People Who do not Learn, and do Not Want to Learn

Do such people exist? Yes, they do - and in the US, they are now common.

I am taking an introductory class from edX, explaining what edX is, and how I can learn from it. The rightmost screen of their user interface, shows the text, as the speaker is speaking it.

I have said non-learners are now common, but this was not always the case. My father, who did not live that long ago - was an avid learner. When he spent four years in the Marine Corp, he saved all his money, and sent it home to his mother. He also learned Photography, using the 4x5 inch, B&W film, of the time. And learned to make movies, using 8mm film, also.

When he went home, to Ft. Madison, Iowa - he and his new bride, lived in a home owned by his mother. And he bought a Photography Studio, from the money he had saved. This was the Depression (I was born in 1936) and the Studio did not make much money then.

But when WWII broke out, he owned a gold mine - and he made the most of it - charging the most the wartime laws would permit.

Sixty years later, he could retire in style, leaving income. that his children could inherit.

He would be amazed, to learn that most of his children (and his grandchildren) are no longer interested in learning - online, or any other way.

A Strange Thing Happened in the Sixties

A lot has been written about the Sixties, most of it, in my opinion - useless. I am going to take a different look at it - and contrast the American attitudes, before and after - towards learning.

Young people, in the Fifties, were expected to go to college, and graduate with useful degrees. This meant they had to learn something - and often difficult somethings. Young people who did not, suffered from social stigmatism, and felt inferior.

In the Sixties - that, in fact extended from the late Sixties to the early Eighties - a startling change happened. People regarded learning not with enthusiasm - but with horror! This was especially noticeable in the Young - who may have gone to college, but learned nothing - but in any case, were content to have a simple job. They wanted to have fun - not to study. 

They Do Not Want to Study, or Learn

I have been concerned about the plight of the Young, in America. They have no careers, and not much of an economic future.

In one generation, Americans have gone from being skilled people - to being unskilled people. Their parents do not seem concerned about this, and seem to find it normal - because they are the same way - they are not interested in learning anything either.

You may object, and point to the large number of courses online - that have thousands of students. But I will point to the millions, who could take these courses - but do not! If you do the numbers - you see about one percent of the population, are interested in learning!

This one percent is the wave of the future - not a very big wave, in the oceans of the past - but in the Computer ecosystem they are everywhere. Because they are learning, at a furious pace - and being well-rewarded for it.