Reasoning, the Future of Education!

Reasoning, whether inductive or deductive, can be one of the most critical skills a student can learn. Reasoning is the foundation of solving mathematical theorems, analyzing literature, or even planning your next play in a football game. Even beyond the world of education, the majority of people use reasoning skills on a daily basis in their careers. And yet, our system of education places little to no emphasis on reasoning. Most students are not even exposed to any sort of critical thinking courses until they are in college. Our young students are becoming mindless computers, programmed with information ready to be regurgitated. It is absolutely essential that we begin educating our students in critical thinking as young as we possibly can.

With a continued approach of standardized, multiple choice testing and memorization of definitions and formulas, students are losing their ability to think critically and analyze for themselves. It would appear we are a generation brought up for game shows, programmed with relatively useless facts for shot at chance. But the question is, without the ability to properly think and reason what happens when we are faced with real conflict? Are our kid’s really prepared to handle it?

Granted not all of our kid’s will grow up to become world leaders, and deal with conflicts of the magnitude that the President deals with, but we will all face trials and tribulations that will test us and make large impacts in our lives. No business owner, mother, father, sales representative, lawyer, plumber, doctor, or for that matter any professional will ever tell you they do not have to think, strategize, analyze, or reason in their lives; professionally or personally. So the question is, how do we teach young children to think critically?

While many children are not taught reasoning skills in primary schools, the truth is they do gain knowledge in day to day life. Life in it’s self can be the greatest way to learn to think, analyze, and reason. As long as a child is shown how to look at life’s experiences and shown how to overcome conflict, they are learning how to think critically. Students are also given access to great resources by companies such as The Critical Thinking Co.. If teachers at primary school levels could learn to utilize such things as puzzles, team projects, and problem solving activities, I am certain we will see a dramatic improvement in our young students academic performance.

By not providing our children with the proper education and knowledge, we are failing them. Reasoning can greatly improve a students educational experience as well as give them great experience for their future careers. We need to start educating our children in reasoning skills in primary school to obtain its full benefits for our future leaders.

The Patriot Spender Disclaimer!

As we have now received our grades on this post, I would like to state that this report in no way reflects my actual opinion on the subject. As a future American fashion designer/ buisness owner I would like to remind you all that it is your patriotic duty to go forth and shop to strengthen our economy and make me extremely wealthy. : )

The Patriot Spender?

Given that the American economic system is founded on capitalism, one may be so inclined as to ask the great question of, is it patriotic to shop? With the ever increasing economic turmoil, this is a question that appears to be gaining some well deserved attention. As the general thought of capitalism is that through buying commodities money is circulated and then distributed on down to the common laborer making everyone happy and stimulating the economy, the answer to the question would appear to be obvious, yes. However one would then have to look at a functioning, or at least some what functioning, capitalistic economic system and determine whether this is truly how the economy functions.

In the ideal situation of how capitalism works, it seems to be the responsibility of the American people to up hold the economy and ensure its stability. After all, the goods are produced, the consumer buys the product, and money is then circulated back through, or is it? Here lies the Achilles heal of capitalism; everyone’s out to make a buck. Watch closely in a time of economic downfall. You’re bound to find major news conglomerates, owned by major companies like Time Warner, claiming that true Americans should be out shopping and buying American made products to prevent American companies from shutting down and forcing millions of Americans out of their jobs. While I’m in full agreement that supporting American businesses is vital for the American economy, I don’t think we should be so quick as to forget our lessons from business management 101.

Let us supersede the Idea that it is the American peoples duty to uphold American businesses for a moment, and focus on a radical way of thinking. Could it perhaps be the business owners who are to blame for the possible mismanagement of their company. Shouldn’t these CEOs who make millions or even billions a year maybe reinvest some of that money into their companies, instead of relying on Americans to bailout them out? After all, if the money isn’t in the hands of the American people how can they be responsible for upholding the American economy.

Large businesses are not the only ones holding back the American economic system. With the majority of American money held up in U.S. banks and their continued refusal to grant loans, it is becoming harder and harder for Americans to purchase such commodities as, homes, land, cars, etc. It would then appear that the true responsibility lies in the American government.

The American people can not be held responsible for an economy that operates on a level completely out of their control. Thus with the proposed question, is it patriotic to shop? We conclude that with more strict regulation on power and control of income, it may be possible for a capitalist economy to function on a level controlled by consumer spending.