Books are eternal

Was Ray Bradbury correctly predicting the future when he wrote Farenheit 451 fifty years ago? Are we living in a world where books are ostracized to small communities of people trying to salvage their wisdom, where most of America sits in front of their “moving mural” Television sets? Not quite, but we sure are close.

Internet and television has impaired us to think critically about some things, but not everything. It is not the greedy monster Bradbury makes it out to be, where it takes captive our thoughts with no room left for free thought and curiosity. Personally, the internet and television has exposed me to things of this world I could never have been a part of without its all encompassing influence. I am often on a desperate search for tidbits of news and world events when I open Google News each morning, curious to know what I missed while I slept. I know that I think more critically about my impact in this world, based on the people and situations I learn about on TV and through the internet. This article discusses the benefit of the internet on brain function: http://www.webpronews.com/topnews/2008/10/14/internet-use-improves-brainpower

I doubt we are moving towards a society that will burn books. I see the trend that as technology becomes more invasive, people are holding on to the past more tightly. Not out of the fear of change, but just to be reminded of a simpler time. People are using books in conjuction with television and internet to enhance their experiences with media. Most things you see on television are based on books, so if there came a time where we got rid of all the books, television may not be so interesting. In this about.com article, http://kidstvmovies.about.com/od/healthytvhabits/a/tvgoodforkids.htm, the author makes the suggestion that children who watch TV can be motivated to read books, which in turn inspires critical thinking and discussion. The article gives suggestions like making comparisons between the book and the movie, noting differences and similarities.

I doubt society will ever allow for the intentional burning of books. People will always look to books to expand their imagination, and to take them to a place in their mind of their own creation, not the cookie cutter place that TV gives to them. I really like this description about the benefits of books : http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Benefit-of-Reading-Books&id=469269. Ray Bradbury may have been a bit cynical when he wrote Farenheit 451 so long ago, but I’m glad to say that I don't think he will end up being right.

Reasoning Skills are being taught WAAAAYYY before Primary School!!

In theory, I think reasoning skills SHOULD be taught in primary school, and believe they are being taught. Just the act of going to school involves reasoning skills. So as much as reasoning skills can be “taught”, the most important time for it to happen is in primary school. However, reasoning skills are best learned by example and actual experiences, and I know they are being provided in primary school. This is an example of some “reasoning skills” recommended for children age 6-10 by www.education.com

• Use concrete manipulatives and experiences to illustrate concepts and ideas.

• Supplement verbal explanations with concrete examples, pictures, and hands-on activities.

• Allow time for organized play activities.

• Introduce children to various adult professions, and provide opportunities to practice authentic adult tasks

My wife used to be a Kindergarten Teacher and when I asked her if these are some things that she taught in her classroom, she responded yes to all of them. Reasoning skills are an essential part of human growth, and they should be happening from birth, and should never stop. My two year old is learning reasoning skills every minute of every day, not necessarily because we are teaching him, but he is learning through experience and by the example that my wife and I set for him and the environment we create for him. I know that kids can learn inappropriate reasoning skills and those can be corrected, and should be corrected in primary school. I deal with people on a daily basis who don’t have very mature or developed reasoning skills, so it is definitely important to develop these skills in primary school.

My wife would often gripe about the kids not knowing how to solve conflicts or accomplish a difficult task as a group, and how she didn’t know how to teach them without actually doing it for them. She didn’t feel prepared to teach her students life skills and as a result she ended up dealing with these issues FOR her students, because there were so many other things to teach that there was really no time except to show by example. Reasoning, conflict resolution and problem solving skills need to be addressed more thoroughly in primary school, but even more importantly they need to be taught in the home environment.

However, the ability to develop reasoning skills is based on the person’s level of physical, social and emotional maturity. A standard for teaching reasoning skills cannot be developed in the same way that a standard for math, science or social studies can. Each person develops reasoning skills in their own time and in their own way, and the best teachers can do is provide rich experiences for the students to exercise these skills and for families to let the child appropriately be a part of their adult experiences.