It's the Information, Stupid!
It's the information. stupid!
I file it under fundamentally wrong when TV/INTERNET/RADIO media outlets distribute commentary wrapped in a 'news' label listing the top ingredient as FACTS. Fast forward to the rare instance of breakfast, seated at the table with an information relic- a newspaper. I had to shake and fold the unruly paper leeching ink onto my fingertips all the way back to the Opinion section on page 8. Leonard Pitts headline A big deal about 'no big deal' caught my eye. I read the article and the response. The details are only important insofar that if I was not a critical thinker who was trained to research in the 80's and 90's B.G. (Before Google) I might not have dug any deeper than the novelty of the newspaper.
It's the information. stupid! It's the information that will liberate us- the truth shall set you free. But where does the truth live?
I am a single mom raising a daughter in the information age. Now, more than ever, I don't know of any skills more valuable than critical thinking. But therein lies the rub- technology is crucial, but what about the kids who are growing up in a world where machines are a given? How do we balance and not worship at the temple of tech? Books are being phased out and research means reporting to a keyboard. Where is the dig deeper? Teachers are forced to teach to tests and solutions that are found in a proper box.
Where is the creativity? How are our kids going to compete? My fear is that kids are growing up in a world where parents are forced to work round the clock and trust their children to the electronic babysitter. These skills are going to be lost in translation, precious childhood hours handed over to TV and internet in the interest of putting food on the table.
Continued on the next page
Follow Technorati