Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : Foreign Affairs Discussion Group -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: epicure who wrote (140349)	7/14/2004 10:23:46 PM
From: Sun Tzu	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 281500

A sad but true assessment, so if you are an educator, perhaps you should watch Dead Poets Society and heed...at the risk of starting Mq on another satirical page, I am reminded of a story involving Umayyad, media, and the people...I can't remember the details, but the advisor suggested to Caliph to do something. The Caliph answered he doesn't think he can get away with it because the people can't be that stupid. The advisor said the stupidity of the people cannot be underestimated, so long as they are fed the right news. At the Friday's sermon he instructed the Imam to tell the people he has heard from the Prophet himself that anyone who can touch his chin with his tongue during the noon prayer shall surely go to heaven. The advisor then presented a mosque full of people with their tongues out to the Caliph and got the authorization for his campaign...when you think about it, elements of modern statecraft and politics are present in that story, which goes to show the political astuteness of the Umayyad.

To: epicure who wrote (140349)	7/15/2004 1:33:49 AM
From: ManyMoose	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 281500

You prove my point, because it is the PARENTS who are getting their views on the tube and giving them uncritically to their children. I don't disagree with your statements, but uncritical thinking is certainly not limited to children. It's simply a responsibility abrogated by parents who either aren't there or don't learn critical thinking themselves, or as is far too often the case, fail to transmit that skill to their children.

To: epicure who wrote (140349)	7/15/2004 8:28:36 AM
From: Ilaine	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 281500

Could "lack of critical thinking" be a California thing? No offense, but some places - Fairfax, for sure, have it on the curriculum. Because my kids (admittedly in GT since first grade) have been taught critical thinking in school. Logic, theory of knowledge, textual analysis. They're getting better educations than my husband (Libertyville, IL) or I (Baton Rouge, LA) did. My older son, 19, is already a junior in college. In addition to getting critical thinking as they go, 11th grade IB has a mandatory class devoted entirely to that. And 12th grade essay using independent research. Stuff like that. Very nice and doesn't cost us any extra, but the property taxes are high.