After reading the articles about Mark Bauerlein's book The Dumbest Generation, a lot of thoughts ran through my head about how knowledgeable or unknowledgeable people around my age are.
"Two thirds of high school seniors in 2006 couldn't explain an old photo of a sign over a theater door reading COLORED ENTRANCE."
- This quote is very sad to me. Segregation is a big part of America's history. There were many things that changed over the course of history due to segregation. Look at Martin Luther King, Jr. He fought for equal rights no matter what race you were. For high school students to not understand how segregation has changed America or even what is was is quite rediculous to me.
Knowing history is important in some ways because we need to know our country's background. We haven't always been a free people, and we have made many changes throughout centuries upon centuries. By learning America's history, we learn how we, as a country and as a people, have changed over time. If it weren't for history, how would we know where we came from? Or why things are the way they are? Or why both races can walk into the same bathroom together? Not knowing some of America's history is like a piece of the brain missing.
After saying this though, I am kind of biased. I feel as though we, as students, are expected to learn and know everything and anything about America, it's past, its government, etc. As I do believe that all of these aspects are important, I can see why some teenagers as well as young adults do not retain as much of the information that is taught. I feel that all of us are so busy with daily things in our lives that some of the historical aspects slip our minds.
Trying to learn everything about America and remembering it all is almost impossible. I, for instance, have no interest in politics whatsoever. So when I have to learn about politics for a class I may remember the parts that were interesting or that I needed to know, but for the most part, I will forget much of what I have learned. I believe that this goes with Lasn's idea of "information overload." We are being thrown so many different chunks of information at a time that it is so hard to retain everything. It's not that what we are learning is not important, it is that so much information and knowledge is hard to store in our memory for long periods of time.
I feel like people need to take a second look at our generation. Though we may not remember a lot about the past or the names of people in Congress, look at the changes we have been making. New breakthroughs are being found every day whether it be new medicines, new therapy techniques, or even new teaching methods. Maybe we are actually becoming more knowledgeable in different aspects of life.
Instead of being called the "dumbest generation", why not be called the "generation of change."
I also believe that it isn't just the younger generation that is considered dumb. As you watch the clip below, look at the age range of people answering the questions:
Did you notice the older man that didn't even know how many wars there were???
So is it really just the YOUNG generation that is "dumb?" Or should we also take a look at Americans as a whole and see where the people of our country stand.
I love the video you posted with your blog. It really proves the point that it isn't just our generation that is oblivious, but older generations as well. I also love that you suggest that we should be called the "generation of change". I feel that our generation should be remembered for the changes were making instead of what we can't remember.
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree with Kiran, and yourself, on the point you both made about the generation before us clearly lacking some of what I guess is considered to be basic knowledge. Another part of you blog that stuck out to me though was the part about "information overload". I commented on Chris's blog about the same concept. I definitely don't think that the generation before us had as much information thrown at them. Also, I think that an interesting thought to consider is that fact that way more kids go to college now than they did then. So, while we're learning more and more about a concentrated major, they were able to learn more and more basic knowledge. The generation prior to us was more "street smart" than "book smart".
ReplyDeleteI really like how you described this generation as the "generation of change" and not "the dumbest generation". I find that title to be unfair and ignorant because if we are so dumb, then what does that say about those who are teaching us what we are supposed to know? I do not want to defend our lack of knowledge, but it is not something that can be directly blamed on us. I feel that it is more appropriate to classify the Americans today living in the U.S. as the dumbest generation. Despite their age. We have still been able to develop in great aspects than ever before. Back then, if those who were "so smart" really were "so smart", then why didn't they create the things we now have today? I always was taught that before you criticize someone else or another group of people you should take a good look at yourself first to see what problems you have.
ReplyDeleteI feel as though everything from needing to know our history to needing to recognize all of the information being thrown to children in schools now. Reading Feed I thought of how Dr. Shannon was talking about "why do we need to know it if it is so readily available online?" The generations before us expect us to know facts at a snap of a finger, but honestly.. sometimes I can't even remember what I ate the day before let alone the ins and outs of American politics. I feel like we ARE a generation of change, look at our pres! We know things the other generations would love to know and master!
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