PrintDecember 12, 2009
Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson Are Gay?
Jeopardy sometimes offers insights into American culture, if simply by eliminating the really dumb from the contestants who make the cut and provide a clear look at the more educated in our society. But there is a problem. I remember an excellent example of the negative effect of imposed educational theory since the 1960s showing up in the answer to the Final Jeopardy question: "Hannibal crossed the Alps on what animals?"A twenty-something contestant wrote down his answer quickly and confidently -- llamas. He was surprised that he was wrong because he had been taught to "think" rather than "know," a commonplace of modern pedagogical methods. He figured that if the question featured mountains, then the only logical answer could be llamas. He is one more on the ever-growing list of college graduates who don't know they have been screwed by their colleges -- until they open their mouths in front of traditionally educated colleagues and older adults.In lower...(Read Full Article)
