I want to write a different sort of blog today, this one prompted by the results of last week’s election. It is not a political rant, and I believe my concerns should matter to all voters and citizens.
We still have an ancient “Facts Matter” sticker on our older car. I believe in that sticker. I’m married to a scientist and believe that science holds many answers. I find myself wondering how we can move forward as a country and find shared goals when facts are no longer clear, when so many of us live in silos and never hear “facts” from the “other side,” when social media promulgates misinformation and disinformation that goes unchecked.
What is the responsibility of educators? I’ve written about the “Essential Qualities of a Glenbard Graduate” from my last school before. They include knowledgeable person, critical thinker, and socially responsible citizen. While Glenbard District #87 no longer uses this model, I still believe in it. So what are we doing to help our learners be knowledgeable, critical thinkers and socially responsible citizens? Not enough.
Our students are enmeshed in social media even more than older adults. Subject to constant misinformation from bots and different groups, they must learn to distinguish what is real and what is not.
So must the rest of us.
Our future depends on that.