Comments on: Memorization is Not Education

By: Britt

Britt — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 03:53:24 +0000

I wish I were kidding. I suspect this situation is just one example of the kind of thinking that will allow countries like China and India to, if not completely pull ahead, aggressively compete with the U.S. in the coming years.
Yes, some pretty amazing events took place in America, but as a country it hasn’t even hit the 250-year mark. Prior to America’s creation some other pretty amazing things were happening in the world. It makes me sad for the kids who may not find out about them because they didn’t happen in America. As a side note, how many geniuses never finished school and attended or graduated from college? There’s a reason why they left the school system and struck out on their own. It’s a lesson we’ve ignored for decades.

By: penny

penny — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 00:26:31 +0000

are you sure we’re not living in some wacky warp world? the legislators comments are for REAL? what i would have done to learn another language (beyond music) in kindergarten. I was “lucky” in that french/spanish was offered to 7th graders for the first time when I was one. oh i’m going to have to stop thinking about this because i’m not sure if i can spend the night in the country if i continue to ponder this. I discovered the IB my first year of uni and I screamed with frustration that I had known nothing about it earlier.

much of my public edu was memorization, not all. it has good things and bad. my biggest fight was with a global studies teacher who wanted us to practically memorize the definitions in the textbook. No application of the words, no absorbing of meaning. I detested this man greatly and was pleased to ace his tests and shove it back in his face. [He was a good teacher for those that found the subject mildly challenging] My world history courses left much to be desired i recall that much as I pour over the Economist and look at the maps and wonder why I know nothing of the history of these areas … anyway, i had instructors both good and bad. and some classes where i was challenged and a few not. For the nots my school tried hard to challenge me and those who would have been bored. i give them a lot of credit.

my poor writing is due to a state english test. i won’t start.

every day i see the effects of rote memorization and the inability to apply knowledge. i scare some coworkers because of how i can apply things i learned in situation A to B. I honestly think that it can be worse in some uni settings than from high school.. my husband and I have horror stories of people we’ve interviewed from “good schools” and/or with “good GPAs” .. and can’t answer our basic questions on the subjects.

Thank you for writing on this!

By: Britt

Britt — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 21:39:36 +0000

I agree that memorization can be a help, especially as you learn a new subject. My issue is with those who would make it the solution, the end goal, without addressing the issue of how to apply that knowledge.

By: disenfranchised

disenfranchised — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 21:33:46 +0000

I don’t define education as memorization however I believe it is a component of education. How can you synthesize and evaluate without facts? Memorization helps- big time!