Coronavirus, Covid 19 Discussion and How It Has Affected Your Daily Life Chat Thread

[IamRainey]

There's something wrong with public education in the USA, when so many folks can believe idiocies like that!
As an old fogie, it appears to me that civics, history, and basic sciences and health are no longer mentioned, even at the HS level. Pathetic!
I'll stop, for now...
Mary

That may or may not be a failing of public education. I think we're already suffering the consequences of so many people either homeschooling or choosing "custom" educations to fit their pre-conceptions. I think there could be a lot of crossover between anti-vaxxers and the don't-pollute-my kids'-brains-with-anything-I-don't-already-believers who've avoided established avenues of education. Choose your own reality has become a serious threat to our way of life.

 

[CarpCharacin]

The public school system is pretty nasty, but I agree that allowing parents to choose "educations" for their children without requiring that objective facts be taught is worsening the mass stupidity. Plenty of people are innately dumb as well.

 

[TropicalBabies]

 

[ChocolateMouse]

That may or may not be a failing of public education. I think we're already suffering the consequences of so many people either homeschooling or choosing "custom" educations to fit their pre-conceptions. I think there could be a lot of crossover between anti-vaxxers and the don't-pollute-my kids'-brains-with-anything-I-don't-already-believers who've avoided established avenues of education. Choose your own reality has become a serious threat to our way of life.

FWIW Rainey, my mom was one of those. But you may note I didn't come out that way. Someone can be patently stupid and still believe the virus is real and follow CDC guidelines and want to keep people safe. It's much more about the culture than the education. All these people who don't believe in the virus have all the information in the world at their fingertips, but when presented with a study showing how it spreads still say "but if masks work why does it spread!?". Education doesn't fix that IMO - they have the info and the ability to disseminate it they just chose an alternative route.

Also FWIW forced indoctrination of the school system has been used in some deeply negative ways in our nations history with regards to minorities/disenfranchised populations and many populations have a justified and continued distrust of a public education system that essentially sold their children American Exceptionalism while commiting genocide. :T

Forced schooling should be approached with extreme caution and may not actually fix the issue of the culture of anti-intellectualism.

 

[IamRainey]

The public school system is pretty nasty, but I agree that allowing parents to choose "educations" for their children without requiring that objective facts be taught is worsening the mass stupidity. Plenty of people are innately dumb as well.

Kids, as they mature, deserve an opportunity to come to their own conclusions. But first they need to learn critical thinking. That's the first obligation of any authentic education. After that, if something is true or valuable it will appeal to their reason.

 

[TropicalBabies]

I found out last night some 34yo guy blew himself dead with one of those bombs I was complaining about. The comment section of our local newspaper had a bunch of people- who sound a lot like me - complaining about constant and inconsiderate, traumatized pets and useless police. I fell validated but it is unfortunate I had to find like fellows ranting after their condolences to the family. .. there were also 1 or 2 of those "anti-intellectuals" pretty sure.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

@MROO I always liked the saying..."The outside of a horse is good for the inside of a (wo)man."

Winston Churchill, wasn't it?

 

[aart]

It's much more about the culture than the education.

Ditto Dat!

 

[KarynVA]

I agree with Mary. Due to the focus on testing and rote memorization, our country's education system lacks training of students in critical thinking and evidence-based discovery.

 

[Molpet]

I think it's more than that.

They see something that has a kernal of truth and believe the whole thing.

The biggest problem, for me, is both sides tells half truths

All news outlets wants to sell and sensationalism everything.