[eukaryote]

1) Should Europe really be considered a continent, as it's just part of Eurasia?

2) Should (English-speaking) residents of England be considered the only native English speakers?

3) Before compulsory education, was the general population really stupid?

4) Has compulsory education made the world a better place?

[loloquwowndueo]

It would be great if schools were built deep underground - because deep down people are not stupid :)

[082349872349872]

5) Should EU countries use the Éire green-white-orange flag as an icon for "english" language selection? (eg in websites, ATMs, gas pumps)

[dazc]

English isn't the indigenous language of Ireland so, probably, not a good idea.

[pbhjpbhj]

What we call English was imported piecemeal into England, so it sounds like it's not the indigenous language of anywhere by your measure? It's native to Ireland, surely; in which case it seems fine.

[angrais]

I'm not sure Ireland would want to directly associate themselves with English (=England | UK) in that way. Clearly this is a very political question and so we can discard it from Christmas discussion :)

>> It's native to Ireland, surely; in which case it seems fine.

English is also "native" to many people in all countries around the world. In Ireland, many families speak Irish at home, not English.

[pbhjpbhj]

Outside of school, there's very little usage. A few percent at most.

You're right, about politics. There are good historical reasons to hate what [English] nobility did in the past, but it's a mistake to dispense with using a common tongue because of that. My nan was shot at by "the English".

Common Latin use across Europe seems to have had a positive effect on the development of science for 1800 years or so?

[dazc]

OK, good luck with the implementation. Aside from offending some people you're also going to confuse many others.

[082349872349872]

not sure if the first two have been 'shopped, but the last looks legit:

https://preview.redd.it/rrd2hci4j5f41.jpg?width=960&crop=sma...

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EQFdckqW4AAwQ6A?format=png&name=...

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e5/Tr...

[DoingIsLearning]

> 4) Has compulsory education made the world a better place?

Not sure what is there to debate on that one? Compulsory education has been a vehicle for giving children time away from child labour and abusive parenting.

For that reason alone it is a net positive specially in developing economies where child labour is accepted.

[eukaryote]

Ok, the other side of the debate is: education is provided by governments who want to protect people in power and their own interests, so pushes an education system that protects those in power (not saying I agree with this side of the debate)