Intensive Study 2 Most of us know or think we know who is to blame: liberal courts spineless school boards, ridiculous government regulations. It's easy to select a bad quy 3 But possibly the problem lies not so much in our institutions as in our attitudes. It is sad that although most of us claim that we believe in education, we place no value on intellectual activity
Intensive Study 2 Most of us know, or think we know, who is to blame: liberal courts, spineless school boards, ridiculous government regulations. It’s easy to select a bad guy. 3 But possibly the problem lies not so much in our institutions as in our attitudes. It is sad that although most of us claim that we believe in education, we place no value on intellectual activity
Intensive Study We americans are a charitable and humane people: We have institutions devoted to every good cause from rescuing homeless cats to preventing World War l. But what have we done to promote the art of thinking? Certainly we make no room for thought in our daily lives Suppose a man were to say to his friends, I'm not going to PTA tonight or the baseball game, or whatever) because I need some time to myself, some time to think"? Such a man would be shunned by his neighbors; his family would be ashamed of him. What if a teen-ager were to say, " I'm not going to the dance tonight because I need some time to think"? His parents would immediately start looking in the Yellow Pages for a psychiatrist
Intensive Study 4 We Americans are a charitable and humane people: We have institutions devoted to every good cause from rescuing homeless cats to preventing World War III. But what have we done to promote the art of thinking? Certainly we make no room for thought in our daily lives. Suppose a man were to say to his friends, “I’m not going to PTA tonight (or the baseball game, or whatever) because I need some time to myself, some time to think”? Such a man would be shunned by his neighbors; his family would be ashamed of him. What if a teen-ager were to say, “I’m not going to the dance tonight because I need some time to think”? His parents would immediately start looking in the Yellow Pages for a psychiatrist
Intensive Study 5 Several years ago a college administrator told me that if he wanted to do any serious thinking he had to get up at 5: 30 in the morning -l suppose because that was the only time when no one would interrupt him. More recently I heard a professor remark that when his friends catch him in the act of reading a book, they say, My, it must be nice to have so much free time "And even though i am an english teacher-a person who should know better-I find myself feeling vaguely guilty whenever I sneak off to the library to read. It is a common belief that if a man is thinking or reading, he is doing nothing. Through our words and our actions, we express this attitude every day of our lives. Then we wonder why our children refuse to take their studies seriously and why they say to their teachers, " Why do need to learn this stuff? It won't do me any good P'll never need it
Intensive Study 5 Several years ago a college administrator told me that if he wanted to do any serious thinking, he had to get up at 5:30 in the morning — I suppose because that was the only time when no one would interrupt him. More recently I heard a professor remark that when his friends catch him in the act of reading a book, they say, “My, it must be nice to have so much free time.” And even though I am an English teacher ―a person who should know better ― I find myself feeling vaguely guilty whenever I sneak off to the library to read. It is a common belief that if a man is thinking or reading, he is doing nothing. Through our words and our actions, we express this attitude every day of our lives. Then we wonder why our children refuse to take their studies seriously and why they say to their teachers, “Why do I need to learn this stuff? It won’t do me any good; I’ll never need it
Intensive Study 6 It's easy to understand the reasons for this prejudice against thinking. One problem is that to most of us, thinking looks suspiciously like doing nothing. A human being in deep thought is an uninspiring sight. He leans back in his chair,_props up his feet, _puffs on his pipe and stares into space. He gives every appearance of wasting time. Besides, he's leaving all the hard work for us! We wish he would get up and do something useful -clean the house, maybe or mow the lawn Our resentment is natural
Intensive Study 6 It’s easy to understand the reasons for this prejudice against thinking. One problem is that to most of us, thinking looks suspiciously like doing nothing. A human being in deep thought is an uninspiring sight. He leans back in his chair, props up his feet, puffs on his pipe and stares into space. He gives every appearance of wasting time. Besides, he’s leaving all the hard work for us! We wish he would get up and do something useful ― clean the house, maybe, or mow the lawn. Our resentment is natural
Intensive Study 7 But thinking is far different from laziness. Thinking is one of the most productive activities a human being can undertake. Every beautiful and useful thing we have created exists because somebody took the time and effort to think of it 8 And thinking does require time and effort. It's a common misconception that if a person is“ gifted”or" bright"or“ talented, wonderful ideas will flash spontaneously into his mind. Unfortunately, the intellect doesn't work this way. Even Einstein had to study and think for months before he could formulate his theory of relativity Those of us who are less intelligent find it a struggle to conceive even a moderately good idea, let alone a brilliant one
Intensive Study 7 But thinking is far different from laziness. Thinking is one of the most productive activities a human being can undertake. Every beautiful and useful thing we have created exists because somebody took the time and effort to think of it. 8 And thinking does require time and effort. It’s a common misconception that if a person is “gifted” or “bright” or “talented,” wonderful ideas will flash spontaneously into his mind. Unfortunately, the intellect doesn’t work this way. Even Einstein had to study and think for months before he could formulate his theory of relativity. Those of us who are less intelligent find it a struggle to conceive even a moderately good idea, let alone a brilliant one