Edumacation

[JeffL]

Is this sad or what? I think this is what happens when "professional educators" replace plain, old-fashioned "teachers."

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Afraid of a Little Dihydrogen Monoxide?

A student at Eagle Rock Junior High won first prize at the
Greater Idaho Falls Science Fair, April 26. He was attempting
to show how conditioned we have become to alarmists practicing junk science and spreading fear of everything in our environment.

In his project he urged people to sign a petition demanding strict
control or total elimination of the chemical "dihydrogen monoxide."

And for plenty of good reasons, since:

1. it can cause excessive sweating and vomiting
2. it is a major component in acid rain
3. it can cause severe burns in its gaseous state
4. accidental inhalation can kill you
5. it contributes to erosion
6. it decreases effectiveness of automobile brakes
7. it has been found in tumors of terminal cancer patients

He asked 50 people if they supported a ban of the chemical.

Forty-three (43) said yes,
Six (6) were undecided,
and only one (1) knew that the chemical was water.

The title of his prize winning project was, "How Gullible
Are We?"

He feels the conclusion is obvious.

[daniel topliffe]

jeff, i've quessed it for a log time... just more evidence that i wan't totally crazy.
does this mean anymore than we are very gullible...???

[JeffL]

I don't think you and I - and, from what I've seen - the other folks here - are this gullible.

However, I think that the vast majority of our country's younger generations are gullible. I don't think they're stupid, but I believe they're ignorant in many areas of thought. They've lived in an era of poll-driven life decisions, from politics to product purchases to TV program preferences.

What the hell has happened to independent thinking? I believe that the "professional educators" have a lot to do with the loss of individualism in this country.

BTW, yesterday I asked two of my grandkids (one from public schools in Wisconsin and the other from Catholic school in Illinois) to tell me the signifigance of Memorial Day. They both got it correct! Sadly, the kids from the public schools around here don't have a clue; they combine it with Veterans Day and Armed Forces Day.

Sigh........


Now, where'd I put that beer???????
Jeff

[thebrad]

I agree that my generation is gullible... but in defense: Isn't gullibility a characteristic of youth? I'm sure every generation back-in-the-day was pretty much the same.