Anti-Intellectual Society?
In Carol P. Richardson’s presentation, Engaging with the World: Music Education and the Big Ideas, she stated that she believes that our society is anti-intellectual and that critical thinking rarely occurs. This statement was extremely shocking to me. However, the more I think about the world and its perceptions, the more I tend to agree. I feel that the intellect is becoming less and less valued in the world. I feel that the arts, especially literature and musical theater, are becoming less and less artistic, and more and more for pure entertainment. I feel that society no longer wants to promote critical thinking in its art. Every time I turn on the television, I see some sort of comedy that focuses on violent or disgusting humor. What happened to television shows that promoted intellectual humor and actually made its viewers think? I also feel that the greater influence of technology is distracting humans more and more from engaging in intellectual thought. How do we, as educators, stop this phenomenon? How do we, against society, engage our children in critical thinking? It is up to us as educators to bring our society back to an intellectual plane.
posted by Jenna @ 9:38 PM
1 Comments:
When I first read this, I wanted to say that Richardson's statement is not true. However, the more I think about it, the more I am faced with the realization that her statement is valid. To me, the question then becomes "Why is our society anti-intellectual? What about critical thinking is 'turning off' the public?" In large part, I think that our educational system's continuous battle to 'standardize' education is responsible. High-stakes standardized testing leaves little room for teachers to do anything but cover the material that children must learn for the test. It leaves even less room for us to implement critical thinking in the classroom.
Could you imagine, each student actually thinking for (and by) themselves? Why, there would be more than one answer to the same question! That's not standardized! (Obviously, the above statement is sarcasm. Just making sure we're all on the same page...)
In addition, critical thinking requires the individual to stop what they are doing and reflect. Why would anyone take that kind of effort when presenting an answer solely for the sake of 'presenting an answer' is good enough? Why should we put our precious time and effort into a meaningful answer or further questioning when it is not appreciated? Critical thinking is "too much work" in this context. John or Jane Smith will, with few exceptions, always take the easiest route.
I agree with Jenna. It is up to educators to bring society back to an intellectual plane. However, I would further suggest that it is also up to us to make society want to take itself up to an intellectual plane. Now the big question: How do we start the ball rolling in the face of such enormous opposition?
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