Google Podcasts - Sold a Story
podcasts.google.com

I found this podcast from this reddit-logo post:

I subbed today for a 7th and 8th grade teacher. I’m not exaggerating when I say at least 50% of the students were at a 2nd grade reading level. The students were to spend the class time filling out an “all about me” worksheet, what’s your name, favorite color, favorite food etc. I was asked 20 times today “what is this word?”. Movie. Excited. Trait. “How do I spell race car driver?”

I've only listened to one episode so far, but it's really well produced, seems well-researched and very well put together.

From what I gather so far, the ways that the American public school system "teaches" kids how to read is not only completely wrong, but actually saddles them bad habits which fundamentally hinder their reading comprehension.

A huge swath of American adults are functionally illiterate, and I think I'm starting to understand why.

  • christiansocialist [none/use name]
    ·
    1 year ago

    I mean even "educated" PhDs who "read a lot" are still stupid as fuck and cannot for the life of them realize that they are being swayed by propaganda so I think the problem goes way deeper than just basic reading comprehension anglo-burn

    Actually now that I think about it, solving reading comprehension is a lot easier of a task than trying to un-brainwash these dumb "well-read Politics and Prose" liberals who drive around with NPR stickers on the back of their cars and laptops...

    • a_blanqui_slate [none/use name, any]
      ·
      1 year ago

      stupid as fuck and cannot for the life of them realize that they are being swayed by propaganda

      These doesn't have anything to do with being 'stupid'. It's a matter of choosing theoretical frameworks for navigating the word. I don't see any non-arbitrary reason for choosing a framework that writes-off most of common discourse as propaganda, even if that's the path I chose based on the contingencies of my own life.

    • GaveUp [she/her]
      ·
      1 year ago

      They're not swayed by propaganda, they benefit greatly and in return also uphold the domestic capitalist system and international imperialism

      • Farman [any]
        ·
        1 year ago

        While they do benefit they are stll employes most of the time. And not actual capitalists.

        I general i think Highly credentialed people are people that rank very high in the "agreablness" part of the horoscope. In fact the eductation system signals 3 things a floor of intelligence, a floor of "concientiousnes" and high "agreablness" They are most likley to follow on rules and authority. This makes them easiert to be brainwashed. Thats why pmcs tend to be spinless.

        • GaveUp [she/her]
          ·
          1 year ago

          That makes a lot of sense, yea definitely not all PhDs are servants of capital

          I was thinking specifically more about the intelligentsia subset of PhDs

          • Farman [any]
            ·
            1 year ago

            Well you are rigth, that phds generally live cushy lives. And those material conditions certainly play a role in them liking watever system they are in. Thats of course the main factor. Even if they are not capitalists. But i think some people are just more likley to follow authority. And i think having a phd hihghly correlates with that so i wanted to compliment your comment.

            For example even the nyt opeds were selected to tat job because they were already brainwashed. Rather than the opossite.