Thursday, May 25, 2006Indicting America's Education SystemThis article says everything I would ever want to say about education in America: The deadliest business hazard of our time is the result of a sea change in the American approach to education that occurred early in the 1970s. Across the United States, conventional educational standards were tossed out the window, replaced with feel-good theories like 'whole-language learning' that emphasized personal fulfillment over the accumulation of hard knowledge. As a result, we now have two generations of men and women who expect gold stars not for succeeding, but simply for trying.This is the best article on the American education system I have read in years, and indeed an indictment of American culture to date. I marvel at the education of others, some for their utter lack thereof and others for their pure genius. Schooling seems more a case of survival rather than education -- the smart ones survive regardless, while the unintelligent ones are subsidized so long as they regurgitate information. Education used to be much more cost effective, not to mention cheaper and dare I say of superior quality for the average American student. Today, what can we boast about? Education has become more of a boot camp than a meritocracy, where it's those who survive - and not the best and brightest - that do well. What's more, I worry about this: I can tell you when the Second World War was fought to the point of perspective (1939-1945, earlier for the Japanese and Chinese). I can name the current regent of Great Britain (Elizabeth II), name basic mathematical functions, do basic mechanical repair, farming, and carpentry. I'm fairly proficient in theology and philosophy. Does that make me intelligent? Or does that mean I have what is expected of an educated man? I suspect the latter. It's a shame America's education system has to be that way, if for no other reason than those in positions to change anything are caught up in the same hubris their students are propogating. The old idea that a high school diploma is worthless has expanded to the point of undergraduate and even masters degrees all becoming suspect. Are we creating educated thinkers, or mindless regurgitators? I fear for my generation...
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JEFFERSONIAD POLL: Whom do you support for Virginia Attorney General?1) John Brownlee2) Ken Cuccinelli AboutShaunKenney.com is one of Virginia's oldest political blogs, focusing on the role of religion and politics in public life. Shaun Kenney, 30, lives in Fluvanna County, Virginia.ContactThe JeffersoniadArchivesMarch 2002 April 2002 May 2002 June 2002 July 2002 August 2002 September 2002 October 2002 November 2002 December 2002 January 2003 February 2003 March 2003 April 2003 May 2003 June 2003 July 2003 August 2003 September 2003 October 2003 November 2003 December 2003 January 2004 February 2004 March 2004 April 2004 May 2004 June 2004 July 2004 August 2004 September 2004 October 2004 November 2004 December 2004 January 2005 February 2005 June 2005 July 2005 August 2005 September 2005 October 2005 November 2005 December 2005 January 2006 February 2006 March 2006 April 2006 May 2006 June 2006 July 2006 August 2006 September 2006 October 2006 November 2006 December 2006 January 2007 February 2007 April 2007 June 2007 July 2007 August 2007 September 2007 October 2007 November 2007 December 2007 January 2008 February 2008 March 2008 April 2008 May 2008 June 2008 July 2008 August 2008 September 2008 October 2008 November 2008 December 2008 January 2009
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1 Comments:
Including you, Shaun Kenney
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