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The Death of Learning: Empowering Ourselves Against the Destruction of Higher Education

Alexandre Dumas

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The Death of Learning: How American Education Has Failed Our Students and What to Do about It

by John Agresto

4.7 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	4028 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	236 pages
Screen Reader	:	Supported

In his groundbreaking book, "The Death of Learning," Neil Postman argues that the way we are currently educating our children is destroying their ability to think critically and independently. He warns that if we do not change our approach to education, we will be creating a generation of students who are unable to participate in the democratic process and make informed decisions about their lives.

Postman's book is a powerful indictment of our current educational system. He argues that our schools are too focused on standardized testing and rote memorization, and not enough on teaching students how to think critically and solve problems. This, he says, is leading to a generation of students who are unable to think for themselves and who are easily manipulated by the media and other powerful forces in society.

Postman is particularly critical of the way that technology is being used in schools. He argues that computers and other digital devices are being used as a substitute for real learning, and that they are actually making students less able to think critically. He also warns that the internet is creating a "global village" in which all cultures are being homogenized, and that this is leading to a loss of diversity and creativity.

Postman's book is a wake-up call for all of us who are concerned about the future of education and the future of our democracy. He argues that we need to make fundamental changes to the way we educate our children, and that we need to do it now. If we do not, he warns, we will create a generation of students who are unable to participate in the democratic process and make informed decisions about their lives.

What Can We Do?

Postman offers a number of suggestions for how we can improve our educational system. He argues that we need to:

Focus on teaching students how to think critically. This means teaching them how to analyze information, evaluate evidence, and make sound judgments.
Reduce the emphasis on standardized testing. Standardized tests are a poor measure of student learning, and they lead to a narrowing of the curriculum.
Make technology a tool for learning, not a substitute for it. Computers and other digital devices can be used to enhance learning, but they should not be used as a replacement for traditional methods of teaching and learning.
Promote diversity and creativity. We need to encourage students to explore different cultures and ideas, and to develop their own unique voices.

Postman's book is a powerful call to action for all of us who are concerned about the future of education and the future of our democracy. He argues that we need to make fundamental changes to the way we educate our children, and that we need to do it now. If we do not, he warns, we will create a generation of students who are unable to participate in the democratic process and make informed decisions about their lives.

About the Author

Neil Postman was a professor of media ecology at New York University. He was the author of several books, including "Amusing Ourselves to Death," "Technopoly," and "Building a Bridge to the 18th Century." Postman was a leading critic of the way that technology is being used in schools and society. He argued that we need to be more aware of the potential dangers of technology and that we need to use it wisely.

The Death of Learning: How American Education Has Failed Our Students and What to Do about It

by John Agresto

4.7 out of 5