djputnik
03-02-2009, 02:33 PM
Here's a thought I had recently:
Back in the mid 90's, during my freshmen year in High School, I took a debate class. The topic of debate that year was whether or not Universal Healthcare worked on a national scale(mainly citing canada as the model). We were pointed towards many differing opinions, articles and facts both for and against and were told to pick a position and defend it. Then, halfway through the term, we were forced to switch our position and defend the opposing view. I understand that debate club is just training for future lawyers who need that skill in court. (or talking head pundits who need that skill to berate a subject into the nether regions of societal consciousness.) However, what was never brought up was the lack of actually ANSWERING the question...not just debating both sides. What benefit do youth gain from flip flopping over a topic without truly believing in one answer over another? Luckily, i dropped the class the following term and thereby scarcely avoided becoming a lawyer or TV nitwit. Does anyone else have stories like this from their youth? I almost want to go back to those teachers and shake my fist at them and yell "what we're you thinking? What about reasoning towards a decision? What about the Fed? What about the negative effects of the New Deal? etc. etc. etc. I thought my education was fairly well rounded and encompassing until I began to think for myself and learn from those who don't make a business out of education. I hope I'm not the only one who feels this way.
Back in the mid 90's, during my freshmen year in High School, I took a debate class. The topic of debate that year was whether or not Universal Healthcare worked on a national scale(mainly citing canada as the model). We were pointed towards many differing opinions, articles and facts both for and against and were told to pick a position and defend it. Then, halfway through the term, we were forced to switch our position and defend the opposing view. I understand that debate club is just training for future lawyers who need that skill in court. (or talking head pundits who need that skill to berate a subject into the nether regions of societal consciousness.) However, what was never brought up was the lack of actually ANSWERING the question...not just debating both sides. What benefit do youth gain from flip flopping over a topic without truly believing in one answer over another? Luckily, i dropped the class the following term and thereby scarcely avoided becoming a lawyer or TV nitwit. Does anyone else have stories like this from their youth? I almost want to go back to those teachers and shake my fist at them and yell "what we're you thinking? What about reasoning towards a decision? What about the Fed? What about the negative effects of the New Deal? etc. etc. etc. I thought my education was fairly well rounded and encompassing until I began to think for myself and learn from those who don't make a business out of education. I hope I'm not the only one who feels this way.