Map of life expectancy at birth from Global Education Project.

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Let Freedumb Ring









kathy a. said...

i disagree with your assertions that we have universal literacy and a high level of formal education.

sure, nearly everyone can sign their name and nod "yes" when asked if they understand what they are reading. but a great many of our citizens are functionally illiterate or borderline; we have huge rates of folks who dropped out of formal schooling; and quality basic science education is not a priority in a culture that often has emphasized education merely as a means of getting a job.

the very vocal attacks on science, and especially evolution, may leave some people who do not understand *all* the science saying they just aren't sure; it is prudent in our culture to not commit when one might be punished for that commitment. just a hypothesis.

kathy a. said...

or to put it another way, defending evolution is not going to lead directly to jobs for most of us, and it may lead to being disinvited to the neighborhood potluck or other social support on the ground.

there is not enough recognition that evolution affects people in their daily lives. MRSA and flu are some examples, but they still don't affect everyone.

i think one answer is in stressing nature and science much more strongly in earlier years, to spark interests -- and making science more accessible to older kids and adults generally. just recognizing the diversity and wonders of nature is a step. it probably even sounds stupid, but finding an interest and following it is a way of fostering critical thinking.

Mr. Gunn said...

Long time no comment, Cervantes! I like the blog redesign. As a former and long-time dweller in the South, I just have to take exception to this characterization. I think you're right that things break down along educational lines, and the results of the Pew study confirm this( ) but there's just as much religious fervor and fundamentalism in the Midwest as there is in the South, perhaps more, because we at least have good weather and good food.