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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?

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

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

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

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.

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.

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?

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

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...

> 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.

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)

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