Bias, Free-thinking and Education

[Guest guest]

Was: Shortening Lifespans

Rosemary:

<In one of my biology classes at the university, we spent

some time talking about how man was descended from a reptile. It was quite

interesting. Yet my English prof was horrified when I wrote that in

a paper we were assigned to write on the Origin of Man. He actually

asked me where I had learned such rubbish.>

Mel replied:

<Another major lack in school education is that our youth are not taught

how to think analytically, to understand what is meant by logical

arumentation, the scientific method, " proof " , " validation " , hypothesis,

theory, model, paradigm and other factors which enable one to

examine information and make valid deductions that are not based upon

polyical, social or personal agendas.

**** Mine was a writing assignment that could not be two paragraphs.

It had to have an introduction, a discussion and a conclusion. If I

remember, it was about ten double-spaced type written pages. I went

through the whole theory from the discussions in my biology class,

the evidence from archeological digs, etc. as well as some

information from another class I was taking in Evolution (probably

the most interesting class I took in college bar none). The English

Teaching Assistant was still horrified.

I had a friend (and classmate) at the time who had been raised in a

strict Roman Catholic environment. She wrote what she believed,

which was the Church doctrine. He didn't like that any better. I

would imagine that a religious Jew or Muslim would have had yet

other interpretations.

In looking back on the situation some 40 years later, I think that

guy needed the boot. This was supposedly a creative writing class.

The grade should have been given according to how well the students

stuck to the assigned format, their spelling, grammar and ability to

express themselves and draw their conclusions. Their personal

beliefs should not have been taken into consideration at all. For

the instructor, this should have been a very interesting assignment

since it provided insight into people and their very differing

beliefs. But somehow he couldn't get past his narrowmindedness.

This is not the way to encourage original thought or creative

thinking.

Rosemary Vernon, Editor

Dolfzine On-Line Fitness, Inc.®

A Non-Profit Foundation

www.dolfzine.com

Marina del Rey, CA

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