It is widely believed in America that everybody should get free education. Once the free education is completed, graduates of high schools are encouraged to move to college. This results in many people believing that this kind of attitude will assist the country in reaching the objective of becoming a brighter nation. Much contrary to such an argument, Michael Moore has argued in his essay Idiot Nation that exactly the opposite is happening and that we are becoming a nation full of idiots. Moore feels that most people in the country may be idiots because of the poor educational standard in schools and colleges as also in view of their lack of motivation and gratitude.
The standards of education in America are much low as compared to a number of other countries. In such countries, students have to clear exams to receive an entry into high school, but in America, a lot of students are not competent to solve simple problems in Algebra. In contrast, by the time students in other countries who enter high school learn more than the seniors in high schools in America. It is known that schools in most countries teach their students about the history of America, and these students know much more about America than American students. Further, most students in these countries are able to learn English as a second language, and it is in this context that Moore has remarked in his essay that “70 percent of those who graduate from America’s colleges are not required to learn a foreign language” (Moore, 157). He has challenged Americans in a rather taunting tone by saying that “foreigners better GET WITH THE PROGRAM” (Moore, 157). This clearly indicates the psyche of Americans in believing
That they are a superior nation so that students in other countries must learn about their country although they themselves do not feel the need to learn about them. This also proves that the curriculums in American colleges and schools are less demanding as compared to schools in other countries.
American schools have a deprived curriculum and lack the minimum resources required by students, and Moore has written in this regard, “walk into any public school, and the odds are good that you’ll find overflowing classrooms, leaking ceilings, and demoralized teachers” (Moore, 156). It has to be understood that the school environment forms the basis in bringing about the motivation to learn, and if the environment is not up to the mark, students will not prove to be cooperative, thus leading to circumstances that will not be conducive to healthy growth amongst children. Moore implies that all schools must be well equipped with computer labs, good libraries, and the latest textbooks. In regard to such facilities in American schools, Moore has made a comment that “in 1 out of 4 schools, you’ll find students “learning” from textbooks published in the 1980s — or earlier” (Moore, 156). Surely such conditions are pitiable, and students cannot learn if the basic amenities are not provided.
Moore is much critical about the practices being adopted in American schools whereby more importance is given to sports at the cost of academic studies. Instead of students being in the classrooms, they are more often found assembled in the gymnasiums or auditoriums, and he believes that such assemblies are not necessary. He says that if the faculty thinks that this way, they are making the students more bright and understanding, they are entirely mistaken. He says schools care more about sports than education for children, which is evident from the widespread.
School practices allow sports teams to leave during school timings so that they can hurry in making it to the games in time.
Moore has pointed out that students spend lesser time in the class and prefer to be at movies, malls, or at home to watch movies or to surf the internet. This habit is common amongst most Americans, which has made the country’s population lazy, with a very small percentage actually interested in literary pursuits. In adopting such attitudes and lifestyles, Americans are not only harming themselves but also adding to the stupidity of the country. Moore concludes that it is possible for anyone to see how this country is a nation that is full of unwise people, and it is the educational system that is the biggest setback in giving away the low intelligence levels of the people. He says people are not interested in gaining knowledge and are overconfident about their standard of education. The nation needs to realize that if such conditions continue, they could well lead to the gradual downfall of the country. There is a strong need to make appropriate changes in the education curriculum and to have a change of heart so that the country can be transformed into a nation of intelligent people.
Works Cited
Moore, Michael. “Idiot Nation.” Rereading America: Cultural Contexts for Critical Thinking and Writing. Eds. Gary Colombo, Robert Cullen, and Bonnie Lisle. Boston: Bedord/St. Martin’s, 2004. 153-172.