Sunday, January 21, 2007
By: Matthew Doucette
(Back to all books.)
Insult to Intelligence (Frank Smith):
amazon.ca/Insult-Intelligence-Bureaucratic-Invasion-Classrooms/dp/043508478X
It explains how the education system ignores the natural method in which children learn. School teaches children that learning is difficult and boring, when learning is actually our brain's primary function. Also, I love that it gives credit to the children for the learning they accomplish, not to parents, teachers, and institutions who schools should only take credit in that they have provided the environment in which allows learning to take place. Children are so highly underrated. If you are a parent or teacher, please learn about how children learn. Also, if you are simply interested in the way humans learn, you will enjoy the book. I am certain this topic has value to everyone.
Let me leave you with two quotes from the book:
"To see what students learn in school, look at how they leave school. If they leave thinking that reading and writing are difficult and pointless, that mathematics is confusing, that history is irrelevant, and that art is a bore, then that is what they have been taught. People learn what is demonstrated to them, and this reality will not change to suit the convenience of politicians and educations administrators." - Frank Smith, Insult to Intelligence, 1986, p.ix
"We underrate our brains and our intelligence. Education has become such a complicated and overregulated activity that learning is regarded as something difficult that the brain would rather not do... But reluctance to learning cannot be attributed to the brain. Learning is one of the brain's primary functions, its constant concern, and we become restless and frustrated if there is no learning to be done. We are all capable of high and unsuspected learning accomplishments without effort." - Frank Smith, Insult to Intelligence, 1986, p.18
That is all.
About the Author: I am Matthew Doucette of Xona Games, an award-winning indie game studio that I founded with my twin brother. We make intensified arcade-style retro games. Our business, our games, our technology, and we as competitive gamers have won prestigious awards and received worldwide press. Our business has won $190,000 in contests. Our games have ranked from #1 in Canada to #1 in Japan, have become #1 best sellers in multiple countries, have won game contests, and have held 3 of the top 5 rated spots in Japan of all Xbox LIVE indie games. Our game engines have been awarded for technical excellence. And we, the developers, have placed #1 in competitive gaming competitions -- relating to the games we make. Read about our story, our awards, our games, and view our blog.