Blog Assignment #3

While most people consider Fahrenheit 451 to be a book on the dangers of censorship and the destruction of knowledge, Bradbury himself identifies the ability of technology to replace reading and critical thinking as the dominant theme of the novel. http://www.laweekly.com/2007-05-31/news/ray-bradbury-fahrenheit-451-misinterpreted/ Over fifty years after his book was published, do you think Bradbury was right? Has television and the Internet destroyed Americans' ability to read and think critically about ideas? Could we be heading toward a time when the authorities’ burn books for our own good, and the population allows it to happen?
Being born in the 70’s and learning to read, research using the Dewey decimal system in grade school, and being taught how to do research papers through reading articles, magazines, etc… I can understand where Bradbury is coming from and the frustration he appears to feel over the hype of technology and how he felt it would not boost our knowledge, but destroy the way we went about obtaining that knowledge. As a young child my parents read to me and I can remember the importance of reading at school. Learning how to break down a sentence and use words in order to make sense was just part of what you learned at school. I use to feel overwhelmed at times when I knew that I had to research something and write a paper describing what I researched. Overwhelmed at the long process and the time it took for that particular task, but in the end I could recall what it was I was researching because I had put so much time into it and had to learn about the topic.
Today we don’t have to take that time to really learn about the topic it is all done for us in the matter of minutes and the click of a button. As an adult this technology has made it easier and faster to get the job done and multi-task at a rate that we were not able to before. I can go to college on-line as I continue to work to support my family. These are the benefits of our technology today. Although, I do understand Bradbury’s concern with technology taking over the American’s ability to read and think critically, because it has certainly come true in some cases. Some of our children sit for hours in front of televisions, computers, and video games t hat have no educational value or significance. As adults we too are guilty of occupying our time with technology instead of with our families. I believe there is always a fine line to introducing new and more advantaged things into our culture.
Reading and thinking critically are important tools that our children need to learn in today’s society. Even with all the new technology it is important that we as Americans learn to think for ourselves without running to technology for assistance. There needs to be a balance within our culture that allows for the teaching of reading and critically thinking and how that can be combined with the wonderful things that technology to teach us as well. I do not feel that books will be burned one day and we as Americans will stand by and let that happen. I think that we will find that both technology and good old fashion reading and critical thinking will be able to coexist to better educate our children and ourselves.

Should reasoning skills be taught in primary school? Why or why not?

I absolutely think that reasoning skills should be taught in primary school. Reasoning skills are what make us determine what is right and what is wrong. It gives us the ability to make better choices. If young children were taught this skill at a primary level they would be better equipped to handle the tougher challenges that come into play in middle school and high school. If we start teaching reasoning skills at a younger age then students will be more prepared to make tough decisions on their own, such as preparing for SAT/ACT tests, college applications and deciding on post-secondary goals. In an article by Steven D. Schafersman back in 1991, he expressed how important critical thinking skills or reasoning skills are for students. In his article he gives educators the tools necessary to teach these important skills to their students. Steven Schafersman also states within the article that as educators we often teach our students what to think as opposed to how to think. He goes on to give a definition of critical thinking that states, "Critical thinking means correct thinking in the pursuit of relevant and reliable knowledge about the world. Another way to describe it is reasonable, reflective, responsible and skillful thinking that is focused on deciding what to believe or do. A person who thinks critically can ask appropriate questions, gather relevant information, efficiently and creatively sort through this information, reason logically from this information and come to reliable and trustworthy conclusions about the world that enables one to live and act successfully in it." (http://www.freeinquiry.com/critical-thinking.html). After reading this information I think the skill of critical thinking is imperative for young students. If they could learn how to ask the appropriate questions, gather relevant information and efficiently and creatively sort through that information then they would be much more successful in school and better prepared for the world.

I have heard it said that children at the primary level are not able to learn these particular skills of critical thinking because they may not have the maturity or capacity to understand that higher order of thinking. I can see why people would have this opinion, but I feel that if we start the learning process at that young age they are more likely to gain those skills of higher level thinking and stretch their capacity to learn. Critical thinking is lacking in today's society and if we start young then we can be assured that the skills are there and feel more secure that our children will be more successful in school and everyday life.