On the first three things in your first paragraph I pretty much agree. Most people have no need to have any opinion on those things. It doesn't matter at all whether the sun actually rises or the Earth turns to bring it into view, all that matters is that it gets brighter and warmer. It doesn't make any difference at all in daily life whether life evolved out of muddy seawater or was created bam 5 minutes ago. And if you really want to know where Iraq is then you look on TV (it's in the news enough that there's bound to be a picture fairly soon with nice clear colours) -- as for many other modern countries I have no idea of where they are or even if they exist or have the same name this week.
Knowing the branches of your government is rather more important, but even that has not much relevance to ordinary people. Knowing who your local representative is, yes, but how many British people actually know which laws are made in what way and by whom? How many know the order of authority of the various courts, until they actually have to use them? Does anyone actually know what laws there are around these days?
Maths -- it depends what they actually mean. Possibly they mean arithmetic (lots of people especially in the medias do mean that when they say 'maths'). But if they mean real mathematics, again how many people actually need calculus, let alone higher forms? Those who do need it learn it, but let's face it I haven't needed to use most of it in a job or daily life.
(I like Boris. If we're going to have to pay for politicians they may as well be entertaining in return...)
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branchandroot
no subject
Date: 2008-10-29 12:05 pm (UTC)Knowing the branches of your government is rather more important, but even that has not much relevance to ordinary people. Knowing who your local representative is, yes, but how many British people actually know which laws are made in what way and by whom? How many know the order of authority of the various courts, until they actually have to use them? Does anyone actually know what laws there are around these days?
Maths -- it depends what they actually mean. Possibly they mean arithmetic (lots of people especially in the medias do mean that when they say 'maths'). But if they mean real mathematics, again how many people actually need calculus, let alone higher forms? Those who do need it learn it, but let's face it I haven't needed to use most of it in a job or daily life.
(I like Boris. If we're going to have to pay for politicians they may as well be entertaining in return...)