...or can you still do math manually (without your calculator)?
...or do you know the difference between a primary and secondary source?
...or how much of what you say or write is truly researched and thought out?
(My apologies for using the word “google” as a verb.) But if you google “declining IQ scores” you will be surprised by the bombardment of articles discussing the reasons why IQ scores in developed countries have been declining for decades.
Many sources talk about failing schools. Some refer to our dependance on electronic gadgets for instantaneous information. Others point to poor nutrition and reduced interest in reading.
Recent test data show that our elementary and secondary schools are in deep trouble. It is not uncommon for high school graduates to be ignorant of the American Revolution, the Constitution, or the roles of the three branches of government. Worse, the majority of those graduates leave our schools convinced that the U.S. is the evilest bastion of racism, sexism, and oppression.
Despite living in an age that gives us online libraries at our fingertips, there seems to be more ignorance than ever. Our smart phones and other devices may be dumbing us down rather than increasing our cognitive abilities. It could be that our “smart devices” are not meant to filter any information. A simple surf of the web will reveal a sad collection of half-truths, urban legends, and outright lies.
Is it time for our schools to return to the teaching of logic and rhetoric? Shouldn’t we be giving our students the ability to think?
Giving our young the tools of logic will protect them against manipulation by the media, politicians, or dishonest individuals. Our kids need to learn to spot fallacies common today—straw man arguments, circular arguments, and ad hominem attacks. They need to recognize when someone is trying to mislead or bamboozle them.
Logic combined with rhetoric—the art of effective speaking or writing—can be powerful, especially in this great age of communication.
We don’t need to cast away our emotions, as Mr. Spock did in Star Trek. But neither should we ignore the need for deliberation and clear thinking.
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