Why are tech titans afraid of students reading primary sources? They develop the one skill algorithms can't replicate: the ability to think for themselves.
Wonderful work, and some wisdom that many of us need to consider with the current rise of AI in the educational space.
I loved the distinction you made with the lack of questions and discussion starters at the end of a primary text (unlike most textbooks today). From what I can tell, most AI advocates cling to the idea that AI is beneficial for this exact purpose, so that they can ‘focus on synthesizing the information.’ Little do they know that the information they’re working with is, from the start, not entirely their own.
I hope to write on this matter even more on my own substack. I would love to know anyone’s thoughts and critiques!
There is a push back in High School Social Studies to primary source documents. "Inquiry-Based Learning" is in vogue right now. The issue is that the Social Studies teachers have to deal with fact Language Arts teachers in Middle School and Elementary school have dropped the ball on reading skills.
It's difficult to teach Madison, when one can barely read the Hunger games.
Could not agree more. I have felt that way since one to one computing for my kids 15 years ago. But I was just an annoying mom who didn’t know what she was talking about. The teachers were the experts of course. No… they were indoctrinated themsleves.
Michael, a bracing reminder. Despite my advanced age, I can say, “Midway upon the journey of my life, I find myself in a dark wilderness, for I have wandered far from the straight and true.” Dante’s beginning seems evergreen, at least while life remains.
While I’d like to blame “the system” or Kingsnorth’s “Machine,” my elementary and high school time was in the 1960s and early 70s. Through a combination of sloth and au courant changes in Catholic education, I managed to avoid reading many of the primary sources “required” of me. Only in my forties did I dive back in, starting, if I remember correctly, with A Tale of Two Cities.
As a result, I’m sort of a second-rate autodidact. I’ve read books from Dante to Dostoyevsky to Manzoni to Cervantes to Ratzinger “alone,” or at best with the help of an audio course instructor. I’ve never really had the active, in class discussions you celebrate. One of the best guides I found was the late Rev. James Schall whose advice and books (especially e.g., Another Sort of Learning) gave me practical advice.
Your point strikes me as correct and important. Unlike today’s high-school students, however, I’m trying to muddle through, backfilling as I go. Kelly (comments below) suggested The Literary Life podcast and The House of Humane Letters. Intrigued I wandered over there only to see a tsunami of material (300+ podcasts).
I’m blessed with a Classics major daughter married to a Philosophy major husband. But they live far off. I have a full-time job, so spending hours each day reading is unrealistic. Economists have a term that occurs to me: satisficing – getting to an acceptable place.
I’d value suggestions from you or other CCR-ites on ideas for my journey. Any Virgils out there?
Well said. I've been writing about this same issue for quite a while. We stood up a dual enrollment Civic Leadership Program at South Anchorage High School, in part, to address the lack of critical thinking and good argumentation in the public arena.
When I was a child during the Nixon administration, I didn’t see children run to read Madison, when we had to read the books assigned for classwork and there weren’t extreme summaries. “Social Studies” was summarized… and History. But summer school history wasn’t and was more interesting.
Those of us who read compulsively read books all the time irrespective of the class. Those who didn’t enjoy reading, well… who knows.
The Ministry of Truth must be reckoned with. Besides its dandy 5th-grade summaries, it uses soul-deadening textbooks and slippery AI chatbots. At least some AIs hyperlink to the primary sources.
Many primary sources are accessible (Laura Ingles Wilder), some are not, and these require applied effort due to length, vocab, syntax (Shakespeare). The student who applies the effort will achieve outsized returns. I've viewed a live teacher in person as vital for the student to apply the effort.
What are the best options for the self-taught student who needs encouragement to understand a difficult primary source or for a homeschooling parent?
Thank you for this amazing view of today's ideas on education. This same view impelled me to reread Stephen Greenblatt's Tyrant: Shakespeare on Power. He forces me to look again at structures of power and how they collapse. He uses engaging language to develop his reasons in which you delight.
Legal judgements, legal arguments and promulgated acts were prescribed reading which could not be ignored and only had to be read in their entirety. Of course, this was before those pesky 'abridged copies' were around.
Wonderful work, and some wisdom that many of us need to consider with the current rise of AI in the educational space.
I loved the distinction you made with the lack of questions and discussion starters at the end of a primary text (unlike most textbooks today). From what I can tell, most AI advocates cling to the idea that AI is beneficial for this exact purpose, so that they can ‘focus on synthesizing the information.’ Little do they know that the information they’re working with is, from the start, not entirely their own.
I hope to write on this matter even more on my own substack. I would love to know anyone’s thoughts and critiques!
https://open.substack.com/pub/andrewbharker
There is a push back in High School Social Studies to primary source documents. "Inquiry-Based Learning" is in vogue right now. The issue is that the Social Studies teachers have to deal with fact Language Arts teachers in Middle School and Elementary school have dropped the ball on reading skills.
It's difficult to teach Madison, when one can barely read the Hunger games.
Could not agree more. I have felt that way since one to one computing for my kids 15 years ago. But I was just an annoying mom who didn’t know what she was talking about. The teachers were the experts of course. No… they were indoctrinated themsleves.
A most enlightening, edifying, and entertaining essay. Wishing you and your team every success in your important work.
Michael, a bracing reminder. Despite my advanced age, I can say, “Midway upon the journey of my life, I find myself in a dark wilderness, for I have wandered far from the straight and true.” Dante’s beginning seems evergreen, at least while life remains.
While I’d like to blame “the system” or Kingsnorth’s “Machine,” my elementary and high school time was in the 1960s and early 70s. Through a combination of sloth and au courant changes in Catholic education, I managed to avoid reading many of the primary sources “required” of me. Only in my forties did I dive back in, starting, if I remember correctly, with A Tale of Two Cities.
As a result, I’m sort of a second-rate autodidact. I’ve read books from Dante to Dostoyevsky to Manzoni to Cervantes to Ratzinger “alone,” or at best with the help of an audio course instructor. I’ve never really had the active, in class discussions you celebrate. One of the best guides I found was the late Rev. James Schall whose advice and books (especially e.g., Another Sort of Learning) gave me practical advice.
Your point strikes me as correct and important. Unlike today’s high-school students, however, I’m trying to muddle through, backfilling as I go. Kelly (comments below) suggested The Literary Life podcast and The House of Humane Letters. Intrigued I wandered over there only to see a tsunami of material (300+ podcasts).
I’m blessed with a Classics major daughter married to a Philosophy major husband. But they live far off. I have a full-time job, so spending hours each day reading is unrealistic. Economists have a term that occurs to me: satisficing – getting to an acceptable place.
I’d value suggestions from you or other CCR-ites on ideas for my journey. Any Virgils out there?
Well said. I've been writing about this same issue for quite a while. We stood up a dual enrollment Civic Leadership Program at South Anchorage High School, in part, to address the lack of critical thinking and good argumentation in the public arena.
There’s a golden age myth in action here.
When I was a child during the Nixon administration, I didn’t see children run to read Madison, when we had to read the books assigned for classwork and there weren’t extreme summaries. “Social Studies” was summarized… and History. But summer school history wasn’t and was more interesting.
Those of us who read compulsively read books all the time irrespective of the class. Those who didn’t enjoy reading, well… who knows.
Same today probably…
So grateful for your articles. Another benefit of classical education is meaningful timeless relationships with ourselves and others.
The Ministry of Truth must be reckoned with. Besides its dandy 5th-grade summaries, it uses soul-deadening textbooks and slippery AI chatbots. At least some AIs hyperlink to the primary sources.
Many primary sources are accessible (Laura Ingles Wilder), some are not, and these require applied effort due to length, vocab, syntax (Shakespeare). The student who applies the effort will achieve outsized returns. I've viewed a live teacher in person as vital for the student to apply the effort.
What are the best options for the self-taught student who needs encouragement to understand a difficult primary source or for a homeschooling parent?
Michael, you might find what you’re looking for by checking out The Literary Life Podcast and The House of Humane Letters.
Thank you for this amazing view of today's ideas on education. This same view impelled me to reread Stephen Greenblatt's Tyrant: Shakespeare on Power. He forces me to look again at structures of power and how they collapse. He uses engaging language to develop his reasons in which you delight.
Legal judgements, legal arguments and promulgated acts were prescribed reading which could not be ignored and only had to be read in their entirety. Of course, this was before those pesky 'abridged copies' were around.
"Shakespeare for Dummies"
(permission to puke)