So Much for the Information Age, Article Critique Example

Introduction

Ted Gup is saying that most college students are nowadays unable to keep up on current events. He says this because of the fact that most teachers are required to teach for the purpose of tests. Ted Gup provides an interpretation of college students who tune out the world in so much for the information age. The interpretation is agreeable and disagreeable. The interpretation is relevant and agreeable, as most students would prefer to listen to a comedian instead of listening to the news. It is disagreeable because students are not to blame for the ignorance. He proposes that students should keep up on current events instead of simply shutting out the world around them. Lack of knowledge is a habit for most students. It is not indolence or apathy. Some students listen to news and even read newspapers, but only when they are reminded. An initial action is to force the students to read news as it comes with benefits. However, the question is, will the force help in the achievement of the desired results? Ted Gup’s essay addresses the lack of knowledge, interest and responsibility. Gaining a sense of belonging to current events will lead a student to become and feel responsible.

Ted Gup mentioned that students are brought up in the “No child left behind” generation. The phrase is not even living up to its meaning and purpose. Most students are left out and left behind despite the degree of meaning that the phrase carries. Most students do not pay attention to what matters. What they do is pay attention to such trivialities as celebrities, entertainment and sports. Students can tell in detail what a celebrity is doing, how a certain team won the match and so on but will have no idea on such important matters as war. It is the responsibility of teachers to instill knowledge on students. They should teach the importance of obtaining information. It is not entirely the fault of teachers but the world around us. The world’s perception is that entertainment is more important to students as compared to current events. Students should embrace the reality that current events are as important as entertainment. They should also have the right attitude and be ready to learn.

Another issue is the notion that students have too much work to do. Students have too much to do and barely get the time to read news. They are mostly concerned about graduating. A student has to be interested in a topic in order to learn on his or her own. They would not care to read news if they do not have an interest in it. Students cannot be forced to read or listen to news if they do not have an interest in it. Even if, they are forced, they will be present physically and mentally elsewhere. Some students would argue that current events are not important. This is because if they were, then they should have been included in the curriculum. Teachers should include current events in the curriculum in order for students to keep up. Class discussions will enable them get excited and more involved. This would mean that they would want to read the news more often. Having a good understanding of the world happenings will make it easier for students to grab a newspaper. They will also take it upon themselves to listen to news on radio or television.

The society is obsessed with consumerism and capitalism. This is so because most parts of the newspapers are filled with advertisements. This shows how the society prefers consumables to the world and current affairs. If the world affairs were that important, then they would have been assigned the better part of the papers. The same applies for radio and television news since commercial advertising often interrupts news. Most students possess smart phones just for the purpose of updating their status instead of keeping up to date with current affairs. The many advertisements show that status is more valued than such crucial issues as global warming, war, soil degradation and genocide. The society is equally to blame for causing the students, and the country’s future to be materialistic and ignorant.

Conclusion

From the above arguments, we can say that it is the responsibility of the world around us to instill knowledge on the students. It is the responsibility of parents, teachers, students and society to teach on how important current information is. Parents should practice and develop a culture of reading, listening and watching the news as students can copy this. Currents events should be incorporated into the curriculum. This will make it mandatory for all students to learn the world happenings. They would also believe that current events are as important as other subjects being taught in school. The society should change their way of living. They should put emphasis on the current affairs instead of being too obsessed on their daily activities. They should show students that current affairs are much more important than status. The essay is an eye-opener as it touches on the areas that are crucial but are neglected by the society as a whole.