<div class="gmail_quote">Thanks for the initial post, Wayne, and for your comments as well as those from Deb and especially Sue. <div><br></div><div>I agree with Sue and would like to add that it won't do much good stemming the anti-educational tide if we blame teachers for failing to do their jobs amidst the dwindling resources. In my own case, I'm willing to admit that I've done a less effective job teaching logic to college students precisely because when I first started teaching logic at WSU the classes were limited to 40 students per class; now I have over 160 students in a single class and it is likely to get worse. This year I have two graduate students to assist me but likely in the near future the MA program will be cut and I'll have undergraduate "readers" instead. Again, I don't see how reports of my "failures" will increase public support for my efforts.</div>
<div><br></div><div>Also, I think it is a mistake to think that a lack of logic or critical thinking skills is at fault. My own view is that the fault lies with the increase in private education and isolationism but my guess is that most private schools teach as much or more logic and critical thinking as they do in public schools. Logic is analogous to computer hardware; even the best is only as good as the input. As they say, "garbage in, garbage out" but also quality in, quality out. What counts as garbage and what counts as quality? That's where things get tricky. What counts as evidence? What counts as sound reasoning? Some answers are easy: empirical findings, classical logic, and mathematics. But that alone won't get you far. Unfortunately, after that point we start doing philosophy, where reasonable disagreement is par for the course. If the answers were easy, we'd all agree. But we don't, so they're not.</div>
<div><div><div></div><div class="h5"><br>
<br><div class="gmail_quote">On Thu, Nov 25, 2010 at 12:53 PM, Sue Hovey <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:suehovey@moscow.com" target="_blank">suehovey@moscow.com</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
<div dir="ltr" bgcolor="#ffffff">
<div dir="ltr">
<div style="font-family:'Calibri';color:#000000;font-size:12pt">
<div><font color="#000000" face="Arial">Wayne,</font></div>
<div><font face="Arial"></font> </div>
<div><font face="Arial">I’m sure you have the data to support your claims in paras
4 through 7, else you could be counted the left wing equivalent of those right
wing pundits who utter “facts” as they pull them from somewhere to accentuate
their contentions.</font></div>
<div><font face="Arial"></font> </div>
<div><font face="Arial"> I do not remember who taught me to think
critically. I suspect it was my parents because they raised a brood of
kids who believed a sentence unfinished if it didn’t end with “why.” And I
must confess my early education prior to credentialing was such a long time ago
that I certainly couldn’t produce hard data one would need to verify my
claim. Nevertheless, and what is most important, is that teachers today do
know and teach critical thinking. If you think not, I would suggest you
ask to be invited into Kristine Petterson’s history class, Molly Pannkuk’s 6th
grade, Gretchen Wissner’s Extended Learning offerings, Rachel Aiello’s special
education class at the Junior High (critical thinking skills are not limited to
those with superior vocabularies and a knowledge of epistemology.) And
this is just the short list. There are many other teachers here in Moscow and in
schools in this area who understand why critical thinking is an important
pedagogical skill, and they do teach students to use it. I can
think of teachers in Genesee, Troy, Potlatch, and throughout Idaho whose
repertoire includes critical thinking, reflection, teaching strategies, and
content. I treasure the times I have been privileged to collaborate with
them. The thing that astounds me today is why teachers in Idaho continue
to do it given the lack of support they get from school boards, (our local
board is a really good example,) state policy makers, and in some cases, the
general public. Lucky for them parents continue to support their
children’s teachers. </font></div>
<div><font face="Arial"></font> </div>
<div><font face="Arial">An aside. We have a granddaughter who has been
taught to think critically about issues (a skill she learned in school,)
and most of the time her conclusions appear mostly logical to me. Even so,
she loves Sarah Palin. I plan to leave her out of my will. </font></div>
<div><font face="Arial"></font> </div>
<div><font face="Arial">Sue Hovey</font></div>
<div><font face="Arial Black"></font> </div>
<div><font face="Arial Black"></font> </div>
<div style="font-style:normal;display:inline;font-family:'Calibri';color:#000000;font-size:small;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none">
<div style="font:10pt tahoma">
<div> </div>
<div style="background:#f5f5f5">
<div><b>From:</b> <a title="deco@moscow.com" href="mailto:deco@moscow.com" target="_blank">Art Deco</a> </div>
<div><b>Sent:</b> Thursday, November 25, 2010 10:11 AM</div>
<div><b>To:</b> <a title="vision2020@moscow.com" href="mailto:vision2020@moscow.com" target="_blank">Vision 2020</a> </div>
<div><b>Subject:</b> Re: [Vision2020] Health Education: A
Conspiracy?</div></div></div>
<div> </div></div>
<div style="font-style:normal;display:inline;font-family:'Calibri';color:#000000;font-size:small;font-weight:normal;text-decoration:none">
<div><font size="2">Deb,</font></div>
<div><font size="2"></font> </div>
<div><font size="2">These kind of anti-science, anti-knowledge utterings by some
of the right-wing pundits/wanna-be leaders are not new. I do not find it
surprising that many of the electorate choose to believe them without
question. Simplicity of outlook/explanation for most of the electorate is
generally much more preferable, right or wrong, almost always the latter.
</font></div>
<div><font size="2"></font> </div>
<div><font size="2">No intellectual effort is needed to adopt easy solutions, no
effort is needed to try to understand the probabilities, methods, theories
involved -- that takes real effort and time away from more instantly and or more
gratifying activities available.</font></div>
<div><font size="2"></font> </div>
<div><font size="2">However, we differ a little. The lack of critical
thinking ability, especially understanding modern logic, epistemology, and the
probabilistic nature of claimed knowledge by a large majority of the population
represents a gross failure of modern Elem-High-Coll education, public and
private. </font></div>
<div><font size="2"></font> </div>
<div><font size="2">Nor is there an easy, even likely solution.
</font></div>
<div><font size="2"></font> </div>
<div><font size="2">Even if local school boards wished to include such training
(highly doubtful, since many members lack or understand the value of these
skills themselves), where would the knowledgeable personnel to teach such
subjects come from? </font></div>
<div><font size="2"></font> </div>
<div><font size="2">No offense meant, but there the majority of teachers seem to
be ignorant of even the basics of these subjects, most likely because the
curricula for obtaining a teaching credential does not require nor encourage the
acquisition of such skills in most credential granting programs. This is
unlikely to change, because as you pointed out, a critical thinking population
would be a formidable threat to the established political, religious, and
economic powers-that-presently-be.</font></div>
<div><font size="2"></font> </div>
<div><font size="2">w.</font></div>
<blockquote style="border-left:#000000 2px solid;padding-left:5px;padding-right:0px;margin-left:5px;margin-right:0px" dir="ltr">
<div style="font:10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </div>
<div style="font:10pt arial;background:#e4e4e4"><b>From:</b>
<a title="debismith@moscow.com" href="mailto:debismith@moscow.com" target="_blank">deb</a>
</div>
<div style="font:10pt arial"><b>To:</b> <a title="deco@moscow.com" href="mailto:deco@moscow.com" target="_blank">Art Deco</a> ; <a title="vision2020@moscow.com" href="mailto:vision2020@moscow.com" target="_blank">Vision 2020</a> </div>
<div style="font:10pt arial"><b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, November 24, 2010 6:02
PM</div>
<div style="font:10pt arial"><b>Subject:</b> Re: [Vision2020] Health
Education: A Conspiracy?</div>
<div> </div>
<div><font size="2" face="Arial">Thanks, Wayne. </font></div>
<div><font size="2" face="Arial">Sadly, I'm afraid the Palin supporters are just
too <u>deliberately</u> stupid to get it, and you are preaching to the choir.
Her supporters can support her even after: her "abstinence" policies lead to
her own daughter having an out-of-wedlock child, her daughter and prospective
son-in-law became a laughingstock in the tabloids, her cynical use (and lately
zero mention) of her disabled child, her misuse of public funds, her revenge
use of Alaska law enforcement offices, and her idiotic proclamations
which have no factual grounds and very little coherence. But "face-time" is
what it's about. Little Bristol on "Dancing with the Stars", Mom having a talk
show, people tuning in to see ALL SARAH<ALL DAY< ALL REAL!!!! on the
Stoopid Toob that has become television.....Any publicity is good publicity,
and an eager nation recognizes this incredibily shallow, selfish, ridiculous
moron as a PLAYER in the Fields of Power....</font></div>
<div><font size="2" face="Arial"></font> </div>
<div><font size="2" face="Arial">Just goes to show how "dumbed down" at least a
portion of the populace actually is. Of course, getting rid of public schools
can really assist in this effort, as a thinking public is a dangerous public.
</font></div>
<div><font size="2" face="Arial">If we don't send them to real school, they can't
learn critical thinking. If they can't think critically, they will support
anything that sounds like it will benefit them, even if it's a damn lie.
Huzzah for those who want something for nothing, those who cynically exploit
the feeble minded, and the people who don't stand up against this crap. They
are likely to win this round, if not the war.....<strong>Hurry, hurry, hurry!
Don't miss it! This way to the fabulous EGRESS!</strong> <em>There's still one
born every minute.....</em></font></div>
<div><font size="2" face="Arial"></font> </div>
<div><font size="2" face="Arial">Debi R-S, even more cynical and sarcastic this
week than last.......</font></div>
<blockquote style="border-left:#000000 2px solid;padding-left:5px;padding-right:0px;margin-left:5px;margin-right:0px">
<div style="font:10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </div>
<div style="font:10pt arial;background:#e4e4e4"><b>From:</b>
<a title="deco@moscow.com" href="mailto:deco@moscow.com" target="_blank">Art Deco</a> </div>
<div style="font:10pt arial"><b>To:</b> <a title="vision2020@moscow.com" href="mailto:vision2020@moscow.com" target="_blank">Vision 2020</a> </div>
<div style="font:10pt arial"><b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, November 24, 2010 7:26
PM</div>
<div style="font:10pt arial"><b>Subject:</b> [Vision2020] Health Education:
A Conspiracy?</div>
<div> </div>
<div><font size="2">
<div>
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<h1>Palin's reckless views on obesity</h1>
<div>
<div>By <b>Roland S. Martin</b>, CNN Senior Political
Contributor</div>
<div></div></div>
<div>
<div>
<div><b>STORY HIGHLIGHTS</b></div>
<ul>
<li>Roland Martin says Sarah Palin slammed Michelle Obama's "Let's
Move" anti-obesity campaign
</li><li>He says Obama's site says obesity tripled in 30 years, diabetes
in kids is up
</li><li>He says a group of generals told Congress increasingly people
are too overweight to serve
</li><li>Martin: Palin's comments show she is reckless about the nation's
health</li></ul></div></div>
<div>
<div>
<div></div>
<div><b>RELATED TOPICS</b></div>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://topics.cnn.com/topics/Michelle_Obama" target="_blank">Michelle Obama</a>
</li><li><a href="http://topics.cnn.com/topics/Obesity" target="_blank">Obesity</a>
</li><li><a href="http://topics.cnn.com/topics/Child_Nutrition" target="_blank">Child Nutrition</a>
</li><li><a href="http://topics.cnn.com/topics/Sarah_Palin" target="_blank">Sarah Palin</a></li></ul></div></div>
<p><em><b>Editor's note:</b><a href="http://www.rolandsmartin.com//" target="_blank">Roland Martin</a>
is a syndicated columnist and author of "The First: President Barack
Obama's Road to the White House." He is a commentator for TV One Cable
network and host of a Sunday morning news show. </em></p>
<p><b>(CNN)</b> -- It's clear that we can't go 24 hours without Sarah
Palin saying something so stupid that it defies logic, but leave it to
the Kim Kardashian of politics to find something wrong with first lady
Michelle Obama's effort to curb obesity in America's kids.</p>
<p>In a radio interview on Wednesday with conservative talker Laura
Ingraham, Palin took dead aim at the first lady's "Let's Move"
initiative, which is all about getting children active and involved in
exercise and healthy eating.</p>
<p>In the wacky world of Wasilla's finest, Palin tries to cast the
effort to fight obesity as part of Michelle Obama's "different
worldview."</p>
<p>Here is a portion of the transcript from HuffingtonPost.com: "Take
her anti-obesity thing that she is on. She is on this kick, right.
What she is telling us is she cannot trust parents to make decisions
for their own children, for their own families in what we should
eat.</p>
<p>"And I know I'm going to be again criticized for bringing this up,
but instead of a government thinking that they need to take over and
make decisions for us according to some politician or politician's
wife priorities, just leave us alone, get off our back and allow us as
individuals to exercise our own God-given rights to make our own
decisions and then our country gets back on the right track."</p>
<p>Hmmm. "Let's Move" is Obama's "kick?" Maybe someone should kick
Sarah Palin so she can understand how devastating obesity is to the
future of the United States.</p>
<p>According to the first lady's "Let's Move" website:</p>
<p><b>•</b> Obesity rates among children have tripled in the last
three decades, and one in three children are obese.</p>
<p><b>•</b> One-third of all children born after 2000 will suffer from
diabetes.</p>
<p><b>•</b> Children are less active today than at any other time in
American history, spending 7.5 hours a day watching TV, playing video
games or simply involved in efforts that don't require movement.</p>
<p><b>•</b> Obesity is contributing to the vast increase in
hypertension among Americans.</p>
<p>Now, since Palin is always talking about our nation's military and
how we have to honor them and show them love and affection, let's
listen to what a group of generals said a few months ago about obesity
and America's national defense.</p>
<p>A study released in April by Mission: Readiness, a nonprofit group
of more than 150 retired generals and admirals, concluded that 27
percent of 18- to 24-year-olds are too fat to join the military.</p>
<p>The culprit? Junk food and too much fat in school lunches.</p>
<p>Said the study: "Today, otherwise excellent recruiting prospects,
some of them with generations of sterling military service in their
family history, are being turned away because they are just too
overweight. Our standards are high because we clearly cannot have
people in our command who are not up to the job. Too many lives depend
on it."</p>
<p>In testimony before Congress, the former head of the California
Army National Guard, retired U.S. Army Major Gen. Paul Monroe, said
that "80 percent of children who were overweight between the ages of
10 to 15 were obese by age 25."</p>
<p>He and other military leaders want Congress to enact a massive
child nutrition bill to remove all junk food and high-calorie
beverages from schools, improve nutrition standards in schools,
upgrade school menus and, the group said, "help develop new
school-based strategies, based on research, that help parents and
children adopt healthier lifelong eating and exercise habits."</p>
<p>Monroe testified: "In 1946, Congress passed the National School
Lunch Act as a matter of national security. In the past, retired
admirals and generals have stood up to make it clear that America is
only as healthy as our nation's children. Childhood obesity is now
undermining our national security and we need to start turning it
around today."</p>
<p>So, Sarah Palin, are you going to also rip into this decorated
American and say that he and 150 other military leaders are dead
wrong?</p>
<p>I recently sat down with Michelle Obama for a prime time special on
TV One cable network dedicated to her "Let's Move" initiative. It was
startling to listen to her talk about the horrible statistics and the
shape we'll be in in the future, figuratively and literally.</p>
<p>"The crisis that we're facing around childhood obesity hits
everything," Obama said. "It's about education, what our kids are
learning about nutrition in the schools, the quality of the food in
the schools. It's about our neighborhood development. How are
neighborhoods designed?</p>
<p>"Are our kids -- do they have access to safe places to play? Are we
structuring communities in a way that facilitates healthy living? Are
there accessible and affordable healthy foods in our communities? And
it's about economic opportunity as well, because if folks can't afford
to put food on the table, then they're eating what they can.</p>
<p>"So this is one of those issues that requires us to talk about a
little bit of everything. And it makes us look at ourselves a little
more closely and it makes us look at the broader society. So we're
beginning to understand this is a threat."</p>
<p>This latest broadside by Palin shows how reckless and ridiculous
she is.</p>
<p>Libertarians and far right conservative Republicans are always
talking about government intrusion into our lives, but when we look at
clean water, air quality and food supply, thank God for governmental
standards.</p>
<p>Don't think for a second I'm not paying attention. I've increased
my health awareness, am changing my diet and working out more to lose
weight, and am pushing family members to do the same. That's really
the whole point of Michelle Obama's "Let's Move."</p>
<p>Any Republican with common sense should see that Sarah Palin poses
an immediate threat to the future of this country. She proves that
every time she opens her mouth.</p>
<p>Sarah, for the benefit of the nation, stick a fork in it.</p>
<p><i>The opinions expressed in this commentary are
solely those of Roland Martin.</i></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div>
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<div><span>Find this article at:</span> <br><a href="http://www.cnn.com/2010/OPINION/11/24/martin.michelle.obama.palin/index.html?hpt=T2" target="_blank">http://www.cnn.com/2010/OPINION/11/24/martin.michelle.obama.palin/index.html?hpt=T2</a>
</div>
<div> </div></td></tr></tbody></table></div></font></div><font size="2">
<div>_____________________________________________________<br>Wayne A.
Fox<br>1009 Karen Lane<br>PO Box 9421<br>Moscow, ID 83843</div>
<div> </div>
<div><a href="mailto:waf@moscow.com" target="_blank">waf@moscow.com</a><br>208
882-7975<br></div></font></blockquote></blockquote></div>
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