My required readings for this week’s Digital Media Literacy class are two chapters about the state of American education. In these chapters, the author, Joel Best, uses his self-made term, Stupidity Epidemic, to describe Americans’ worry that upcoming generations are less intelligent than previous generations. He notes that some Americans fear this rising epidemic will spell the nation’s defeat. Basically, people believe the United States will be crushed by its competitors because other countries’ youth are smarter than American children.
Best analyzes the history of Stupidity Epidemic mode of thinking since the 1800s and stresses that fear over education quality exists in other countries and has been a concern in the United States since school first started here centuries ago. Best positions his argument that fears of spreading dumbness throughout the country are unfounded. He says,
“We’ll try to explain these concerns, to understand why people have misplaced fears about increasing stupidity, and consider some more constructive ways to think about the state of education.”
Best, Joel. The Stupidity Epidemic: Worrying about Students, Schools, and America’s Future
Even though the author does not fully delve into his analysis of Americans’ intelligence and education system in these two chapters, his view of the nation’s education situation contradicts other critics’ perspectives.
I agree with Best’s argument that concerns of rising stupidity are misplaced. Is it that there is a Stupidity Epidemic? Or is it that students are focusing so hard on completing extensive tasks and requirements thrown at them that they aren’t retaining information. We are facing an education problem in this country that’s leaving kids uninformed and unprepared for life.
While there are certainly socioeconomic concerns that affect students’ access to resources, even in the absence of those issues, there has been a shift in focus from learning the material to passing the test. The state of the U.S. education system leaves concerned Americans yearning for more because today it focuses on achieving high test scores, not comprehending information.
I call this phenomenon the box check effect. People have lost sight of the true purpose of education because they’re busy checking the boxes to move ahead in life. High school today is all about maintaining a high GPA, scoring well on the SAT or ACT, and building up a good profile for the college admissions process. Similarly, college is about sustaining a high GPA for scholarships, building up a good resume for internship and job applications, and earning the ultimate check mark–a degree!
Education has become an exhausting monotony; a system where memorization, not comprehension reaps the reward. Some students focus so intensely on passing tests to prove their intelligence that they may not actually acquire the knowledge they were tested on. They complete the task, but the information and the ability to apply information may be left behind. Or in other cases, the exercise of completing tasks becomes purposeless and individuals lose the excitement, curiosity, and creativity of learning. As a result, individuals will not seek out knowledge that is not required for their career paths.
Perhaps these holes in Americans’ education are more evident today than in previous decades because people need a broader mindset to operate effectively in today’s world.
Using the Coronavirus Pandemic as an example, Americans must have a solid understanding of a variety of topics in order to survive. Critical thinking skills, math, science, and health are needed to understand why this virus is worse than the flu, what experts mean by flattening the curve, and the importance of social distancing. Individuals need media literacy to decipher the information they receive about COVID-19 from mass media and Donald Trump’s press conferences. Geography is crucial for locating virus hot spots. Economics is key for understanding the Coronavirus’ long-term implications for the economy. People need fitness and nutrition knowledge for information about staying healthy indoors. History provides information about previous pandemics such as the 1918 Flu Pandemic. Reading comprehension is required for understanding written information about the Coronavirus. Art provides a soothing outlet to cope with stress, express oneself, and pass the time. Lastly, communications and technology help us connect with one another and maintain a sense of normalcy. It becomes evident that individuals operate on a limited mindset when they are unable to comprehend the gravity of situations like this one.
Although individuals cannot single-handedly fix the box check effect problem in the U.S. education system, there are outside resources available that can instill a love of learning. If you’re looking for entertaining and informative content while at home, check out the Smithsonian Museums’ virtual tours and exhibits. If you have access to Netflix, I recommend watching the show 100 Humans. You can also watch educational channels on YouTube like “TED,” “Crash Course,” and “Great Big Story.”
“I have never let my schooling interfere with my education.”
Mark Twain
In all, Best analyzes whether the United States is experiencing a widespread Stupidity Epidemic. Although I agree that Americans aren’t simply getting dumber, I understand there are factors at play that impede students’ ability to fully absorb information.
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