M. Benda writes:

Subject: The Omega Point

The article, The Omega Point, invokes questions of efficacy regarding standardized testing and standardized teaching methods. The children who will lead this country out of political and economic crisis not only need, but also deserve individual methods of teaching in order to expand their horizons and thinking perimeters. Standardization of testing and teaching lead to mindless learning and squelch learning abilities and motivation. do we want our children to part of the pack that just moves through the school system or do we want them to be able to put their education to use? Let them develop their mind, not be led to mindlessness as this is not growth, but it is the status quo.

Norman Wilson writes:

Subject: The Omega Point

Thank you for the comment. Wish more folks would feel that way. If they did, real educational change could be achieved.

Fred Keezer writes:

Subject: The omega point

Agreed, particularly in education. I perceive that education is best managed at the local levels, determining the needs of the community and its future. Take for instance the differences between rural,urban and agrarian communities. The urban education would need to be based more on industry preparing the young for technology and implementing it for its benefits, the rural and agrarian for its own. When we "standardize" we typically attempt to conform the agrarian and rural to the desires of the Urban. I never appreciated this until after living near and working in Seattle WA then moving to Iowa where I live near several self-contained "towns" of approx 900 to 1500 people. The needs of these towns is much different than the needs of the Urbanites of Seattle, and to continue sustaining the small towns and the uniqueness of their cultures, we need to be able to allow some autonomy in forming "how" and what we use to educate and prepare the next generation for local sustainability. There is a biblical/historical account of this "Omega point" of Doctor Wilson's, it was called the "tower of Babal" where all people spoke as one language in one place. You may dispute the validity of the historical account as myth, but many don't, including myself. I believe the outcome is eventually catastrophic.

Norm Votraw writes:

Subject: The Omega Point

Very good points in the article. Our children are learning more how to mimic as opposed to being creative.