tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36658090.post2122498591704401278..comments2023-03-29T05:29:55.199-04:00Comments on Brigid's Blog: Strong?Brigid N. Burkehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16954486097108820795noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36658090.post-24996791877461787072011-12-16T08:30:29.088-05:002011-12-16T08:30:29.088-05:00Hi, Harry--I agree with you that it's an educa...Hi, Harry--I agree with you that it's an educational problem (there is a lot wrong with the American K-12 system), but I also think as a culture, there is a pattern of overvaluing or undervaluing education--either it's "only for elitist types", or so much information is pushed on kids that they don't learn things that take time. Teachers have to meet certain curricular "goals", and it's the equivalent of "teaching to the test". Real learning gets dropped in favor of memorization for high test scores. As to history texts--many of them are biased. Most of what I really learned about American history I learned post-grammar school.<br /><br />In general though--one of the mistakes we make in academia is assuming that people are swayed by facts. People cling to their versions of reality. This doesn't always have to be a bad thing--sometimes believing something unsupported by facts ends up being the right thing. But when it comes to our nation and the government--there is a serious need for real debate and discussion based on facts, and it's not happening. It's all stories and spin--and spin with a right-wing agenda, though you do see it from the left sometimes as well. Fox News has certainly read its Chomsky...Brigid N. Burkehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16954486097108820795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36658090.post-29402888731029318732011-12-15T20:19:40.556-05:002011-12-15T20:19:40.556-05:00What I see is a nation lacking knowledge of its ow...What I see is a nation lacking knowledge of its own history and values. Right wing politicians can say absolutely anything they want, convince their base (who may know better, but still cling to their ignorance), and addle the general public because of its ignorance basic civics and history--fault of the education system.harryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01409991859605149755noreply@blogger.com