r/whatithinkabout • u/PrudentLetterhead354 • Feb 08 '26

the dumbing down of america (what’s happening in the world now, part 1: education)

fascist governments always attack education first for a reason.

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/fascisms-history-offers-lessons-about-todays-attacks-on-education/

https://www.developmenteducationreview.com/issue/issue-37/critical-pedagogy-age-fascist-politics

https://www.ctpublic.org/show/disrupted/2024-10-11/exploring-connections-between-fascism-and-attacks-on-education-with-jason-stanley (podcast interview of author of book Erasing History:

How Fascists Rewrite the Past to Control the Future)

https://www.laprogressive.com/education-reform/age-of-fascist-politics

historically in the US major changes include

• ⁠multiple choice tests (you dont actually learn how to do things just memorize indvidual facts)

• ⁠defunding & privatising schools = segregation

• ⁠corporations running schools / education systems (this is an oxymoron, a private company must make money for it’s shareholders = no motivation to provide factual & beneficial education)

• ⁠devaluing humanities (social studies [fun fact in my language this is called yhteiskuntaoppi ’doctrine of society’ which is more accurate] history, psychology, arts, languages, philosophy etc)

• ⁠switching away from phonics -> people can’t spell (whole language movement 80s-90s, look-say method 30s-50s)

• ⁠no child left behind act 2001 + defunding & privatising schools -> kids get passed through grades even though they havent learned anything

• ⁠cutting from special education (no support for those who need it, they get left behind)

• ⁠throwing money at programs that dont work (ex. head start)

• ⁠overall attitude towards devaluing education (why do right wing politicians tell you further education is not important but their kids always go to top universities?)

• ⁠private universities (obviously) & the admission system essentially being if ur from a rich family we like you (poor kids cant do volunteering and extracurriculars they have to work or take care of their little siblings) (if ur poor just give your life to the military well give you schooling and a job)

• ⁠not paying teachers (obviously)

• ⁠the billionares & companies (entities) funding politicians, they don’t want you smart and awake

——

all of this has led to a huge part of americans being functionally illeterate with low levels of numeracy & problem solving / critical thinking skills

• ⁠2023: 28% of americans read at level 1 on below. 34% have a numeracy level of 1 (find it very hard to understand numbers or do calculations)

• ⁠https://nces.ed.gov/surveys/piaac/2023/national_results.asp (PIAAC is a cyclical, large-scale study of adult cognitive skills and life experiences in the United States)

• ⁠https://nces.ed.gov/surveys/piaac/measure (click through the tabs, has definitions and examples of literacy/numeracy/problem solving)

• ⁠test your reading level in english: https://www.cambridgeenglish.org/test-your-english/ and https://www.oxfordonlineenglish.com/english-level-test/reading

• ⁠test your numeracy level: https://www.mockquestions.com/aptitude-tests/Numerical+Reasoning/Basic+Numeracy

• ⁠test your pattern recognition skills (relates to problem solving): https://www.assessmentday.co.uk/logic/free/LogicalReasoningTest1/index.php

__

how to learn & improve:

## Literacy

**Small Habit**

- Read daily, even for 10-15 minutes

- Read out loud to engage auditory and visual learning

- Look up unfamiliar words immediately and use them in writing

- Ask yourself questions before, during, and after reading

**Intentional Plan**

Use active reading strategies: preview headings and structure before reading, highlight or underline key points, take notes in margins, summarize paragraphs in your own words, and review what you learned after finishing.

**Examples**

- Before reading a chapter, scan headings and ask what you expect to learn

- After each paragraph, pause and rephrase the main idea simply

- Practice with leveled passages that match your current level, gradually increasing difficulty

- Join a book club or discuss what you read with others

- Create concept maps to visualize connections between ideas

**Resources**

- https://www.improvingliteracy.org/resources

- https://lincs.ed.gov/professional-development/resource-collections/profile-398 (adult reading passages with audio)

- https://www.skillsyouneed.com (literacy guides)

- https://www.proliteracy.org/resources/ (strategies and programs for adult learners)

-----

## Numeracy

**Small Habit**

- Calculate mentally instead of using a calculator for everyday math (tips, change, measurements)

- Estimate answers before calculating to develop number sense

- Track your spending manually to practice budgeting calculations

- Play mental math games like calculating change before the cashier, comparing unit prices at the grocery store

**Intentional Plan**

Apply math to real situations daily. Set specific goals like calculating all grocery prices mentally, measuring ingredients while cooking, or analyzing statistics in news articles. Practice regularly through apps or worksheets, focusing on weak areas.

**Examples**

- When shopping, compare unit prices to find better deals

- Calculate cooking recipe adjustments when doubling or halving portions

- Figure out percentages for sales discounts

- Estimate travel time using distance and speed

- Track household expenses in a spreadsheet with formulas

**Resources**

- https://www.nationalnumeracy.org.uk/challenge (free adaptive assessment and practice)

- https://www.skillsyouneed.com/numeracy-skills.html (everyday numeracy guides)

- Khan Academy math courses (free)

- https://alis.alberta.ca/inspire-and-motivate/the-9-skills-for-success/skills-for-success-numeracy/

-----

## Problem Solving

**Small Habit**

- Before looking up answers, spend 5 minutes trying to solve problems yourself

- When facing a problem, pause and define it clearly before acting

- Practice Polya’s method: understand the problem, make a plan, execute, then reflect on what worked

- Work puzzles backward from the desired outcome

**Intentional Plan**

Apply a consistent framework to problems. Use the six-step strategy: identify the problem, gather information, brainstorm solutions, evaluate options, implement one solution, and reflect on results. Practice with both simple daily challenges and complex scenarios.

**Examples**

- Broken household item: diagnose the issue yourself before calling a repair person

- Work challenge: list 3 possible approaches before choosing one

- Solve jigsaw puzzles, Sudoku, or chess problems regularly

- When stuck, simplify by removing details and looking for basic patterns

- Review past problems to identify which approaches worked best

**Resources**

- https://brainmd.com/blog/how-to-improve-your-problem-solving-skills/

- https://www.lifehack.org/articles/productivity/6-ways-to-enhance-your-problem-solving-skills.html

- https://barclayslifeskills.com/help-others/adult-learning/modules/boosting-your-problem-solving-skills/

- https://blog.mindvalley.com/problem-solving-skills/

-----

## Critical Thinking

**Small Habit**

- Question assumptions in daily life (Why do I believe this? What’s the evidence?)

- Ask “why” multiple times to get to root causes

- Before making decisions, list pros/cons and consider alternative viewpoints

- Reflect on your thought process after making decisions

**Intentional Plan**

Develop metacognition by deliberately thinking about how you think. Regularly practice evaluating information sources, identifying biases, reasoning through logic, and considering multiple perspectives before forming conclusions.

**Examples**

- When reading news, ask: What’s the source? What bias might exist? What’s missing?

- In discussions, argue both sides of an issue to understand different perspectives

- After decisions, journal about why you chose that path and what you learned

- Practice the “5 Whys” technique to identify root problems

- Seek out viewpoints that challenge your beliefs

**Resources**

- https://www.criticalthinking.org/pages/critical-thinking-in-everyday-life-9-strategies/512

- https://hbr.org/2019/05/3-simple-habits-to-improve-your-critical-thinking

- https://asana.com/resources/critical-thinking-skills

- https://helpsquad.com/how-to-improve-critical-thinking/

- https://able.ac/blog/critical-thinking-exercises/​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

——

more:

https://www.criticalthinking.org

https://www.newgeography.com/content/008421-the-great-dumbing-down-american-education (stats abt education levels)

https://www.educationfinland.fi/edudev/literacy

currently my country (finland) & other countries are employing these same tactics to destroy education

most importantly: DO NOT LET AI DO YOUR THINKING FOR YOU. IT WILL LITERALLY ROT YOUR BRAIN. the brain needs constant stimulation & excercise to think clearly and wisely. AI causes brain rot = cognitive athropy (decline) = when you dont use your brain you slowly lose the ability to think. this is why AI slop is called brainrot. use AI as a tool not a replacement.

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