Comments on: In which I am surprised by Christopher Columbus https://anitamathias.com/2012/09/08/in-which-i-am-surprised-by-christopher-columbus/ Anita Mathias's Blog on Faith and Art Thu, 14 Nov 2013 01:05:59 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9 By: Anita Mathias https://anitamathias.com/2012/09/08/in-which-i-am-surprised-by-christopher-columbus/#comment-18276 Mon, 10 Sep 2012 11:07:27 +0000 http://anitamathias.com/blog/2012/09/08/in-which-i-am-surprised-by-christopher-columbus/#comment-18276 Columbus probably was a man of faith with many blind spots, things which he didn't recognise as sin, and things he did, but continued with anyway–such as his abysmal treatment of the indigenous peoples, and his greed.

Just looked up divergent thinking, LA. Very interesting. I think both my husband and I have a streak of it. I soon get bored at jobs in which I have to play by the systems rules (and in fact, resign within 6 months), but enjoy running a small business in which I can make up the rules. Same with Roy!

I think with the explosion of the internet, and the consequent alternative economies, and the increasing opportunities to be self-employed, our world will increasingly reward divergent thinkers! High time too!

]]> By: LA https://anitamathias.com/2012/09/08/in-which-i-am-surprised-by-christopher-columbus/#comment-18275 Sat, 08 Sep 2012 14:56:18 +0000 http://anitamathias.com/blog/2012/09/08/in-which-i-am-surprised-by-christopher-columbus/#comment-18275 Sorry, didn't mean to be so curt in my above post…that's what happens when I comment before I'm awake. I wasn't intending to dismiss the part about him being a religious man, but the thing with the egg really caught my attention.

]]> By: LA https://anitamathias.com/2012/09/08/in-which-i-am-surprised-by-christopher-columbus/#comment-18274 Sat, 08 Sep 2012 12:39:56 +0000 http://anitamathias.com/blog/2012/09/08/in-which-i-am-surprised-by-christopher-columbus/#comment-18274 Divergent thinking is the lesson here. Look it up in google and read more about it. Absolutely fascinating. One of the main reasons we homeschool because unfortunately our modern schooling inadvertently gets rid of it through this concept that there's only one right answer -to any question. True in chemistry, not so true in literature or art.

Read “Breakpoint and Beyond” where a group of kindergarteners were given a test – the paper clip test for divergent thinking…a major component of creativity. 98% of the kindergarteners tested in the genius range, after 5 years of formal education, they only scored 50% in the genius range, by high school these exact same kids scored in the 5% range. Same kids followed in a longitudinal study. Columbus likely scored in the genius range even as an adult. Einstein was considered retarded, yes truly, by the education system…because they couldn't stamp out his amazing divergent thinking skills.

Divergent thinking, a key component in creativity, stamped out by the education system. It's why homeschoolers excel at stuff like Destination Imagination contests (where the kids have to come up with creative solutions to open ended problems). http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/on-innovations/the-case-against-college/2011/08/17/gIQAYy3ILJ_story.html

This article talks about the fact that employers are looking for this kind of thinking, but feel the education system continues to churn out really good factory workers, which we don't need many of anymore. Columbus probably would have been ridiculed and bullied in our modern schools as well. Divergent thinkers are picked on as non-conformists and “different”.

]]> By: g.a.b. https://anitamathias.com/2012/09/08/in-which-i-am-surprised-by-christopher-columbus/#comment-18273 Sat, 08 Sep 2012 10:13:35 +0000 http://anitamathias.com/blog/2012/09/08/in-which-i-am-surprised-by-christopher-columbus/#comment-18273 Interesting take on Mr. Columbus, Anita. Didn't know he was a man of faith.

-Gene

]]>