Formal education isn't for everyone--Thomas Sowell

Excerpted from the Diane Rehm Radio Talk Show, Jan 13, 1993
Dr. Sowell discussed his new book about the failures of the U.S. education system, "Inside American Education". He stated that many education systems in the U.S. do not allow for different views and new ways of educating. Full interview available at the c-span video library.

"A person can no more be trained into a thinker by lecturing to him than he can into a gymnast." - Simon Newcomb

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[jbohler33]

anyone else think that our standards for intelligence has dropped in the last couple of decades?

[pretorious700]

an American woman "taking exception" to something? Wow, who would have ever guessed?

[brianpadrickdrake]

@pretorious700 LOL!

[OthelloCarmellow]

"There are requirements in the world."

Dibs on the tattoo.

[canisfamilliaris]

I'm in the uk, and we've got the Olympics coming soon. I'd live at Gold Medal for the 100 metres, but I'm too old, and no where near fast enough.

But I feel I should get the medal anyway, be given all sorts of chances, or maybe they should change the whole concepts of racing (or do I mean race?)

Mayber the slowest should get Gold

It's not fair, it's not fair.

Cognitive functioning, that's intelligence, the left just try to change the meaning.

[Vindigary]

Boom! Thomas Sowell like a BOSS telling it like it is! The real academics are bored and embarrassed when the class is putting on drunk goggles and putting condoms on wooden dildos in the fucking university classroom. The universities have become a racket to put you in debt for the rest of your life in exchange for four years of communist social philosophy. Thank God we have the internet.

[1czelaya]

@lysol5555 You're right, you can't convince me because it's a conclusion that is PRIMARILY based on data. If there's data out there that you do know of that would refute these conclusions, by all means, let me know (seriously). In addition, I never made a statement that you weren't good at something. I can't say anything about you're personal talents, morals, or achievement because I don't know you. I'm sure you're good at many things. Lysol5555 I wish you do the best sir/ma'am.

[1czelaya]

@lysol5555 Yes, I guess I will go do some math in quantum mechanics so I can help design drugs that combat against cancer types of BCL proteins. I've taught several college courses. It's not hard to conclude that when students don't show up for class and can't even state on an exam that it's the number of protons that dictates the identity of an element... well that's lazy... a little studying would of gotten you a passing grade.

[1czelaya]

@lysol5555 You're now concluding that I'm fabricating a decline in our educational system. Wow. I guess the Dept. Of Education and all those institutions are fabricating lies-including their foreign counter parts. Yes, you've figured out our hidden agenda? Oh, that's right I want my job; the industries that are applicable to my education; academics and so forth to be shipped over seas. I guess my agenda is for my own demise & destruction.

[lysol5555]

@1czelaya The thing is, the education system is not as bad as you guys make it to be. You guys make the problem sound worse for your own agenda.

You were the one who first judged other people's efforts, intelligence and so on.

I know I can't convince you. Go back doing the math you love, while condescending other people who can't do it as lazy.

I can do something better than other people too, but I never ever judge them as lazy or whatever if they can't do it. Oh yeah, I worked hard too.

[1czelaya]

@lysol5555 Lastly you're concluding, AGAIN, I want some magical remedy to our decline in education, and you're comments of elites is very humorous. The only change I want is what Sowell puts forth that shifts choice & power back to individuals(student and parents), and diminishes the centralized and monopolistic power of the federal and state governments. Centralization, in many respects, is always caustic agent of a decline in innovation.