Are We Getting Stupider? Or Just More Stupid?

[Quillwitch]

My kids (ages 12 and 14) are getting a public education here in the USA. I just asked them the questions posed to the Cal Tech students on the first video.

The 14-year-old got all of them right except two. She didn't know the name of vice president or who Brad Pitt married. In fact, she didn't even know who Brad Pitt is. Boy, does that make me feel old! But, she knew Snookie was on Jersey Shore. So did the 12-year-old.

The 12-year-old didn't know the year we gained our independence, who Brad Pitt is and who he married, or the name of the Vice President. But he breezed through the other questions. BTW, he was gaming online with a classmate who is 11-years-old. He knew most of the anwers as well.

This makes me suspicious of the video. I'm imagining that the majority of students knew the answers. The producer chose only the most ignorant ones to highlight . . . because there wouldn't be much of a story if college kids were actually somewhat knowledgable of history.[/QUOTE

What´s scary is that all of those kids on the video somehow made it in to college.

 

[Quillwitch]

Absolutely right. And if we're to be successful we should try to bring back the extended family contact. Due to our live's little ways (I refuse to use the word "exigencies") I see my boy and his children once every three weeks for a whole day. I do my best. The grandchildren know it's a no-tech but talk day and they seem to enjoy it. A favourite topic (ages 11 and 13) is the existence of the deity. During the last visit I found myself telling both children and parent about James Baldwin. But once every three weeks isn't very much, is it?

It´s enough of they love and respect you enough to pass it on.

 

[Marc Joan]

In the first decade or two of the C20th, education was a highly-prized thing among many ordinary British people. Yes, as a means of self-advancement - but also in a purer sense, knowledge for its own ennobling sake.

You can get a feeling of this from things like the Association to promote the Higher Education of Working Men... and from books such as the voluminous Harmsworth Self-Educator (“A Golden Key To Success In Life”).

I’m wondering when, where and how education became so devalued that it’s now cool to be dumb. My own theory: young people have been ruthlessly conned by a media apparatus that simply wants to farm them...

Totally agree. I went to primary school in the developing world -- it was cool to be clever. Started going to school in the UK aged 12 - massive culture shock. Kids just wanted to do drugs and be crass. I found it bizarre -- and lonely. I think the situation's changing in many parts of the country, but not all - a full change to the way education is perceived may require a culture shift on the part of parents and in many cases teachers too (many teachers are great, but in my experience, at least some were/are part of the problem). The media could help -- if they wanted to.

 

[Quillwitch]

Hence, the importance of writing good books for kids and teens, in hopes of at least reaching some of them and helping to further their education at all levels.

 

[Patricia D]

For what may be an answer to the original question, check out the twitter feed of @_FloridaMan as in headlines that begin Florida Man ...

 

[Robinne Weiss]

I have two gifted kids, both of whom have skipped a grade and could use to skip another one, academically. I have learned not to mention this except in my local gifted parent support group. If my children were spectacular at sports, I could brag all day about them, but heaven forbid a kid be smart...

 

[Quillwitch]

I have two gifted kids, both of whom have skipped a grade and could use to skip another one, academically. I have learned not to mention this except in my local gifted parent support group. If my children were spectacular at sports, I could brag all day about them, but heaven forbid a kid be smart...

I have two of those as well, and an athlete,and you are absolutely right. Unfortunately, the school system seems to feel the same way. My kids really suffered through junior high and high school.

 

[Carol Rose]

It was actually once suggested to me, by a former publisher of mine, that I "dumb down" my writing. I was told it was too sophisticated for this publisher's average reader, whatever the heck that means. I refused to do it. I mean seriously, give me a break. I write romance. I'm not tossing around complex scientific or medical jargon in my books. I don't even want to think about the reading comprehension skills of someone who finds this post, for example, too "sophisticated" to be in an erotic romance novel. I'd be up all night in a cold sweat, terrified for the state of the world.

 

[Marc Joan]

You get a Panda too. Still no idea what it means. Hopefully not 'you are about to go extinct because you are unwilling to mate'

 

[Carol Rose]

LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Emurelda]

You get a Panda too. Still no idea what it means. Hopefully not 'you are about to go extinct because you are unwilling to mate'

Oh dear, i think you gave her a negative rating! That's what that symbol was for. Lol ...i was racking my brains who would dare give Carol a negative rating...and i've hunted you down @Marc Joan innocently playing with icons! Lol

 

[Marc Joan]

OMG! Must rapidly backtrack! Sorry!

 

[Carol Rose]

What's negative about a panda??? They're so cute and cuddly!!!

 

[Carol Rose]

Seriously??? The panda is a negative rating??? But why???

 

[Emurelda]

I don't know..lol but am so tempted to play with the icons...just because they're so cute and colourful...and they're icons. Like a game

 

[Carol Rose]

On the other hand, I see I FINALLY have a heart I can use!! YIPPEE!!!

 

[Emurelda]

Oh look we can respond with all sorts...we have attitude icons! That will lessen posts.

 

[Emurelda]

Sorry carol..am testing it all on you. There's wise, funny, scary, agree, an icon for every occasion!

 

[Patricia D]

panda just says panda- doesn't that leave it up to the sender and receiver to decide its implications? From observing pandas at the zoo, I think sleeps 20 hours a day is a good definition.

 

[Alistair Roberts]

Cool hearts and more. Less posting? Nar, not gunna happen

 

[Sea-shore]

OMG this is so much fun! I'm sending rainbows left, right and centre!

 

[Robinne Weiss]

Ack! I can't deal with all this! Too many options! Whatever happened to the old asci emoticons?

 

[Jason Byrne]

AHA! I finally found the thread where people realized there were new options and were playing around with them! I came in late working on a hot deadline, and was like,
"what... happened to Litopia? There are high-rises now and flying cars."

Yeah, I wondered why Panda was negative, but I have the distinct feeling that was discussed on the forum like a year ago, shortly after I arrived.

 

[Alistair Roberts]

Meanwhile Jason, stop sleeping on the job!

 

[Jason Byrne]

Meanwhile Jason, stop sleeping on the job!

Hmm? Oh, what? No, I was just... resting my eyelids. More coffee...
Hey look another flying car.

 

[Madeleine Conway]

As a working teacher, I know just how clueless students can be. It is usually a mix of parental influence and relative popularity with peers that determines a child's level of engagement with the external world. In the school where I teach, in the same class, I have children who can barely name David Cameron and others who can debate the likely winners and losers in the next cabinet reshuffle. Once we meet parents, it is fairly easy to tell which families are cultured/educated/engaged and which are too busy with their own immediate concerns. That shouldn't be mistaken for a sign of academic prowess though. Some kids can jump through the hoops easily, and still know absolutely bugger all. Others can be well-informed but useless at tests and exams. Am still baffled after 20+ years in classroom as to why we do so much testing and why we are so obsessed by it. It is only ever a snapshot of ability and skills, not a true image.

 

[AgentPete]

I'd like to do a LAD on this topic, esp our current obsession with testing. Who might make good guests?

 

[Marc Joan]

One possibility is Professor Joan Freeman, educational psychologist specialising in the identification / management of gifted children. She's not a teacher, so she would bring a different perspective -- but I'm not sure how interested she is in tests of achievement as opposed to tests of potential, if you see what I mean.But if you brought her on, you'd probably want a teacher as well. The extent to which the education system fails outliers at both ends of the spectrum might be a useful theme to develop?

 

[AgentPete]

She looks good. Invitation duly sent - thanks Marc!

Any other suggestions very welcome.

 

[Madeleine Conway]

I don't always agree with Tom Bennett, but he'd be very interesting The Behaviour Guru: Tom Bennett's School Report
Jill Berry is also an interesting woman - she's been a headteacher in a range of schools and is now a consultant and lecturer at National School for Leadership Jill Berry | The Guardian