All the crazy MAGA QANON hate points to a failure of our public education

[Jedi Guy]

46. The issue isn't that it's not taught in school.

The issue is that many people think of politics as boring, stodgy, dorky stuff that doesn't really impact their daily lives in any meaningful way. The vast majority of high school graduates in this country learn civics for at least a semester. However, when I say "learn" what I mean is they retain the information long enough to pass the test (more on that below) and then the information dribbles out of their ears.

That lack of realization of the vital importance of politics is why so many Americans can't accurately describe what kind of government we have, let alone the minutiae of how it works and what it really does. Those of us here on DU are the exception, not the rule. Most of our fellow Americans follow politics in the run up to an election and ignore it most of the rest of the time.

As for critical thinking, honors and AP classes teach that sort of thing, yes. They also do the mock UN or other debate-focused activities that teach and encourage reasoned, logical argument. For the non-advanced classes, not so much. Their focus is on memorization and regurgitation. Cram the facts and dates and figures in there and forget them the instant the final exam is done.

I can't speak to what high school sports is up to since I was a dork all the way through school. Football was next door to religion where I grew up, and our football players strutted around the school like lords even though they didn't win a single game for my entire high school career. There were a few who were quite smart, but the rest were the stereotypical jocks with rocks between their ears.