Ignorance

It continues to amaze me how little some people can know.

The other day in my college science class we were doing a small group activity to demonstrate the elements of persuasion etc. At the end of the activity we had to fill out a paper discussing the whole thing. One of the questions was: Have you learned anything new through this activity. We went around and answered the questions individually and one of the guys in my group said: Heck yes I learned something new! I learned what aphrodisiac meant. The rest of us stopped writing and just stared at him until someone spoke up and asked if he was serious.

I'm not talking a boy here people, I'm talking in college age.

He couldn't even use the word itself to attempt to understand it (Aphrodite: Greek goddess of love & sexuality - not fertility, mind you, sexuality and fertility = not the same)

Sometimes I worry that we as a society(and our children) are losing the knowledge that, well, makes us the society that we are today. Now, I'm not talking about higher knowledge of say, astrophysics; I'm talking about world geography skills and knowing the history of our country. I see so many kids now who don't even know their states and capitals (!).

This just really bothers me.

Think of all of the literary references and historical information that are lost to people today.

Think of the people who cannot find Europe on a map? (Yes, I know a couple people who thought it was where Africa is located.)

Ignorance, is not the best thing.

When I was younger I was lucky enough to have teachers, and family who encouraged me to read and learn new things. Yes, at times, learning all my states and capitals was like enduring my own personal hell, but I appreciate them taking the time to teach me. It wasn't until I got out in the world that I really realized that, hey, some people don't know things like that. That made me very thankful for great teachers like Mrs. Boggs, Mrs. McCoy, and so so many others.

Parents: please take the time to help your kids learn. You may not necessarily be the one teaching them, but you can help them by encouraging them to read, learn, explore new things. Make it fun! Don't make learning a chore. Start when they're young, reading to them etc. Take them to kid geared museums etc like COSI.

Ever seen those little ABC's and Geography learning mats for on your table? Use them!

They'll thank you later, trust me.

I'm not here to point fingers at people and say, well, its the school systems fault, its the parents fault, its America's fault or what have you.

This is just something I've thought about a lot this past week and thought I'd share it with you.

What are your thoughts?

*ignorance is NOT stupidity:

(from the Websters Dictionary)

ig·no·rant   

–adjective

1. lacking in knowledge or training; unlearned: an ignorant man.

2. lacking knowledge or information as to a particular subject or fact: ignorant of quantum physics.

3. uninformed; unaware.

4. due to or showing lack of knowledge or training: an ignorant statement.