TED Community » Tyler Sasabuchi

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Anyting, I try to maintain some knowledge over every spectrum. I am stronger in some things, but I do know at least some facts in everything I can.

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• A reply on Conversation: What do you think of merit-based pay for teachers?

  Nov 27 2012: Thank you, that helps my understanding. I wasnt sure what you meant with the catholic school part. And yes, that kind of event or schooling would help many teens to see that BS wont carry them through life, and hopefully allow them to return to school or the workplace as more responsible and mature individuals. On the other hand, this may act as a stressor or a focal point for anger that may lead to more problems. It really depends on the individual and how the program is carried out, though for the most part it sounds like a really beneficial idea.

• A reply on Conversation: What do you think of merit-based pay for teachers?

  Nov 27 2012: Mr. Gilbert, I didnt mean to sound arrogant or misunderstand you, but your resoning did lose me somewhat. If it wouldnt be too much of a bother, could you re-state your thinking? Thank you

• A reply on Conversation: What do you think of merit-based pay for teachers?

  Nov 27 2012: Mr. Winner, I myself am currently attending a college prep school, along with roughly 400 other students. I love this school, and have learned greatly from it. I do believe that a college prep school is a great place for students, though it would be to fast paced and ssrict for some people, and thats their choice. A trade school would allow those who wish to not attend college prep to learn a job, the problem being they are then specialized to that field if they dont like it/ get fired. That would be a great system to adopt, if we could get around that one problem. Perhaps a general trade school then more specialized ones based on interests or something along those lines?
  
  Hope that helps

• A reply on Conversation: What do you think of merit-based pay for teachers?

  Nov 26 2012: Mr. Gilbert, you would be amazed at the number of students grade 8 and under that have the same problems as teenagers. True, some of this is due to age, however a lot of it is from seeing the behavior of the older students and a lack of accountability/responsibility in parents. I have seen kids in 3rd grade in my little brothers class that will have the same problems as kids in my age range when asked to due certain things. The behavior problems is rapidly growing down the age ladder. I do believe in your view on the college thing though, as it would make school better and cheaper, allowing for a smarter population and a better world.

• A reply on Conversation: What do you think of merit-based pay for teachers?

  Nov 26 2012: This is true, as there are some teachers that dont have a great care or love for the job. I have fund however, that many teachers do honestly enjoy teaching and being around students, my grandmother taught for 40+ years and loved it. That being said, with the school districts cutting their rights and the students acting like idiots, it takes the joy out of teaching. Now a days, teachers are to busy taking care of behavior and political issues to actually enjoy the teaching experience that most people hope to find as teachers.
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  A comment on Conversation: How can America wean itself from fossil fuels when fossil fuels are so cheap?

  Nov 26 2012: The problem is we need to invest more into making wind and clean energy plants and factories, so when there comes a day we can take at least a small step into energy independeance. For example, have a group of large cities nation wide make enough energy to sustain them selves, so then they can jump off grid, and then so forth and so on

• A comment on Conversation: What do you think of merit-based pay for teachers?

  Nov 26 2012: The problem with the idea of merit based pay for any occupation is the fact that so many variables come into play. For example, I am a 15 year old highschool student, and know for a fact that many of my peers would make merit based pay for teachers a nightmare. So many of them misbehave and just dont care about school, that if teachers were payed based on grades, attendance, behavior or any other median, the students they taught would greatly affect their pay. That being said, it might convince teachers to be more stern and to try harder, but that still would cause problems, as students in my age group have little respect or worry about their teachers or education. We need to find a way to either cut those students out or to get better ways to show them that their education now will really affect their future. Until then, no other school changes will benefit greatly our modern community wether it be students, staff, parents, or teachers.

• A comment on Conversation: Are humans irrational? If so, how can we build stronger institutions to compensate for human shortcomings in rationality?

  Nov 26 2012: I believe that humans are not rational or irational persay, as the actions the brain carries out are based largerly on survival. Whether that choice is rational or not, it is to benefit the individual or their surrondings. One might say that sacrificing oneself for others is in no way rational, though if it ,means someone who may save others or do greater good does survive, it may be seen as rational. The human brain is not built to be rational or irational, it is built to keep us alive and to protect those around us. As a species, humans try to discover everything and catergorize into little apartments so we can grasp the immense concepts around us. that is not how it works with all things. Some things cant be seen completely without being connected to the right things or arranged certain ways. The rationality level of the brain is like that. It cant be compartamentalized like that, it does what it needs to do to survive, whether that be rational or not.

• A comment on Conversation: In what ways may disagreement aid the pursuit of knowledge in the natural and human sciences?

  Nov 26 2012: When people argue about knowledge or related things, they may allow themselves to fill in the blanks from each others pools of knowledge. An easy example I know of is there are two ponds, and each can hold a certain number of fish. Say these fish represent knowledge. By themselves, the ponds may only sustain 10 fish each. However, a windstorm blows over the ponds, combining them into one larger pond that can hold 20 fish happily. This is the idea behind the fact that arguments often build knowledge. I hope this helps
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  A comment on Conversation: Why did humans invent sports and why do so many people love watching and playing competitive sports games?

  Nov 26 2012: Sports is for the most part, a by product of our evolutionary path. Back when we were prey, many of the things such as speed and strength were hardwired to impress others of the society. It allowed for the best of the best to carry on their genes, as the ones desired by people were those that could survive due to their traits. In this modern day however, there is no real way for the average person to enjoy such physical show offs, so they watch sports. Also, studies have shown that men actually get more of a 'boost' out of winning or competing as a team, which shows why team sports such as baseball or football are so popular.