We are working for a recently retired newspaper publisher. He made a statement that got me thinking. He said that the policy in the editorial department of the paper was to write stories to the grade nine level of reading and comprehension. Writers were constantly being scrutinized for this standard. This, to me, is another confirmation of the 'dumbing down of society'. This kind of thinking at many levels have had consequences that have crept up on us over the years and now that we are used to them, they do not bother us, but should.
My opinion is that the root of this is socialism. Socialism believes that the state is capable of looking after all the needs of its citizens and if the government is big enough and regulatory enough, all risks can be eliminated and all people will be happy, safe, and equal. This type of thinking is insidious (both treacherous and seductive) and we have succumbed to it. These are worthy ideals, are they not?
The danger lies in the fact that we all become non-thinking pawns and depend on others to take care of us and even to think for us. In the process we lose our independence and become dependent. This is a dangerous state to be in for then we can be controlled and we have condoned it by not speaking out when it came at us in little bits.
By being spoken to at a grade nine level, we are not being given credit for intelligence. When this happens often enough, we begin to believe that we might not be smart enough to think for ourselves.
Some examples in tomorrow's post.
2 comments:
Well now, that is interesting. 12 years ago when I did my Masters degree, albeit in the US, we were told that we were to write at a Grade 6 level for any writing that was for "public consumption!" Good to see we have actually moved up in our literacy.
That is hilarious! I write my blog at a grade 6 level, not because of any directive, but because that is all I am capable of. :)
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