Have Americans been dumbed down?

Question

It just seems to me that younger adults don't have a clue.

Answer 1

Just turn on the TV set and look at what america is watching, you'll understand really quickly.

Answer 2

Unfortunately I feel that is true that we Americans have become dumbed down. This is due to the current feeling that the media should cater to the lesser intelligent. It is no wonder that Americans can hardly spell when most of the advertising we are bombarded with consists of misspellings and slang. It also doesn't help when some uber-liberal views of education is to just pass a student on to the next grade instead of damaging their self-esteem, self-esteem is very important in the young but so is an understanding that if you don't apply yourself and actually learn you will be left behind in the "real" world.

Answer 3

Absolutely - how else could we give all the illiteracy of today a passing grade! Example: I attended college last semester - easy enough class - Film Classics - 30's to 50's era - for one thing few people knew what the props and times even related too - which tells me they didn't pay attention in history - but my professor resigned at the end of the year - I ask him why, as he has taught several classes I've taken over the last 20 years - I believe education is knowledge and knowledge is something to gain on the last breath you take - he said they were ordered to accept computer shorthand as legitimate spelling for literature essays, such as what we wrote in film classics, and his various other literature classes - He said he has a hard enough time reading their writing without out having to accept ur as you are. I agree - the reason for the transition in a community college president's thinking (money aside)? The professor's were failing too many students. I'm sorry by the time we reach that level - students fail them selves - having parents for teachers, it's my personal opinion that students have always been the ones to fail themselves - but if you ask administrators - it's poor teaching skills - I find that hard to believe - but then again, maybe I don't - we've got them so busy teaching all the special interest groups priorities they don't have time to teach reading, writing, and arithmetic - so yes, I think we've become pretty dumb Americans - pull the plug on tv for a school year and I'd bet we see some students grades go up - if for no other reason shear boredom will put your nose in a book!

Answer 4

Have you watched TV lately? If you have I think you might be able to answer your own question. For many, not only do they not have a clue they have no idea where to go to find a clue.

In my town one of the local grade schools is being shut down because 75% of the students could not pass the ISTEP. 75%. Incredible.

Several years ago, the city shut down the best high school in town because they wanted to consolidate the high schools so they could improve the basketball team. No lie.

Answer 5

Hmmm. I think I need more information to answer this question.

1. How many young American adults have you spoken with in total?
2. Are you in a position ot compare the young adults you have spoken with recently to young American adults from 10 years ago?
3. Do you generally regard young American adults as moral or immoral?
4. Have you traveled extensively in America recently?

;-D Get back to me with that information, ok?

Answer 6

Yup. I'd say that when a teacher calls a parent to inform them that his/her child is failing because he/she doesn't turn in homework and cuts up in class and the parent fusses at the teacher, defending their child, education doesn't stand a chance.

Answer 7

The education system is much weaker than 30 yrs ago.

Answer 8

but they have good "self-esteem"

that's all you need to be a world leader...