The Dumbest Generation? Don't Be Dumb.

This article was quite frustrating to read in the beginning. The author goes on about how dumb our generation is, and then completely changes direction and writes about how our "minds are more flexible." So what's wrong? Our generation is the first to have grown up in this "digital age" and we still don't know what the long-term effects are. The article argues with itself about the effects of video games and multi-tasking, but when it comes down to how much we know, I don't think that our generation is to blame. The article itself states, "it reflects not stupidity but a failure of the school system and of society." Then the article goes on to talk about how this generation thinks that different things are more important to know than what previous generations do, which I completely agree with. Times have changed, new things seem more important to Gen Y than the older generations. The author states, "Gen Y's ignorance of facts (or of facts that older people think are important) reflects not dumbness but choice." Just because this generation doesn't know random facts that old people ask does not mean that this generation is dumb. These people probably know 10 times more than the older generation about computers or more modern age things. It all depends on what you think is important. We often talk about why literature is important, why are we in school, and why is Mr Priest teaching?? This article explores our western style of learning and if it is accurate or not. It also relates back to On Studing by Ortega y Gasset. He also talks about the ways that we learn and teach, and how the western way of learning is a false way of learning. I disagree with this because if you are learning what you are interested in, then it works. It just takes a good teacher to get you interested.