Deliberate Dumbing Down of America Public Education

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Schools efforts]) and Integrative Learning. (3) Left Brain/Right Brain Thinking—a theory to develop the intuitive side of the right brain by accessing the subconscious mind. There is no consensus in the research to support this theory. Although some scientists have claimed to validate the roles of the left/right brain hemispheres, others would disagree. “We don’t have one shred of evidence that something as high-level as creativity could be allocated to one side of the brain or the other,” says Levy (professor of biopsychology at the University of Chicago). “Attempts to apply what is known about hemispheric differences to the enhancement of learning are premature.... That was the conclusion of the fourteen member panel of researchers from the National Academy of Sciences that recently completed a broad view of ‘brain asymmetry’” (The Omni Wholemind Newsletter , Vol. 1, No. 4, March 1988). (4) The Seven Intelligences—redefines intelligence to include music, dance, sports, etc. Howard Gardner, departing from traditional education, theorizes that humans have seven intelligences that are associated with brain locations. They are logical mathematical, linguisitic, spatial, bodily-kinesthetic, musical, intrapersonal, and interpersonal. Gardner labels what has been traditionally called a human talent as an intelligence. Parents should have grave concerns about labeling a student’s personal beliefs and his/her interaction with others as intelligences, because the state can then do the developing and assessing of them. This is one of the dangers of Outcome-Based Education since the learner outcomes often include the student’s attitudes and beliefs. (5) Personality Types/Learning Styles—Pedersen refers to the importance of learning styles. One of the methods of identifying/teaching to learning styles used in Indiana as well as many other states is the 4MAT system of instruction developed by Bernice McCarthy. 4MAT is based on theories from education, psychology, neurology and management. The system includes four types of learners: Imaginative, Analytic, Common Sense and Dynamic. McCarthy teaches to the learning style of the student with left/right mode techniques. (6) Brain-Compatible Learning, a phrase coined by Leslie Hart, author of Human Brain and Human Learning . Hart believes humans learn best from the rich, random, chaotic “real world” instead of concentrated, sequential, logical teaching of subject matter through textbooks. Replacing traditional teaching methods with occult techniques that teach directly to the subconscious mind opens the door to possible mind control (brainwashing). It appears that some education reformers think children can learn better in this hypnotic state which allows all material into the mind. Children can then absorb any agenda the school (state) wishes to teach without the brain discriminating the validity of the material. Howard Gardner has now expanded to eight and a half intelligences by adding naturalist and half of spiritual. The following recent publications show that educators continue to misapply the brain theory and research that even the scientific community still disputes: A Celebration of Neurons: An Educator’s Guide to the Human Brain by Robert Sylwester is published by the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD) in 1995 as a major guide for educators. Sylwester notes that educators must not make the mistake of left/right brain books, workshops and curriculum that often went far beyond the research findings. He sees misinformed or uninformed people making major policy decisions for Authors’ Update (recent developments since this article was written):