Like A Mofo Posted March 1, 2006 Share Posted March 1, 2006 1st Amendment CHICAGO - Americans apparently know more about "The Simpsons" than they do about the First Amendment. Only one in four Americans can name more than one of the five freedoms guaranteed by the First Amendment (freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly and petition for redress of grievances.) But more than half can name at least two members of the cartoon family, according to a survey. And it is only goig to get worse. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KRC Posted March 1, 2006 Share Posted March 1, 2006 1st AmendmentCHICAGO - Americans apparently know more about "The Simpsons" than they do about the First Amendment. Only one in four Americans can name more than one of the five freedoms guaranteed by the First Amendment (freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly and petition for redress of grievances.) But more than half can name at least two members of the cartoon family, according to a survey. And it is only goig to get worse. 614748[/snapback] Not suprising. Students can't memorize the multiplication tables, but can recite an entire week's TV schedule. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Like A Mofo Posted March 1, 2006 Author Share Posted March 1, 2006 Not suprising. Students can't memorize the multiplication tables, but can recite an entire week's TV schedule. 614760[/snapback] Very scary to think what students might be like in about 50 years isn't it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghost of BiB Posted March 1, 2006 Share Posted March 1, 2006 Very scary to think what students might be like in about 50 years isn't it? 614776[/snapback] 50 years from now? You look at the football board and of the wall recently? And some of them are pushing 30. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilverNRed Posted March 1, 2006 Share Posted March 1, 2006 1st AmendmentCHICAGO - Americans apparently know more about "The Simpsons" than they do about the First Amendment. Only one in four Americans can name more than one of the five freedoms guaranteed by the First Amendment (freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly and petition for redress of grievances.) But more than half can name at least two members of the cartoon family, according to a survey. And it is only goig to get worse. 614748[/snapback] Kind of a crappy comparison. I imagine most Americans are aware of the freedoms guaranteed by the First Amendment even if they aren't aware that they are specifically guaranteed in that part of the constitution. And once you know you have that right, how often are you going to check back to the constitution to see where exactly it is. On the other hand, I imagine anyone who has watched an episode of the Simpsons over the past, I dunno, 15 years (new episodes or syndicated) or has even known someone who is a big fan of the show (or just noticed all the merchandise) could toss out the names of a character or two. Similarly, I've never watched an entire episode of Sex and the City but I know two of the four girls are named Carrie and Miranda. Which is not to say that Americans don't have some serious "book learning" to do but this is the type of article that just screams "Here's a poll; let's overreact to it!!!" A skilled pollster can spin almost anything into a "surprising find." In summary, I don't like polls. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
X. Benedict Posted March 1, 2006 Share Posted March 1, 2006 Which is not to say that Americans don't have some serious "book learning" to do but this is the type of article that just screams "Here's a poll; let's overreact to it!!!" A skilled pollster can spin almost anything into a "surprising find." In summary, I don't like polls. 614815[/snapback] Most of the best polling/surveys are for internal use. It doesn't appear on ABC news. When the media contracts for a poll, they usually have some say as to how questions are framed. Market intelligence and even political intelligence for campaigning is usual proprietary and internal. Pollsters have some affective filters, for example, the desire to finish a 20 minute survey without the interviewee walking off, the modulation of voice if it is an oral poll often compromises true candidness, also people tend to overestimate how much they do things - men always seem to vote and have much more sex than women, for example. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny Coli Posted March 1, 2006 Share Posted March 1, 2006 I'm not a big proponent of rote memorization and regurgitation in education. We should be teaching students how to research an answer to a question, and how to solve a problem through deductive reasoning. You don't learn anything through memorization. So most people can't recite verbatim The Bill of Rights or the Amendments. Big deal. It doesn't mean that they haven't heard of them, or know they are in the US Constitution. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YellowLinesandArmadillos Posted March 1, 2006 Share Posted March 1, 2006 I'm not a big proponent of rote memorization and regurgitation in education. We should be teaching students how to research an answer to a question, and how to solve a problem through deductive reasoning. You don't learn anything through memorization. So most people can't recite verbatim The Bill of Rights or the Amendments. Big deal. It doesn't mean that they haven't heard of them, or know they are in the US Constitution. 614886[/snapback] Yep, called critical thinking. Folks need to be taught the skills to work through problems but memorization after that is just state sponsored and more frequently today Corporate sponsored propaganda. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crap Throwing Monkey Posted March 1, 2006 Share Posted March 1, 2006 I'm not a big proponent of rote memorization and regurgitation in education. We should be teaching students how to research an answer to a question, and how to solve a problem through deductive reasoning. You don't learn anything through memorization. So most people can't recite verbatim The Bill of Rights or the Amendments. Big deal. It doesn't mean that they haven't heard of them, or know they are in the US Constitution. 614886[/snapback] Or can't look them up. There's lots of stuff I can't recall by rote...but I know where to find it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobblehead Posted March 1, 2006 Share Posted March 1, 2006 Does the poll ask if you understand the meaning of "petition for redress of grievances"? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EC-Bills Posted March 1, 2006 Share Posted March 1, 2006 Or can't look them up. There's lots of stuff I can't recall by rote...but I know where to find it. 614905[/snapback] Same here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoachChuckDickerson Posted March 1, 2006 Share Posted March 1, 2006 1st AmendmentCHICAGO - Americans apparently know more about "The Simpsons" than they do about the First Amendment. Only one in four Americans can name more than one of the five freedoms guaranteed by the First Amendment (freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly and petition for redress of grievances.) But more than half can name at least two members of the cartoon family, according to a survey. And it is only goig to get worse. 614748[/snapback] Question: Do I need to file a petition to redress my grievances with my taxes? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobblehead Posted March 1, 2006 Share Posted March 1, 2006 Question: Do I need to file a petition to redress my grievances with my taxes? 615010[/snapback] Wait until Festivus. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moose Posted March 2, 2006 Share Posted March 2, 2006 All I know is that they've recently added an asterisked section that you can't print mohammed cartoons. Spines are optional. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RuntheDamnBall Posted March 2, 2006 Share Posted March 2, 2006 All I know is that they've recently added an asterisked section that you can't print mohammed cartoons. Spines are optional. 616708[/snapback] Who's they? Do you live in Denmark? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moose Posted March 2, 2006 Share Posted March 2, 2006 Who's they? Do you live in Denmark? 616781[/snapback] Oh yeah, I forgot that the NY Times, Boston Globe, CNN and every other MSM entity in the U.S. had the balls and backbone to print the cartoons. /sarcasm What exactly is your point???? They PRINTED the cartoons in Denmark! In the U.S., not so much... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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