Long posts

I think that interdisciplinary education is exactly what we need more of: it engenders the ability to think about complex issues spanning across multiple domains of human knowledge. This ability is exactly what a good citizen needs.

I think that american schooling imparts knowledge as disconnected facts, thus teaching you what to think instead of how to think. I would argue that the framework for knowledge is more important than erudition itself (which is still important), especially as we increasingly turn to transactional memory. Reality is best modeled by a series of complex, interconnected relationships, not by facts in isolation. Sure, it may require more mental processing, but education is also about developing ourselves in ways that push that limit further.

That being said, I also think american education does a terrible job of teaching facts, as evidenced by millions of americans who are unaware of the most basic scientific, historical, and political facts. Of course, a lot of this is due to inequality and the fact that some schools are way worse than others.

The ability to evaluate ideas critically, the exercise of independent judgement, and an awareness of common biases in our perception are all learned by the study of the humanities. I think there is an excessive focus on (perhaps even obsession with) strong stances ("stand up for what you believe in", "fight for what's right"). This engenders uncritical acceptance of simple solutions to complex problems, as evidenced in the infantilized worldview our society has adopted.

I argue for an education that empowers every future citizen with the freedom and responsibility to accept nuance! This ability is acquired through elaboration instead of just assimilation of ideas, and an interdisciplinary school system is, based on my experience, very successful in providing that opportunity