The Dumbing of America

[kevin_standlee]

As it happens, Lisa and I were discussing this very subject yesterday, to varying degrees of despair. Thanks to jaylake for spotting it.

The Dumbing of America -- not only are Americans getting dumber, but we're proud of being dumb, too. Possibly this is why intellectual throwbacks like Lisa and I enjoy old radio programs like Jack Benny more than most modern fare.

Comments

Keeping up with the demands of education, not "dumbness".

[dinogrl.livejournal.com]

Kevin, where I stand kids aren't getting "dumber". It is a lifestyle shift, nutritional shift, and cultural shift. Here is one of the third grade test questions that was recently given my students:
"This poem is an example of: A) Onomatopoeia, B)Alliteration C)Personification D)Rhyming prose" (It was a poem about a cat with lots of onomatopoeias). Yes, they are taught all those concepts and more. Eight and nine-year-olds. Shocking, isn't it? Tell me, did you know the difference of these concepts at eight?
This is just scratching the surface. Being in the trenches over the past 29 years I have seen a dramatic change in education. I have also seen parents who are really trying to keep up with those changes, and parents who often "shoot the messenger" with blame as to the current standards. Nutritional standards have also been an issue, and kids who don't go out to play have drastically changed over the years. We have parental paranoia (and justly so) about kids going out to play. God forbid they get out of the confines of the viewing area and get snatched, or scratched, or bruised. It's easier to set a child in a cushion of safety of the great babysitter (video) than to deal with a child suffering a cut or scrape. Some of my third graders have better skills than our IT department, so I'm just not seeing this "dumbing down" thing in that area. I am seeing a health crisis though, and that is frightening.

Re: Keeping up with the demands of education, not "dumbness".

[kevin-standlee.livejournal.com]

Well, now, that's an angle I really appreciate. You, after all, are out on the front line and see the students themselves. Thank you!

I don't remember at what grade level the poetic structure question you asked was introduced, although I do remember doing it. Maybe not until eighth grade, however.

The over-protectiveness meme is something to worry about, I guess. Personally, I think the fact that I was raised by my grandparents means I'm about a generation behind other 40-year-olds as far as my attitudes go. And of course I don't have children, so I don't have the emotional feel for this that they do. (If I had stuck with the family tradition, I'd have grandchildren by now.)

Re: Keeping up with the demands of education, not "dumbness".

[dinogrl.livejournal.com]

On the other hand, the dreaded NCLB has revolutionized teaching to the test, and offers very little life skills assessment. What I do find a good tool in education, the field trip, has been tragically albeit removed from the curriculum. It even made Newsweek.
Read on... http://www.newsweek.com/id/107596

Re: Keeping up with the demands of education, not "dumbness".

[cherylmmorgan.livejournal.com]

Onomatopoeia was the answer to a question on Mastermind last night. My mind blanked. My mother got it wrong.