Comments on: Meanwhile, What I Told MacArthur

By: Joe

Joe — Mon, 14 Nov 2005 23:58:08 +0000

John,

I am not sure how the money would be best spent to address it, but I think you posted about a better issue that could have a profound effect on society:

“Google is Watching You

By: Dean C. Rowan

Dean C. Rowan — Sun, 13 Nov 2005 20:52:47 +0000

Your identification of the problem is accurate, but it’s framed euphemistically from my standpoint. By “21st century literacy” and “critical thinking,” I think at least part of what you mean is, however drab this sounds, “how to use a library.” Will such language win a grant? That remains to be seen, I suppose. Will “an early investment of philanthropic resources…be instrumental in mitigating negative effects or magnifying benefits for society in the future”? We are by now far beyond the early stages. Point to Carnegie, and you might be justified answering in the affirmative. In any case, seeking facts, reasoned and fair arguments, and courses of action, not to mention works embodying enthusiasm, speculation, inspiration, and so forth, entails using a library, of which the Web is a species.

By: Search Engines Web :?

Search Engines Web :? — Sat, 12 Nov 2005 22:52:12 +0000

{{ what I find seems to be missing, and in fact, is in serious retreat at least in our public schools, is what we often call "critical thinking" ...but rather regurgitating answers.

Social Darwinism may be at play here
consider the types of JOBS available to the average person, and the Office-Power-Politics
that permeate the Business World

If you DARE to question an instruction - you had better be VERY humble and tactful and Crytal Clear in Articulating in a fast paced environment.
(will there be EGO repercusions?)
(are you Questioning Authority?)
The bottom line is..is it worth it. Is it easier to just do the task as it is told and allow the "Leaders" to put themselves in "Blames Way" when something goes wrong
AKA: CYOA

The Creme' de la Creme' of thinkers probably want the relatively few Leader-Status-Power Positions that are available in a work society.

The mass are followers to survive. - AKA pay your rent/mortgage / feed your hungry mouths - if you don't like it there are tens of desperate people ready to take your "former" job.

Also, the needs of a tax conscience society to invest in short-term, measurable goals.
And the need for objective measurements in very large, diverse education systems have a tenacious impact

{{{ Their mission, then, is to evangelize that answer

Consider the Soundbite Press World we live in,
Social Darwinism may demand that responses
are "STRIPPED" of ANY "taken out of context"- ambiquous - contemplative answers.

Taking the LSATS are for a few - not for the average person listening to soundbite oriented mass media misrepresentations of some ones' explanations - which in a digital society - may haunt you for the rest of your life -
Right of Wrong...

"..he said WHAT!?"

By: Kendall Willets

Kendall Willets — Fri, 11 Nov 2005 19:10:24 +0000

Search in schools is something I've been thinking about recently as well. The idea that words can be used to find things is somewhat of a leap from the usual stories and small essays. It's not clear at what stage searching large collections of text would fit into the reading curriculum.

The issue of commercialism is also going to have to be addressed at a fairly young age. The same people who push products at kids on TV have moved to the web, and probably most kids' first search experiences are going to be for Barbies and the like. It's going to be a struggle to get kids to think beyond their commercially programmed expectations.

...can affect positive change in our culture...

And that's "effect" Jon. No more GI Joes until you get it right.

By: ms

ms — Fri, 11 Nov 2005 04:08:33 +0000

"Our schools are instead focused on a testing regime..."

I think I see a little political bias leaking through here. The reason for the testing isn't some *luddite leadership*, it is a reaction to the failure to provide children with basic skills. When the testing was initiated many children had no hope of developing the important skills of critical thinking because they didn't have the prerequisite skills.

Now there is certainly room for debate as to what should be taught (and tested) but please don't skew the argument to make it sound as though the testing programs are the means to an evil end.

By: Zach Coelius

Zach Coelius — Fri, 11 Nov 2005 03:25:40 +0000

Well said. But you should add to that next time the sad lack of encouraging entrepreneurship in schools. Schools are still designed to create complacent, instruction followers. Great for the factory works of the twentieth century, not so good for the entrepreneurs we need for the 21st.

Nice to see you again at ad:tech.