[kevincox]

I agree that improvement for the Average Joe will be very hard. I also think that taking more attention to teach the younger generation is vitally important. But mostly I don't see an alternative. I don't think we can protect people from fake information without giving up our freedom, and that isn't a viable alternative in my mind. So what is left but trying our hardest to teach people to think critically?

[abustamam]

Our institutions have been trying to get our kids to think critically for a while. At least when I was in school, we didn't focus a lot on memorization (sometimes we did, like memorizing the times tables or periodic table). My teachers tried to instill in us an understanding of the concepts, something I took for granted. Many of my classmates have gone on to become lawyers, doctors, other prestigious careers.

But I feel like we live in a different time now. I hear teachers tell stories about school admin siding with parents instead of teachers, and the kids aren't learning anything. Anecdotally of course.

I think our teachers really want the kids to think critically. But parents and schools don't seem to value that anymore.