[Laiedheliel]

Hmm, this is an interesting one. As a citizen (proud at times, not at others) of the U.S. of A. and still a student of the public schools, I can say a few things on this one:

1. Many of the kids in my grade are slackers, pure and simple. Already by eighth grade they are bored by school, and all they wish to do is return home to their phones, VCRs, TVs and PCs. When some of my friends, most of which take advanced classes right along side me, heard I was writing a book, they were shocked, as if it were obscene to be using one's god-given talent, or to put out an extra effort.

2. Many of the parents in my district (I do not speak for anyone in particular, and do not speak for anyone outside of my school district) are under-educated, fathers working and mothers playing the fifties housewife role. I know some of my friends' parents attended college, but a shocking amount did not and now work at labor-class jobs or not at all, and have little knowledge as to what their children are actually doing and being exposed to. This trait their children have inherited, and have not yet come to the dreadful realization that times have changed and that an education is an essential tool to unlocking one's future in this country.

3. As previously said, we in the U.S. take wayyy to many things for granted, not just education. Take 9-11 for example: We took for granted that we were safe, and all of our securieties (sp?) were shattered. We have so much in this country, but we do not share, and generally do not except that people in some other countries have very little. I have a Chinese (sp?) pen pal, and when I hear about the way she looks at her education, as a gift, I realize how naive my friends and I really are. It seems to me that the whole of Europe and Asia tend to take their education so much more seriously, and have retained a rememberance of what life is like without it, and without all of our modern-day convinences (sp?), or as some like to say, modern-day curses. (Though we here at the Downs depend on one of those 'modern-day curses' to have intellectual convos like this one...)

*Whistles at the novel she just wrote* Sorry guys, I have really strong feelings on this one, and if you have read this far I am taking a break to thank you for reading my three very lengthy reasons...

As far as the education in ME, the characters we saw in the LotR series were, at least this is my impression, unusal, with the exception of elves, in their high educations. Frodo knew much more than any of the Hobbits in Hobbiton, and Bilbo knew more that he. Aragorn was the heir to the throne of Gondor, and he grew up in Elrond's house. Legolas was the Prince of Mirkwood, and immortal. Gimli was a really out there dwarf. Sam, Merry, and Pippin's education, though they may or may not have seemed formidable to others of their own kind, paled in comparison to the other characters in the book. I happen to agree with whomever said so above: that most of the history and lore passed down to the Hobbits and Dwarf were more for entertainment purposes, not for preparing for a greater scheme or future, and certainly not for a Fellowship to vanquish the Dark Lord.

*Stops her rambling to take a deep breath* Whew, I think this is the longest post I've written that hasn't been in an RPG. As I have said, I happen to have really strong views on the subject, even for a fourteen year old.

Anyone else?

[ May 31, 2002: Message edited by: Laiedheliel ]