‘The Dumbest Generation’ by Mark Bauerlein – Los Angeles Times
The way Bauerlein sees it, something new and disastrous has happened to America’s youth with the arrival of the instant gratification go-go-go digital age. The result is, essentially, a collective loss of context and history, a neglect of “enduring ideas and conflicts.” Survey after painstakingly recounted survey reveals what most of us already suspect: that America’s youth know virtually nothing about history and politics. And no wonder. They have developed a “brazen disregard of books and reading.”
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Bauerline’s premise is interesting, although predictably redundant. The proceeding two generations were also called ‘dumb’ by their wiser elders. It is documented, but I can not quote it here. I read it in The Fourth Turning by William Strauss and Neil Howe. Great book for those of us who are fascinated by the circular nature of history. There is something to be said about the lack of education the kids in America receive, but that is hardely their fault. I coach High School debate in Phoenix and I spend many sessions bring the debaters up to speed on the context of the world. They have no understanding of history whatsoever. I am required to teach them about the constitution and why the founders framed it in such a way. I teach them the history of World War II, and the Cold War. They have no idea who Joseph McCarthy was. They don’t really understand why a communist was bad. For them a terrorist is bad, but they dont really know why. Granted, it makes my work a bit harder, but their ignorance is not the result of Facebook or MySpace. The responsibility is squarely on the parents whose neglect has allowed such sub-standard teaching to continue for the last 25 years. I also put the responsibility on people like Bauerline who are happy enough to suffer the stupidity of his college students, but who do nothing to try and change it at the lower levels. People need to volunteer to help these kids. I volunteer my time. And I’d like to think that my debaters will go out and make the world a better place. And, I believe they will use the “digital” tools at their disposal to do so. I’ll take facebook and MySpace if it gets me Wikipedia and the Blogosphere.
I have to defend the youth sense I am just past the young adult age. You wanna say that TV, the Computer, Ipods, and other sources of destractions are the reason for a dumb Generation. Well I hate to burst your bubble, but this dumbing down of society has been going on for at least 100 YEARS NOW…..Wow, that’s A LOT of Dumb Generations. You wanna kow about dumb, maybe you should yell at your grand parents (if they are still alive, which is unlikly if they lived in 1913) and ask them why in the HELL did they agree to the Federal Reserve ACT????That was one of the Stupiest things any American could have done in the history of America. Or ask them why they were so “Smart” to give up all their gold to the government without putting up a fight?????
Before I go any further, ou must decide if you want to keep living in your little dream world, thinking that the Republicans OR the Democrats care about our Constitution and do not have alterior motives. Also going on thinking that the government is perfect little angels that never Le to you or keep secrets from you and public schools/colleges tell you all the information you need about history, Etc…………….Or do you want to think outside the box and come to a reality that you do not hear in regular media?? If you take the Blue pill, I tell you truth’s you might be scared to hear or never knew before. If you take the Red pill, you go back to sleep and wake up back in your little dream world and become a slave soon in the future (weather it’s by the government or robots, it does not matter)…
Take the RED Pll: You close your eyes and go on living a Lie. Stop reading my comment.
Take the BLUE Pill: Ok, Now that you have woken up, let me tell you some hard truth’s about what you were never suppose to know. You may remeber the old saying: “Divide and Conquer”. Well that was not just some Fluke, it is a reality that has been done to children for the last 100 years to dumb them down. Logically speaking, What happens when you have a dumb populous? you get more people falling to the will and power of the government and are easily controlled.
Now,…Think about when your children were growing up? Did you ever actually look at the History books, etc to make sure the material was all in there and it was all correct?… Of COURSE you didn’t, because you trusted in the school system to properly teach your child all te facts of History. Well, guess what, The school’s did NOT teach your kid all the facts. I know this from some Heavy research I had to do outside of school in my later years after high school and college classes. If you have an old History book of when you were in school, get it out and compare the material to the ones used today (2008 Versions). I bet you’ll find a lot of information has been ommitted in the 2008 version. I even bet if you were able to compare your history books with the ones of your parents or grand parent, you would also see a sizable difference in the amount of important information that is missing. Take the information about the Central Bankers and the Federal Reserve ACT…. I did not find out about the Federal reserve ACT in school AT ALL……….Why, you ask, I dont know, but I bet it’s to acomplish what the government/bankers have wanted to be happen……..Dumb adults and dumber childeren. So if your going to place the blame on anyone, maybe you should stop to think about why you never looked at you child’s text book, or bette yet, be ANGRY at the government for porposly trying to devert your childern’s attention with mindless junk and ommitting important information to your child!!
Now, I have another thing to mention. The reason why children have wondering minds……a basic math problem. Let’s say you have this little problem: 2+1+2+1+2+1= ? you would solve it as 9 being the anwser. Now take that same problem and make it like this: 2+S+2+S+2+S= ? You would not be able to solve the problem in basic math unless maybe if you were in a higher math class. Do you see where I’m going with this?? Apply that principle to History and then you know why children are having difficult times in school trying to figure out the answer that can not be solved. Of Course children are gonna feel hopless and wonder in school and become more interested in TV, Computers, MP3 Players, Etc…….Because they are NOT given ALL the information and with all of the information that has been slowly ommitted over 100 years is a long time and can confuse most kids about the full truth of a subject. Even in math, no teacher takes the time to “EXPLAIN” why that equation works in the world or how someone came up with it, The problem is just thrown at them and all they are told to do is memorize the order. When a child asks what the problem is used for, the teacher is quick to shut them up, because the “WHY” question is the Most ignored question in the school system today and that has GOT TO STOP!!!!!!!! Wake UP Amerca and think before you just to a conculsion about things.
These kids have no idea what the word “no” means. Everything is so readily given,available,and bestowed upon them like they’re special and extraordinary. I grew up with computers in the 1980’s when computer labs were just beginning to sprout up in schools because of parents/school districts who held bond elections in the 1970’s. I saw the computer as an aid and that it was important to understand them in order to be a better student. We used Apple II’s I think and remember Oregon Trail being played as a reward for excellent spelling and writing. I knew my parents couldn’t afford one, so there was no reason to ask to have one in the home. My favorite places were the backyard, the library, band class and church. I got a very well-rounded education. I had a few horrible teachers along the way in Math and Science during the crucial pre-teen years. We were called “slackers”. Being a GenXer I was not encouraged or mentored by anyone. The difference between a GenXer and the current “dumb generation” is the level of narcissism and idea of entitlement. GenXers know and learned the hard way through tech bubble bursting .Many had to grow up. This current breed of students all of whom can’t all be dumb of course, will learn the word “no” more and more. With the current financial situation and their parents living in homes they could never afford, I’m sure the day will come for each of them when they look back on their sweeter days of using the latest phones, texting without regard to the bill, the finest luxury SUV as a sweet sixteen present, and birthday parties costing thousands of dollars. Remember when? They ‘ll ask. They’re only dumb because most do not appreciate what they have and most do not even know how they’re IPOD works, where it was made, and the intelligence it takes to keep them entertained. America no longer graduates the best and the brightest because they’re so weak or lazy in Math and Science. The United States doesn’t even graduate the most MD’s or engineers anymore. Who’s going to keep the so called innovation moving or at least running? No one wants to make the IPOD, they just want to say they have one and be entertained for the moment. Everyone is at fault somewhere along the way.Parents who don’t want to be bothered or don’t have the time(so they purchase their kid a laptop thinking it will make their kid smarter or life easier), teachers who shouldn’t be teachers(I had a few that made me cringe to have to ask a question), and students who are in fact becoming lazier and yes even dumber than my generation unfortunatley. I’ve witnessed too many incidents to denounce the author being completely wrong. He is right on many levels and it is frightening. Apathy and American Idolesque may seem important to them at present. If their rights are ever violated in the future(that’s why you need to read history and civics), or when they realize that real life economically (economics,consumer science) sooner or later comes crashing in, the lesson will be hard and painful,but I won’t feel too bad for them.I know how to use the library system and always have a book (a real book) and I’m happy in the knowledge that I am not a dumb GenXer.I can live without the internet and in fact kinda miss the life before it. I feel frightened for my country because I know that as kids get dumber and lazier, how much longer will the country last? I’m only 32, and I don’t care if I sound old. I honestly don’t know if America can sustain its technology,medicine, or inventiveness if the dumb generation trend continues to lead downward into oblivion. Maybe Americans will find a way.
I agree with everyone that each new generation knows less about history and has less patience for both math and reading. This is pretty scary and know exactly is to blame is a good question although both the criminals running our government and unethical corporations certainly played a role. However, there is a bright side and one that could outweigh all the problems. While the majority of individuals is getting dumber there are still plenty of smart people, ones who were raised right, kept away from the TV by their parents and made to read, etc. And the things that they are accomplishing are extraordinary. The pace of technological innovation keeps increasing. If Google accomplishes their mission and organizes all the worlds information why do our kids need to be taught who McCarthy was when they can just look him up with the click of a button. Traditional schooling is necessary biased, there is no way they can teach you “everything” in high school, they have to abbreviate it. Yes, in the modern textbooks the government has eliminated the parts that make it look bad, but that has been happening since writing first began. Why do we have a bible that can be used to keep popes and priests in power when Jesus was staunchly against all types of hierarchical power. He believed we should ONLY obey god, not man, because every man is corrupted by power, but the chapters that stressed that were cut out. Anyway, back in modern times, we may be getting “dumber” but in place of all that knowledge is a skill that the older generations do not have. I could give any 12 year old off the street a brand new piece of technology or brand new program and within minutes they could use it. It may seem trivial but try handing that same phone/computer app/whatever to your favorite old professor and all the phd’s in the world will not help him figure it out. There is a new meaning to the old phrase “over educated and under skilled” and the impact is unfathomable. This is us evolving.