Are You Smarter than a Fifth Grader

[wjp984]

I find this show absolutely ridiculous. It’s like they are giving a million a way. I want to know how to pretend I am a moron so I can get on that show lol. Seriously though, I found it to be very degrading to the individual especially when they make the person admit they are not as smart as a fifth grader in order to get the money. The whole point I suppose is to show how stupid the majority of the people in our country really are. What did everyone else think of it?

 

[chevalier]

I haven’t seen that show, but it’s quite obvious that a lot of the things children learn in school, adults later forget. There’s quite a lot of stuff in my younger siblings’ tests that I wouldn’t have a clue how to do, so far as science goes. I’m better with history, but it’s like I remember the dates of battles and whatnot, but don’t ask me what the conditions of the peace treaty were. Literature, grammar, not bad, but don’t you could surely find a lot to make me feel dumber than a kid. And frankly I don’t care. I have my highschool grades and I’m doing my degree now, I know my worth. As for making people admit in public that they are not so smart in order for them to get money, well, that’s surely degrading. It’s partly their own responsibility for playing along, but I don’t like the concept. Showing, however, that the majority of a nation has serious problems in the educational or intellectual regard, that might provide some stimulus to work on the education system. And a lot of that is needed to do anything because normally people will complain about it but won’t do anything to improve the situation.

 

[tee_eff_em]

They must get their contestants from the public school system – *This *product of Catholic Education is appalled at the apparent knowledge and lack thereof displayed by the contestants so far.

Or, it could have to do with the age of the contestants – I hear there is more emphasis on self-esteem than on academics in recent years?

In any case, while I may be clever (*<ahem> *if I do say so myself), I’ll never be a contestant on this show nor other similar ones (Deal or no Deal, 1 vs 100, Who Wants to be a Millionaire) because I would not make good television. If I know an answer I’m not going to introspect over it. And if I don’t know the answer, I’m *certainly *not gong to introspect over it before the “computer “randomly” takes away 2 wrong answers”… (ever wonder why that *never *works?)

I may be mistaken, but my impression of *DonD, 1v100, *and the new *Fifth-Grader *one is that contestants are not selected by chance in any case – They are chosen from audtition tapes.

tee

 

[JohnPaul]

I’d like to have a shot at that one last night: 2000 years/10 years = 200 – pretty easy!

They obviously don’t let the Jeopardy candidates in on this show.

 

[fnz2thrght]

Are You Smarter than a Fifth Grader

Yes. :yup:

 

[wjp984]

I’d like to have a shot at that one last night: 2000 years/10 years = 200 – pretty easy!

They obviously don’t let the Jeopardy candidates in on this show.

I know. I was laughing at the contestants about how dumb they were. But then there was a question on the dewey decimal system and I was like wtf is that. So I guess there are even a few questions that I would’t know that a fifth grader would. I still think it is the easiers millioon ever to be given away and that they only pick morons for the show based on auditions and background checks.

 

[tee_eff_em]

On re-reading my earlier response on this thread, I must now look into the camera and say:

“I do not -]smell better/-] spell better than a Fifth Grader”


tee

 

[CarolAnnSFO]

Or, it could have to do with the age of the contestants – I hear there is more emphasis on self-esteem than on academics in recent years?

I’ve heard something to that effect! And just yesterday, I read an article stating that the emphasis on self-esteem over all else has been a huge failure, and more emphasis should now be placed on self-control.

But I agree that a lot of the facts that kids have to rote-memorize are later forgotten by adults. If those little tidbits were important, we’d probably remember them, right?

When I was in school, history was nothing but a long series of names/places/dates to memorize. This battle, that battle – you get the picture – the curriculum didn’t include anything of real substance. I’ve learned more about history reading books by David McCullough and Doris Kearns Goodwin than I ever learned in school.

 

[AlegreFe]

I find this show absolutely ridiculous. It’s like they are giving a million a way. I want to know how to pretend I am a moron so I can get on that show lol. Seriously though, I found it to be very degrading to the individual especially when they make the person admit they are not as smart as a fifth grader in order to get the money. The whole point I suppose is to show how stupid the majority of the people in our country really are. What did everyone else think of it?

You seem to be a very negative person. That is not what I got out of that show. I just find it entertaining and a bit of a “refresher” type of show for adults. I really don’t believe that the producers of the show are trying to make adults look like idiots at all. It seems to me that if someone has a problem with this show then it could possibly mean that they are not “smarter than a fifth grader” and that is why certain people might have a problem with this show.

I personally like this show. My daughter and I can sit and watch something together on TV and I don’t have to worry about something PG-13 or TV14 coming on the show. We just change the channel to EWTN during commercials that’s all.

I think you have to lighten up a bit and just don’t take this show so seriously. I guess to some people this show should’ve been called “Are you smarter than a 5th grader when it comes to grammar school subjects” or something like that. But then it would take the fun out of it. Take a chill pill and laugh a wee bit. You might feel better if you laugh more often.

 

[AlegreFe]

…As for making people admit in public that they are not so smart in order for them to get money, well, that’s surely degrading.

I don’t think it’s degrading. If I went on that show and I had to say that, I wouldn’t care. Why? Because I know that there are many other things in this world to know and not just grade school subjects. I know that I am smarter, when it comes to certain things in life, than a 5th grader. And it very well could be that when it comes to certain grade school subjects, a 5th grader could know more than me. That does not mean that I am stupid or dumb or “not smarter than a 5th grader” if I get a question wrong.

If I had to stand and actually make that statement I really wouldn’t care because it’s not important and it’s all for fun. And besides people out there know very well that a 5th grader does not have the life experience that an adult has. We are all on different levels and that’s okay, that’s the way it should be.

When I was in school I was an “A” student. But how much of that do I remember? And that is why I like this show. I just ask myself, “do I remember?” So far, I’ve answered all the questions on that show correctly. But what does that prove? Who cares? It’s just for fun. Although in my position I better know something. I homeschool my daughter and she’s in 7th grade.

 

[AlegreFe]

I know. I was laughing at the contestants about how dumb they were.

(emphasis added)

statement not necessary

Everyone has their strengths. I believe we are all smart each in different areas. Father Corapi talks about how much of an “average” kid he was in school. But when it came to his college education in the Seminary, he graduated top of all his classes and he has 5 University degrees. God gave Father Corapi his strength in matters of our Catholic faith and theology and the like. Fr. Corapi mentioned that he took one of those online “IQ” tests and he did poorly on it. He laughed about it and made us all laugh too; laughing is contagious.

wjp984:

But then there was a question on the dewey decimal system and I was like -]wtf/-] is that.

Definitely NOT necessary, even if you just put the initials for it. This is a Catholic forum. You do know about the Sacrament of Confession right?

 

[AlegreFe]

But I agree that a lot of the facts that kids have to rote-memorize are later forgotten by adults. If those little tidbits were important, we’d probably remember them, right?

That’s right. So let’s just watch the show in the spirit of “having fun.”

CarolAnnSFO:

When I was in school, history was nothing but a long series of names/places/dates to memorize.

Kids now-a-days learn more than I did when I was in school. Perhaps not necessarily more, maybe different things also.

Even not so far back as 1999 and 2000 when my daughter was entering Kindergarten… kids who enter kindergarten now have to know how to read the basics. :whacky:
Now if that was the case back then when my daughter was entering kindergarten that wouldn’t have been a problem because I taught her how to read starting at the age of 3. She was reading before she entered kindergarten (and not just basics) but she didn’t have to know how to read. But NOW they do have to read. What more do they want from our kids?

I think schools are focusing on the wrong thing.
They need to go back to discipline and self-control.

 

[Katie1723]

The really funny thing is that people think this is a serious show.
Kathy

 

[CathCentrist]

IQ & EQ are two totally different things and frankly I see no embarassement (on certain subjects) if a 5th grader (whose primary lot in life is to be in school and study this stuff while an adults lot is to be living life and making ends meet. I could care less if off the top of a childs head they know who the 24th, 9th, etc President is, or other such things. I didnt even care enough while IN school about such trivial things and teachers couldnt answer me why our history books and many still today stop at 1974.

 

[aimee]

IQ & EQ are two totally different things and frankly I see no embarassement (on certain subjects) if a 5th grader (whose primary lot in life is to be in school and study this stuff while an adults lot is to be living life and making ends meet. I could care less if off the top of a childs head they know who the 24th, 9th, etc President is, or other such things. I didnt even care enough while IN school about such trivial things and teachers couldnt answer me why our history books and many still today stop at 1974.

Hey CathCentrist you going to be on the show?

 

[CathCentrist]

Arent you?

 

[wjp984]

statement not necessary

Definitely NOT necessary, even if you just put the initials for it. This is a Catholic forum. You do know about the Sacrament of Confession right?

I did not know that the first thing that would come to your mind would be that word and that you would think I was considering such initials. Last time I checked there are several things wtf could mean. The one I was thinking of was what the fudge. I would never consider writing that other word on these forums. I read over the rules before posting my original post and it did not mention anything about posting initials that can be ambiguous and interpreted several ways I might have borderline pushed the limit to create a little humor and emphasize what I was saying but I think I am within the rules. I could be wrong but if I am I will be told and won’t do it again after politely asking for an explanation and proof that what I did does not fall within the rules and then a rebuttal to my rebuttal after that. Unfortuantley, since you complained I might not longer be within the rules since it is offensive to you so I might lose the argument on that regard alone. I’ll just wait and see and you’ll proably get your way and never see that initial again.

 

[aimee]

Arent you?

After you my good man, you first

 

[AlegreFe]

The really funny thing is that people think this is a serious show.
Kathy

Exactly… that is why I don’t mind watching this show along with my daughter. We can at least watch something together that is not so serious and tragic (like the news all the time), we could actually laugh and see what I can remember and see how much she knows too. It’s really no big deal.

 

[aimee]

Exactly… that is why I don’t mind watching this show along with my daughter. We can at least watch something together that is not so serious and tragic (like the news all the time), we could actually laugh and see what I can remember and see how much she knows too. It’s really no big deal.

I like it…and its kind of fun to see what I remember