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Why are Americans so stunningly ignorant?
RightSideNews.com ^ | 11 Nov., 2014 | Bruce Deitrick Price

Posted on 12/05/2014 11:59:46 AM PST by BruceDeitrickPrice

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To: BruceDeitrickPrice

Our kids are not taught logic as a formal discipline. Even with an ignorance of history, a sense of logic would tell a student that a nation must come into being (the revolution) before it can be threatened by a civil war.


101 posted on 12/05/2014 2:01:55 PM PST by muir_redwoods ("He is a very shallow critic who cannot see an eternal rebel in the heart of a conservative." G.K .C)
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Comment #102 Removed by Moderator

To: JRandomFreeper

Try decades later. Try when they’re no longer in school so the data just isn’t useful to them anymore. Again, try yourself. How much do you really truly remember pow right off the top of your head, even if you didn’t do the traditional school thing you clearly know stuff, but how much retrieval was there.

Hebrew’s not in your daily life. But is it in your weekly life? Monthly? Clearly it’s in there sometimes if you still read it. I spent 7 years in various point of school learning German. At this point multiple decades later the only German I know is stuff from Frank Zappa lyrics, yeah maybe there’s a hundred words that ring a bell and I can suss some stuff out but I can’t read German anymore. I wish I could, but my life didn’t go in a direction to use all that German I learned, so it’s gone... well not GONE, it’s down there somewhere and 1 or 2 classes could probably dredge it back up. But even if I did that, if I didn’t use it after it would sink to the bottom again.

No my conclusions are based on well grounded psychology and teaching research. This is how human brains work, data you put into them that you don’t retrieve periodically sink to harder to retrieve places. Even folks that use various memory tricks like mind castles still find rooms that get “dusty” and take more work to get back.


103 posted on 12/05/2014 2:04:36 PM PST by discostu (The albatross begins with its vengeance A terrible curse a thirst has begun)
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To: Responsibility2nd

Ahh now you’re getting into a different section. The teaching of logic and retrieval. One of the reasons math is so important, even if you don’t use algebra in life you use algebraic thinking. Definitely good stuff. And also why I keep talking about data not logic.

And remember, I’m not saying don’t teach kids this stuff. I’m saying don’t be surprised or disappointed when they forget. It’s just life. Use it or lose it is one of the oldest rules of teaching. And the vast majority of the data we’re taught we don’t use, so we lose.


104 posted on 12/05/2014 2:08:26 PM PST by discostu (The albatross begins with its vengeance A terrible curse a thirst has begun)
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To: JRandomFreeper

They won’t remember it if they don’t use it. Use it or lose it, oldest rule of education, and 100% true.


105 posted on 12/05/2014 2:09:46 PM PST by discostu (The albatross begins with its vengeance A terrible curse a thirst has begun)
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To: discostu
Again, try yourself. How much do you really truly remember pow right off the top of your head

I gave up my ham radio license back in 1982 or something.

With my 3rd wife getting her license right before 2000, I got talked into taking the tests again.

I aced the written up to Advanced, and surprise, managed the 13 WPM morse code requirement.

It had been decades since I'd messed with morse code.

Your experience is not applicable to everyone.

/johnny

106 posted on 12/05/2014 2:11:39 PM PST by JRandomFreeper (Gone Galt)
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To: discostu
I'll bet your parents owned a TV. I would venture to guess that you do to.

/johnny

107 posted on 12/05/2014 2:12:47 PM PST by JRandomFreeper (Gone Galt)
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To: Chickensoup

I like that one. And it’s true. But again we’re going into the different between data and other stuff. I’m talking about data. Data you put in your brains that you don’t periodically get back out goes away. But of course that framework you wind up using, just because you can’t not use. I’m not saying don’t teach them, I’m saying don’t be upset when they forget. Somebody that’s had a couple of physics course between AmHis classes is probably going to be a bit rough on their history, they weren’t using it, and while they weren’t using it they were cramming all kinds of other stuff in there. It doesn’t mean they’re dumb, it means they’ve been busy with other stuff.


108 posted on 12/05/2014 2:13:04 PM PST by discostu (The albatross begins with its vengeance A terrible curse a thirst has begun)
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To: JRandomFreeper

I’m an American. But even with TV I can spot a strawman when I see one. Heck TV is where I learned that stuff about the Napoleonic invasion of Russia and canning and Pasteurization and refrigeration. Connections 1, 2 and 3. Fantastic shows for learning history.


109 posted on 12/05/2014 2:14:39 PM PST by discostu (The albatross begins with its vengeance A terrible curse a thirst has begun)
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To: JRandomFreeper

When I went back to college I had to take the math assessment and actually tested into 2 classes higher than the last one I took. Which was handy since it was one past the highest level needed for my major. I did do a bit of studying first just to flex the math brain again, because I really didn’t want to take any math classes.

It’s there, it can be retrieved. But it’s different than the other stuff we use every day. I had to get my math brain on to ace that test. You probably did a bit of review for your, get that part of the brain warmed up.

It’s NOT my experience. It’s how the human brain works. Hundreds of research articles have been written about this. Doesn’t matter how hard you stomp your feet, you’re wrong. Use it or lose it. It’s real. And you know it. You just want to pretend.


110 posted on 12/05/2014 2:18:17 PM PST by discostu (The albatross begins with its vengeance A terrible curse a thirst has begun)
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To: discostu
You own a TV. Color me not surprised.

I'm an American, too. I was an NCO in the USAF.

If you have a TV, you can waste a lot of hours that can be used for learning 'useless' stuff.

I'll stick with what works for me.

One thing that has never let me down is that children (including me) live up to expectations placed on them.

/johnny

111 posted on 12/05/2014 2:20:28 PM PST by JRandomFreeper (Gone Galt)
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To: discostu
Age will teach you.

/johnny

112 posted on 12/05/2014 2:21:27 PM PST by JRandomFreeper (Gone Galt)
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To: JRandomFreeper

Yep, straight for the strawman, and even a bit of insult. Meanwhile you’re still wrong.


113 posted on 12/05/2014 2:22:50 PM PST by discostu (The albatross begins with its vengeance A terrible curse a thirst has begun)
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To: JRandomFreeper

Age HAS taught me. It’s taught me you forget things. And it’s taught me that denial is more than just the longest river in Africa. It’s clear you just can’t admit you’re wrong. But you are. And now you’re resorting to fallacies, so that show you know you’re wrong. So we’re done. Have fun forgetting this conversation, which we both know you will.


114 posted on 12/05/2014 2:24:31 PM PST by discostu (The albatross begins with its vengeance A terrible curse a thirst has begun)
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To: discostu
Your assertion, vs mine. You are the one that is wrong, with very few hours spent teaching children from birth to mid-20s.

/johnny

115 posted on 12/05/2014 2:24:37 PM PST by JRandomFreeper (Gone Galt)
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To: JRandomFreeper

My FACTS
https://www.google.com/search?q=use+it+or+lose+it+theory&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&channel=sb
vs your assertions.

You are, quite simply, wrong. Bye.


116 posted on 12/05/2014 2:25:53 PM PST by discostu (The albatross begins with its vengeance A terrible curse a thirst has begun)
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To: discostu
How many hours have you spent, teaching those from birth to 20+?

The only reason I brought the NCO thing into it is that you WILL teach post high-school teens if you are an NCO.

And get all the latest theories in the 'Train the Trainer' classes.

Mostly BS.

/johnny

117 posted on 12/05/2014 2:28:06 PM PST by JRandomFreeper (Gone Galt)
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To: discostu
Your source is BS.

/johnny

118 posted on 12/05/2014 2:29:07 PM PST by JRandomFreeper (Gone Galt)
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To: JRandomFreeper
Of course, me finding the parody of "Do you want to build a meth lab" isn't helping my relationship with my own daugher (her mom).

/johnny

 

So. The idea of getting the grandkids a Breaking Bad Leggo Kit for Christmas might not go over too well?


119 posted on 12/05/2014 2:29:23 PM PST by Responsibility2nd (NO LIBS. This Means Liberals and (L)libertarians! Same Thing. NO LIBS!!)
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To: wdnhrse

These days people need to start taking their own education into their own hands. No more relying on nitwit teachers. If more Americans viewed high school as training for the real world then I am certain that they would likely be better off.

The real key is taking your life in your own hands and taking responsibility. These days too many young idiots view college as an extension of high school, meaning that professors are supposed to end up coddling and guiding them.


120 posted on 12/05/2014 2:29:45 PM PST by CorporateStepsister (I am NOT going to force a man to make my dreams come true)
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