yet, some of these people are college graduates. Technology has aided in some of this by serving as a crutch in place of simple skills that all should know, such as basic reading, writing and arithmetic. The technology tool is great, but you don't always have access to the tool.

I'm not against home schooling, but I think it is appropriate for a small group of people that have the commitment to see their kids through it. Public schools offer everything needed to learn the basics. It takes committed parents to make sure the resource is used. Sending your kids to school isn't fire and forget. If it's not important to you it won't be important to them.

85 catfish-

CONGRATS!

just watched the vid with coach. did 50 squat cleans yesterday at 55# (still in the beginning stages) and 25 push presses at 45#. i noticed on my push presses i ended up driving off the balls of my feet. i tried using my heels but it was difficult. thoughts? too much weight for me right now?

tomorrows workout hmmmm Lynne ... or heavy back squats ;)

I was home sick yesterday so I used today to make up "barbara." I didn't think to keep individual rd times. I only kept track of total time with 3min break.
39min as rx'd
did ring pushups instead of regular. I was regretting that decision after rd 3. otherwise as rx'd

Nice photo!! BCG's rule!

Does anyone know the square footage of Crossfit Santa Cruz? That's the one that looks like a garage where most of the videos are filmed, right?

I'm kinda interested in building a Crossfit gym for my hometown. I'm curious what the square footage is, and the cost of all the equipment.

If anyone can help, email me at: rvgutier@lasd.org

35/m/5-9/218#

5k run at a 9min pace

#92 Raul-I believe that CFHQ, which you're familiar with from the videos is closed. All of that equipment went to Camp Pendleton-see the comments on Saturday 080322 for more info. There are two other affiliates in Santa Cruz now.

Decided to do a WOD today since I'm taking the next two off before the Running/Endurance Cert this weekend.

OHS 5-5-5-5-5
FS 3-3-3-3-3
BS 1-1-1-1-1

Results

OHS 105-115-125-135-145(x4 +1Fail)
FS 185-185-185-185-185 (form didn't feel great so I didn't up the weight)
BS 205-225-245-255-225

The OHS was definately the toughest b/c of my shoulders - they never got comfortable with the weight. I haven't really tried an OHS since Jan 1st...

What coach is saying about heel drive when it applies to the squat and o lifts is correct. Yet applying that same idea to a jump or to a sprint is completely incorrect. If anyone has actually watched someone high jump or sprint the heel should never touch the ground that is the reason as to why the spikes on the ball of the foot. Same idea applies on the basketball court is Lebron were to jump heel to toe he would way to slow and never dunk the ball.

Can we get a post for tomorrow? Why always so late?

My hands are killing me... My lats are fine, but I can't even hold onto a pull-up bar or rings for that matter. I think I could manage 50 double unders and 50 squats pretty well, or some o-lifting; but I'm afraid pull-ups are out until my hands get a little better.

Whoah....did tomorrow's workout half post, then disappear, or am I going crazy

it did...I saw it too. you're not insane

F/34/143/65"

Ran for 35:00 minutes today - nice streching legs run - :) Also ordered rings yesterday - woo hoo I cannot wait to get them.

M/48/220/70" Executed "Elizabeth" yesterday. 115 - 95 Lbs on the bar & modified ring dips.

One thing missing from the article & discussion is socialization. As a former football coach & parent of schoolkids, I had to fight for un-structured social time in the school day for middle school kids (Recess). Administrators hate recess, because that is when kids get into trouble. Unstructured time is how kids learn to get along. Console games & computer time are simply more programmed activities, like it or not. Unstructured time allows kids to learn the important lessons of life, like how to earn respect (Work hard), get along (Dont be an A**hole), etc, and entertain yourself with others (play team sports or games like tag, kill the carrier, etc). Yes, some will drift off to discover smoking & other behaviors but there it is.

Peace out.

22/m/71"/155

made up my own work out today.

5 sets of 12 body weight squats with 2 Turkish Get ups for each arm. Used 55lbs for the get ups, but after 3 rds my left shoulder did not feel right so stopped those and subbed some other abs. I like the get ups but something is wrong w/ the shoulder, like a pinched nerve or something.

Ran outside, KB=1 pood (thats all I have)

ttl time 15:34 - long way from the door to the squat rack where I do my PUs :-)

tough little work out!

Alex

43 m 6' 212#

as rx'd runs on treadmill--snow outside today
12:01 8 sec off my pr. first round done in 3 min. pu near impossible on 3rd round sets of 5, 4, 3 did me in.

Great discussion today. Thanks Noel, Jakers and Barry (as usual) for some thoughts to reflect on.

When I wrote my professional exams 10 years ago I was given access to any and every resource (books only!) I needed to complete the 16 hour exam (over 4 days). We were tested on our reasoning, judgement, ability to solve problems, communication and ability to manage pressure. That's real life.

Scary as this may sound - I don't think I really learned how to think for myself until the latter part of University. Not until 3rd or 4th year did this happen. The content was assumed to be well established. Class sizes shrunk and discussion/debate became more intimate and unstructured. The outcome/correctness was less important than the thought process.

Why did it take 21 years for this to happen? Why can't we start teaching our kids to think at a much earlier age?

It's because our school system is concerned mainly with rote learning. I would argue that Barry's term "functional unit" is being too complimentary. You can drop the functional right out because most of what we accumulate during our time at school will never lead to any value.

I am one of those Young Devil Dogs in there.. This stuff works and hurts.. Thanks Gunny!