I choose to read The Dumbest Generation by Mark Bauerlein. The first section will review and discuss the content of the book. Next, I will look at how it is relevant and connects with our course. Lastly, I will evaluate why I would recommend this book to other students and if the contents should be added to assigned reading.
Knowledge Deficits
Knowledge Deficits
Another major example he gives us is how young adults lack the knowledge that makes them informed citizens. He breaks it down by subjects, history, civics, math/science/technology and fine arts. According to Bauerlein, young people have access to more history in popular culture than ever before due to mass entertainment containing historical content such as books, movies, the history channel and Wikipedia. However, they don’t retain it as history because the facts get skewed. In 2001, the National Assessment of Educational Progress found that the majority of high school seniors, 57 percent, scored below basic on a history exam. “Basic being is defined as partial mastery of prerequisites, knowledge and skills that allow proficient work at a selected grade level” (Bauerlein, 2009, p.17). In the area of civics, the intercollegiate studies institute had a report in September 2006, the coming crisis in citizenship: Higher Education’s Failure to Teach American History and Institutions. They tested 14,000 freshman and seniors at 50 colleges across the country in American government, history and separate topics like the bill of rights and Martin Luther King and more. They found “at Berkeley, the students actually regressed, going from 60.4 percent in their first year to 54.8 in their last year” (Bauerlein, 2009, p.20). After thousands in tuition fees some students didn’t gain any knowledge but went backwards.
The deficit of knowledge isn’t coming from school or work but from their leisure time and socializing. For example, a child reaching their 18th birthday has been alive for about 158,000 hours. If they attended school, with no absences, for 6 hours a day, 180 days a year, for 12 years, that would equal almost 13,000 hours in school. That is only 9 percent of their time on Earth (Bauerlein, 2009, p.37). This demonstrates why teens and young adults’ leisure time has to complement academic performance because it will show up in their education. The internet crowds out information and blocks intellectual growth.
The New Bibliophobes
There is a new attitude to disregard books, knowing how to read but choosing not to. “Today’s rising generation thinks more highly of its lesser traits” (Bauerlein, 2009, p.41). Instead their free time is consumed by the media, television and internet. It counts more to know celebrities and stars than knowing political leaders because of the pressures from social circles. For example, kids read Harry Potter because other kids read it and it would bond them with their peers. Reading a book cost less than cable television and video games but the decline in reading continues. According to, The annual American Freshman Survey in 2005, “one-quarter of high school graduates who’ve gone on to college never read a word of literature, sports, travel, politics, or anything else for their enjoyment” (Bauerlein, 2009, p.54). Another survey on freshman reading habits by The National Survey of Student Engagement showed decreasing percents in the number of books read from freshman to senior year. Should college courses be motivating student to read more books?
The author describes how reading carried, Fredrick Douglass, John Stuart Mill, Walt Whitman and W.E.D.B Du Bois, out of torment and suffering and transformed them into something better. They attribute their success to reading and shame the current generation because of their lack of appreciation for the written word. (Not because of their literary choices) (Bauerlein, 2009, p.56-57). Today’s youth has everything to gain from reading, it is a place to slow down, relate their feelings with those of characters and recognize what’s missing in real life situations. Bauerlein explains, “The more you don’t read, the more you can’t read”(Bauerlein, 2009, p.59). During childhood those who obtain reading skills read, learn, have a larger vocabulary, and recognize arguments at a faster pace later on in life than those who do not. Other media do not develop these skills as effectively. The author further displays a collection of thoughts from various sources on literacy. A contributor to the USA Today blog said “Today’s young people don’t suffer from illiteracy; they just suffer from e-literacy” (Bauerlein, 2009, p.66). She explains how there is no need to know how to spell because of technological advances such as spell check. Since the digital revolution brings the universe of knowledge into their bedrooms shouldn’t it be increasing their intellectual abilities? Then “why do one-third of students who go straight to college out of high school drop out after one year, why don’t they handle questions better, and why do reading scores remain flat?” (Bauerlein, 2009, p.68)
Screen Time
When it comes to teenagers in the United States they are more than just consumers, they are “content creators.” They make their own web pages and display their work for the world to see. Technology itself seems to have become their possession and their expressions. Pew Internet and American Life Project report that “Youth are leading the transition to a fully wired and mobile nation” (Bauerlein, 2009, p.72). Does too much television and screen time contribute to the concept of this generation being the dumbest? Bauerlein explains those who grow up surrounded by technology develop and adapt differently to information and entertainment. For example “children have acquired enough knowledge of the screen to form preferences of their own, and they act on them” (Bauerlein, 2009, p.76). These habits are developed through the tender ages that parents sit their children in front of the television for 30 minutes while they make dinner. Compared to the process of browsing for a book in the library the screen is always the same, a common object and there is nothing magical about the experience. A Kaiser study showed that 73 percent of children under the age of six years old watch television everyday, 18 percent use a computer, and 9 percent play video games (Bauerlein, 2009, p.76). The author describes how IQ scores have jumped three points per decade since before World War II (and further different perspectives on why). It doesn’t change the fact that knowledge and skill levels haven’t followed the same rise. When kids pass their time with screen time the transfer isn’t happening and their minds stop progressing. Digital enthusiasts support digital learning, new hi-tech classrooms and the art of television, and believe the internet broadens literacy skills. They predict a more intelligent and empowered generation on the rise. However, the years have passed and we’re still waiting to see this progress.
Online Learning and non-Learning
The Online learning and Non-Learning section dealt with digital research skills and the quality of students work. Schools are renovating and adding new programs that revolve around computers. “A school district in Union City, California, spent $37 million to purchase new tools for 11 schools, and paid for it by cutting science equipment and field trips” (Bauerlein, 2009, p.177). School districts are dropping programs like music and science, changing their practices and receiving enormous amounts of money to purchase electronic curricular materials. Why is education headed in this direction and is spending the money on digital tools worth it? Digital technology may excite students in a different way. Using keyboards and visual aspects of receiving numbers, words and images in fun sequences might excite students in a different way but it doesn’t’ help them acquire knowledge and develop their skills. Recent studies and analysis have shown no achievement gains once the schools went digital (Bauerlein, 2009). For example “in 2004 the Texas Education Agency directed $14 million in federal funds toward wireless technology in selected middle schools in the state” (Bauerlein, 2009, p.122). The results showed no significant involvement or achievement in reading and math in the first year. In addition, the “Availability of laptops did not lead to significantly greater opportunities for students to experience intellectually challenging lessons or to do more challenging school work, (Texas Center for Educational Research)” (Bauerlein, 2009, p.122).
Before digital enthusiasts spend more money on technology for classrooms they need to consider the possibility that the screen experience can be better executed through different methods of teaching. For example one of the basics of learning that technology makes worse is the development of language. Television dialogues, parents, books, conversations with peers, music lyrics, text messages and Web sites are the components building young adults language. Which components build vocabulary successfully? “A child’s vocabulary grows mainly through informal exposure the more words in the exposure that the child doesn’t know, the greater the chances for growth” (Bauerlein, 2009, p.129). Print is greater than live and televised speech. Bauerlein demonstrates this through the findings of education researchers that, children raised in print heavy households can have gaps in their word inventories of several thousand with those raised in print poor households. Visual media doesn’t provide us with the academic labor that we need to stimulate our brains and increase intelligence.
There is more contact than ever before between young adults. An important factor that takes away from online learning is peer absorption. Adolescents care more about what their peers think than their elders. This increases their time spent learning about celebrities, school gossip, slang, clothes and music rather than focusing on their academics. For October 2006, Nielsen//NetRatings showed 12 to 17 year-olds top sites involved social networking. Esther Hargittai, a communications professor at Northwestern University, in 2006 polled 1,300 students at University of Illinois-Chicago on their online time favorite destinations; number one was Facebook (78.1 percent). Digital technology has become “a prepackaged representation of the world, a “Daily Me”, a rendition of things filtered by the dispositions of young users; and the screen becomes not a vein of truth but a mirror of desire” (Bauerlein, 2009, p.137). The author doesn’t suggest rejecting digital learning completely but slow it down because it is blocking intellectual gains. Even if the technology is used correctly in the classroom and by parents what teens do with it on their own time will become habit and the education skills will vanish.
The Betrayal of the Mentors
Bauerlein uses the betrayal of the Mentors section to discuss the importance of mentors. This young generation is unaware of the truths and beauties and words and images of the past. They need some background and knowledge from educators and youth experts who have already experienced the struggles. Bauerlein highlights a few authoritative expressions in the rise of adolescence and stance of the teachers. First mentioned is Professor G. Stanley Hall, president of Clark University and head of American Association, he composed a massive volume outlining the uniqueness of the adolescent stage. He said, “Self-feeling and ambition are increased, and every trait and faculty is liable to exaggeration and excess.” (Bauerlein, 2009, p.168) This puts the responsibility of adolescent development completely to adults. Charles Reichs author of The Greening of America (1970), interpreted youth lifestyles as a serious expression. He said, “There is a revolution coming, it will not be like revolutions of the past… This is the revolution of the new generation” (Bauerlein, 2009, p.169). This outlook carries on to the idea that young adults justify their lifestyles as a means of self discovery. They postpone making adult decisions but more interested in finding one’s self. If teens and young adults don’t know where they came from, how do they know where to go in the process of self discovery?
Bauerlein further explains that if mentors down grade their positions it does the majority of youths no favor. By lacking discipline and letting kids slack off mentors are giving up their power and influence. It is becoming a trend that educators try to be more of a friend to students than an authority figure. What Bauerlein is saying is they need to impart their wisdom and knowledge in their students. These young adults need an understanding of their background and roots as grounds to base their opinions and form their thoughts. “When colleges treat students as consumers and clients, they encourage it (disrespect), as does pop culture when it elevates hooky-playing tricksters such as Ferris Bueller into heroes” (Bauerlein, 2009, p.188). The author concludes by explaining that this young generation need to take the initiative, mentors need to praise them when their right and discipline them when they’re wrong, parents help them keep the bigger picture in mind, and peers appreciate their appetite to learn.
No More Culture Warriors
The last part of the book the author discussed how if knowledge doesn’t inspire the young now then it won’t enable their thoughts and behaviors and traditions when they’re old. Knowledge supplies motivation, increases moral sense and produces different opinions. Bauerlein explains that these aspects are important because knowledge generates healthy active citizens and keeps a democracy running. Knowledge is what motivates individuals to vote, emailing host to speak their minds and joining boycotts. Knowledge increases moral sense which allows people to look at past models of conduct and learn from previous leaders performances. This helps create a relation to their past leaders principles by measuring their actions and policies. Lastly, knowledge creates arguments which enables, “Good ideas stay fresh by challenge, and bad ideas go away, at least until they can be modified repackaged” (Bauerlein, 2009, p.218). Bauerlein calls refers to this generation as The Dumbest Generation, because their attention is focused on screens, peer absorption and career goals. There is a lack of knowledge and awareness in what it means to be an informed citizen and what America is all about.
Relevance to Communication Theory and the Public Interest
In my opinion The Dumbest Generation is directly connected with the communication theory and the public interest and many of the issues we have discussed in our class. Communication involves meaning; it is a give and take process. How can teens and young adults establish and interpret meaning through screens where there is no relationship? This is what Bauerlein describes in The Dumbest Generation when he talks about how selecting a book from the shelf in the library is a magical experience. Each book opens a new world of imagination for the reader unlike the digital screen which is always the same and only a gateway to something else. Books themselves are unique but screens are generic objects. Concepts of how we study communication were evident in this book. We learn what is true or real through experience, authority and science. After reading this book Bauerlein makes it clear that young adults lack knowledge in the areas of history, politics, and foreign affairs but centered on youth to youth communication. Teens are not learning from authority either which Bauerlein’s portrays in his section on the betrayal of the mentors. He explains that adults have blinded themselves of the damages caused by digital learning.
Another relevance to communication and how we study it is epistemology. Bauerlein describes a new hyper-epistemology that is the bringer of news. How do we know what we do? Every generation occupies a point in history and the previous generations acquired knowledge through experiences, studying history and creating new ideas. The digital generation has the internet, Google and different search engines to help from putting for effort to learn. Finally, this book relates to our lecture on communication theory paradigms. Social cultural tradition says communication produces more than just words but a culture. The structure of people’s language shapes what they think and what they do. If, like Bauerlein says in the book, children and teens language is being shaped by peer absorption and digital media then how is that going to shape their actions and thoughts? The even bigger picture is what kind of culture are we going to create is knowledge principles disappear?
Evaluation
I highly recommend The Dumbest Generation, it was eye opening and left me in a state of panic and wonder for our generation and country. I would highly recommend this book; it argues how technology has changed young people of this generation’s way of learning and thinking. This book has opened my eyes to how this generation has become self-absorbed in our social life and media and ignorant to our rights, obligations and responsibilities as American citizens.
The Dumbest Generation, made me aware of the major issue that our democracy is threatened and the youth of America could lose the great American heritage forever. This is a growing problem and will continued to be unless our generation takes an initiative and our mentors, the adults, take a stance to prevent this from happening When dealing with the digital age and how it jeopardizes our future there are gray areas and different opinions. The exciting new world of technology has blinded people in the fact that it is actually damaging the youth generation. I recommend this book because it showed me how technology is narrowing our horizons instead of broadening. The Dumbest Generation opened me up to why learning about history, civic principles, political leaders and foreign affairs are essential roles in being an informed citizen, things I had taken for granted. I believe the contents of this book should be an assigned reading because it demonstrates how the new digital generation is changing how young people lack the knowledge to become informed and intelligent citizens. This book relates to the class because it explains how technology is dumbing down our generation and what that means for the health of the United States.
