Rick Karash writes:
>But, there's also a question about people on the street: As a successful
>species, why do we human beings appear so inconsistent in what we believe
>and how we form beliefs? Why such lack of rigor? Lack of reflection. I
>think what we are writing about is basic stuff, but somehow it's still an
>eye-opener for many intelligent, successful adults today. I envision a
>future in which we wouldn't talk about this on LO, and would never
>consider including this in a management curriculum... Because everyone
>already knows it and acts this way.
I'm puzzled about this too. Of course the usual response (and it's
probably right, as far as it goes) is that our public education system is
failing us. But the deeper question is "Why is education failing us?"
Perhaps there's a hint within your question itself. Did we somehow
convince ourselves that it was unnecessary to teach people how to think
scientifically because everyone already knew it and acted that way? If we
did, we were sorely mistaken!
But, frankly, I think it goes deeper than that. Somehow we talked
ourselves into a situation in our education system, and in society at
large, where we no longer focus on helping people get what they really
need (in the long run.) Instead we feel we must meet people's expressed,
current needs. Now meeting current needs can be part of a motivational
system -- but, as anyone who has tried to raise a young child can attest,
you don't do anyone a favor by giving them nothing but what they want
right now.
We used to laugh at children in school who said, "Why do I have to learn
this stuff? I'm not going to be a scientist (or an ancient Roman, or a
mathematician, or an etc., etc.)" and respond, if at all, with "Because
we say so!" or "Because it's good for you." Now we fall all over
ourselves in our hurry to kowtow to this petty tyranny. "Oh, well," we
say, "in that case, we won't make you hurt your pretty little head over
this stuff. We know you won't ever need to THINK for the rest of your
life, so who cares anyway."
Do I sound a bit cynical? I'm sorry, but this scares me. I see the "fix"
being a long way off -- in part because the very people who are
responsible for making decisions in the educational system have never
learned to appreciate scientific thinking themselves. How can they
understand its importance in the curriculum? What would have to happen in
order for them to put (scientific) skepticism into the schools? What
(mediocre) teacher wants a bunch of little skeptics questioning their
force-fed facts every day? That's too horrible for them to contemplate.
It's much easier to feed the little blighters mush (very tasty mush, of
course) and see the stupid grins on their stupid faces.
Whew, I'd better stop. I'm getting myself all worked up and my next mush
feeding time is almost here. I can hear my cage being opened now....
John W. Gunkler
jgunkler@sprintmail.com
--"John Gunkler" <jgunkler@sprintmail.com>
Learning-org -- Hosted by Rick Karash <rkarash@karash.com> Public Dialog on Learning Organizations -- <http://www.learning-org.com>