Hi All:

Today being a holiday (ha ha) I finally sat down and really read the Gatto pice 
on secondary education.

My feeling is that he has provided food for thought rather than empirical 
evidence one way or another. His themes are ones also fostered by Sagan in 
Demon Haunted World, and many other educators--that schools are not teaching 
students to think. One could argue there is evidence for that lack demonstrated 
by the increasing number of college classes which are cropping up to teach 
students how to think--because they have not learned to do so prior to college.

All in all thought provoking, especially for those of us with kids....the 
problem is that with some kids it doesn't matter how much water you give them, 
they just may not drink......

Ironically I read this article and the Chronicle article on Bush's stance on 
education in sequence. Interesting how Bush has chosen to down-play his Yale 
education because he sees it as distancing himself from average Americans. I 
think that Bush's lack of critical thinking, however, is that most Americans 
don't feel distanced by his having an education, it's possibly the Yale bit....
so I am puzzled why he wants to brag about how poorly he did in school....not 
sure what the point is since apparently he wants to bridge the gap between 
the 'haves' and 'have nots' as far as education is concerned--but the real 
bottom line is there is no money in the budget for education because it has 
gone to other things, like the tax rebates, which the government sincerely 
hopes we all spend as soon as we get them.......

Annette


Annette Kujawski Taylor, Ph. D.
Department of Psychology
University of San Diego 
5998 Alcala Park
San Diego, CA 92110
[EMAIL PROTECTED]

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