Idiot Nation by: Michael Moore

When I started reading this article, I expected something completely different than what I got. I was warned that it would spark a reaction, but there was no guarantee as to what that reaction would be. I must say that I wasn’t expecting to find humor in the article. I have never been a Michael Moore fan, but this article was actually enjoyable for me to read.
I realize the points he was trying to make regarding the lack of recognition and appreciation for teachers across the country. I agree with the facts that many schools are substandard for the number of students who attend them. Even here is Washington County, the school district struggles to keep up with building maintenance and the construction of new schools to keep up with the growing population.
Our country does need to reprioritize a few things when it comes to education. I don’t have any issues with the facts regarding the low wages of teachers and the ever increasing wages of government officials. I agree with Michael’s statement about the lack of assistance schools and education receives from the government. It is sad when funds for education are cut and the military can receive billions of dollars for weapons research just by asking for it.
One issue I do question is the standard which he uses to establish if somebody is “educated”. I see his point when he referrers to people who have been appointed to government positions, and they aren’t familiar with all of the issues related to the position. I agree this does look bad, but to me it suggests ignorance on the part of the individual, more than a lack of education. The issue I have is he makes it sound as if somebody who is not well versed in all school subjects is uneducated. Some of the most successful and influential people this country has seen have had very little schooling in the classical sense. But these people are very rarely viewed as uneducated. I’m sure there are many successful business men and women who probably don’t know what the only state capital is without a McDonalds in it. I’m sure many of these same men and women aren’t aware of which African countries have a lower infant mortality rate than Detroit. Honestly, are these facts they need to know unless they are in charge of the McDonalds Franchise, or are involved with a group or organization researching international infant mortality. Yet these same men and women are probably viewed as educated by those who interact and deal with them on a professional level.
Are we an “idiot nation”? If so, these idiots have been leading the world for a great number of years. I think it takes more than mere test scores to determine how educated a person is. There are a vast number of people out there who have received very little schooling but are considered educated and even gifted in certain arenas. So before we go stating people are uneducated, maybe we should look at more than just their academic records, and written test scores. Sometimes their accomplishments in life reveal their real education and the ultimate test score.