The purpose of a textbook is to fill your mind with information that you don't already have any clue about. That is a dangerous power we give to an author. I have yet to find a really good textbook that did not include a bias.
My current textbook Judicial Process: Law, Courts and Politics in the United States is full of a bias against drug courts and the War on Drugs in general. I see my classmates falling for this too.
I wish schools would teach logic. But they won't because then it would be more difficult to mold young skulls full of mush into good little liberals.
A far better way to learn is to read good books by authors who have experiences to tell about. Biographies are great ways to teach us. This way we are learning from the experiences of real people and there is no authoritativeness about the author on the whole subject. We are left to investigate important thoughts further, and we are encouraged to read more form other authors who may have a different angle or experience. We can also add our own experiences into the mix. The best way to learn is not to pour the facts into our brains via some authoritative textbook, but rather to watch, evaluate and think about reality. This is real learning that sticks with you and allows you to ruminate for a long time. It is a living education, meaning that it continues as you have more and more experiences to add to your evidence.
This is easier for adults, but kids can do it too, if we will teach them how to think, rather than just sit and absorb a list of facts from a teacher or text. All a college degree really means is that we have been properly indoctrinated.
Search This Blog
Popular Posts
-
I ran across a passage in the comments at a feminist mormon website, that sparked a response in me. The discussion was commenting on an arti...
-
I just finished Epicenter by Joel Resenberg. It is the most remarkable book I've read in a long time. He tells about the plot lines in ...
-
I came across Ernest Hemmingway Snows at Killimenjaro at the library and brought it home yesterday. I tried to read it but didn't get f...
-
Spring is almost here! Driving through Idaho last week in the sunshine I realized how much I really love the sunshine. Nothing like going wi...
-
I found this really innovative couple who began producing short video's about Mormons. They are simplified for the purpose of sharing th...
-
Just when you think you've gotten comfortable life throws a curve ball. Ever notice that? You learn to deal comfortably with a reality i...
-
Did the media think that we would suddenly turn away from Joe when they found out he owes back taxes? Holy cow- it made him more real to us ...
-
During the 1830s through the 1880s, many Americans moved west into the frontier in familiar covered wagons, or Conestoga wagons, pulled by t...
-
Who knew there was a season for chicken? Well tis the season! Our local feed stores are advertising that they have baby chicks! So hubby and...
-
I've been thinking of BY quote comparing wheat to gold and here it is .(update, Journal of Discourses website changed. This is from Jour...