Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader?
Recently Rove McManus launched the Australian version of Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader? From the outset this show promised to be just another in a long line of this planet's transmissions inviting alien invasion by proclaiming our inferior intellect.
Invaders please note, by the time we're old enough to be taken seriously or breed, our species becomes intellectually ineffectual, unable to make decisions or employ even the most basic deductive reasoning. We transmit this information to you hoping that you'll only eat those of us who present the greatest threat: our mighty fifth-graders.
We welcome you, alien overlords.
Looking at the contestants on this show, it's sometimes hard to believe that they're not being scripted, or instructed to take extra time to deliberate mind-numbingly simple multiple-choice questions... but then of course I go outside and see first-hand that people like this do indeed exist, in fact they're often armed with heavy machinery. Still, I can't help thinking that they're either coached or chosen specifically for their overwhelming ignorance.
However it is apparently not as easy to find stupid contestants in every country. Hungarian tabloid BORS Online [translation] takes a poke at the US education system, and points out that the contestants on their version of the show perform better than US contestants despite the questions being significantly more difficult.
No such trouble here.
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Muahahaha nice post.
That translation is crap though, but I guess it still serves as a reference, barely.
Right :)
It’s just there for the reference-demanding English-speakers… not that it should surprise anyone that Europeans think US education blows.
The US highschool education blows, especially in public schools (mostly because they try to please everybody and the no-child left behind idiocy eats smart kids for breakfast). On the other hand, undergraduate and graduate school education in the US rocks. Funny how that works, eh?
It’s not much different here in Australia, except that our high schools aren’t quite as bad. It’s a wonder more kids don’t lose their zeal for education by the time they reach university age.
High school is an anaesthetic for the mind.
I can attest to the fact that our primary school system is top of the world. I mean.. with teacher’s as myself, it’s got to be good! Well unfortunately the public system doesn’t contain my greatness, so perhaps all parents should send their children to Australian private schools. =)
I happen to REALLY enjoy this show. However that probably has a lot more to do with the fact that I am, myself a 5th grade teacher, and I enjoy watching the “students” in Rove’s class. I would agree that the contestants are a little unbelievable.
I just think that they chose really confident, and witty grade 5 students. I fear for what will happen to Callum, Darcy, Max, Moya and Sam in 2008 when they are no longer in the fifth grade and therefore “useless” to Channel 10. That’s life - I guess!
Thanks for your post. I too find the kids charming and witty. They’re definitely watchable, the problem is, the show isn’t as much about them as it is about drooling umming and arrring coached morons.
I’d watch a show with just the kids in it. They’re all superstars.
Yeah… I think a show with just those kids would be fantastic, also.
what is Callums last name
I don’t think they want you to know that, in case you’re a catholic priest.
i want to no callums last name cause i think i no him from somewhere