Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!peregrine!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!usc!wuarchive!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!think.com!paperboy!osf.org!jon From: jon@osf.org (Jon Taylor) Newsgroups: comp.edu Subject: Re: Against educational fads Message-ID: <16897@paperboy.OSF.ORG> Date: 5 Dec 90 23:25:38 GMT References: <15404@cs.utexas.edu> <15425@cs.utexas.edu> <1990Dec5.005509.11049@massey.ac.nz> <15447@cs.utexas.edu> <39897@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU> <15459@cs.utexas.edu> Sender: news@OSF.ORG Reply-To: jon@osf.org (Jon Taylor) Organization: Open Software Foundation Lines: 31 Thanks to Russell Turpin for bringing up this very important point: fads come and go, while real education, understanding, and knowledge are relatively permanent. We have become so enamored of technological and scientific progress that we seem to think that nothing traditional has any value. The schools only reflect this attitude. Mr. Turpin writes: > One of the most pernicious influences on our primary and > secondary schools are the teachers who do not know what is > important and lasting in education, and what is a passing fad. I agree completely with the sentiment, but I do think it's a bit strong to fault teachers alone: the educrats and politicians and the general public itself have to accept the blame as well. In another message he writes: |> Some things are important. Teaching students how to write is |> much more important than teaching them how to use word |> processors. When someone suggests otherwise, they are wrong. I |> will not apologize for saying this. Nor should you. Well spoken - uh, I mean written - that is, processed? Seriously, this point can't be overemphasized. No amount of technology will replace the need for human beings (educated ones, at least) to be able to use the written/printed word as a means of communicating ideas. Relying on graphics and pictures and spoken language alone will lead, I believe, to a continuing increase in fuzzy thinking and a loss of ability to reason.