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Similar to the main ideas of the Enlightenment era, the speaker is arguing that changing our mentality on certain subjects (education) will pave the way for a more prosperous future. For example, the speaker claims that doing what we did in the past ultimately alienates millions of children. During the Enlightenment, people thought rationality led to prosperity because every viable notion went through a logical thought process. I find it interesting that having a college degree no longer guarantees a good job, which should promote children being more creative, imaginative, or "romantic." However, the modern educational system found at New Trier promotes the thoroughly structured, enlightened ideals, which lead to a “production line” of students. The standards of academic success (not necessarily related to the amount of learning) have risen so high that we've lost touch with the aesthetic experience of learning and brought in the "production line" mentality to compete with our nation's industrialization of incredible students. I really liked the way he explained the "fictitious" epidemic of ADHD, because although the disorder does exist, my experience is that boring lessons often induce ADHD. 200 years ago, people went from rational to divergent thinkers over a long period of time, while today kids go from divergent thinkers (kindergarten) to students based on productivity (New Trier), where kids are often told not to collaborate. Maybe our educational system may not be in line with human nature...
— Danny H
Fantastic analysis, Danny, especially given our inquiry into what IS human nature. I wonder, if you could wave a magic wand, how would you change our educational institution? This is, in part, what we shall be discussing in class today...
— Spiro Bolos
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