Oh I've seen that a lot! When a person gets a bit older and is curious about something - and it's their idea to learn about it, they often end up reading all kinds of stuff.
THere's a new company, Online Great Books, that's got people who've never read a book, signed up to read the classics with them, starting with the Iliad. Because they want to know about all these writers and ideas that have shaped our world. It's quite amazing. And they use collaborative discussions.

I'm so sorry you have to go through this, it's such a shame and such a mess. And you obviously have retained the desire to learn, how frustrating!
That's how I got into education, because I loved to learn and the other kids frustrated the hell out of me, until I realized they were so messed up from not getting to learn in a way that worked for them.
It made me search until I discovered the Montessori Method - lots more on that.
But you might understand more about the particular awfulness of what's happening today from Rand's article The Comprachicos. Here's a link: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1H...

You have a good point.

I occasionally whined about literature class. All I wanted to do was electronics. I just read the Cliff's Notes for some of the books. I was far from contemptuous of learning, but I liked physics, calculus, radio kits, girls, bad habits, and sometimes the liberal arts weren't top on my priorities.

I actually went back and read some of those books starting when I was 32. It wasn't any big decision, I just remembered the Cliff's Notes and class discussions when I saw a book at the library. I had a whole new appreciation for them.

So, at least some of those apparent philistines in your class will take away seeds that will mature long after.

Thank you!

Not much except what fits their agendas! It's truly frightening. The only saving grace is that the kids are still young so if we get them in our programs, we see enormous leaps in learning and ability to think. Over and over, students say their lives have been changed and they now can think and judge for themselves. This method is very powerful because it, at the same time, requires everyone to use reason and evidence AND allows them to see that IF they do this, other people see that they have something worthwhile to say. Really boosts their self-esteem - for authentic, earned reasons.

It depends on who you include in the "left" - there are still a FEW who are civil - but you're mostly right! Actually, it's interesting to see what's going on with the "Intellectual Dark Web" where people from different views are resurrecting real discussion.

It is clear by now that there are no "collaborative discussions" with the left.

I can attest to this through personal experience.

Okay sounds good, but...I saw youngsters, born after 2000 on TV being questioned about who we fought in Viet Nam, (answer Korea), WWII (answer France). History is important, we know that. What ARE they teaching our children. They can't spell, I've hired some who can't write cursive! What goes on in our schools?

Added to listen to later.