"Your column today about the ignorance of young people was good and, of course, humorous," wrote retired teacher Jeff Brown. "But it also is a particular hot button of mine. We live in interesting times -- runaway technology is proof positive that Eric Toffler was right with his concept of 'Future Shock.'

"That said, I have a standing offer/bet with detractors of modern education. Whenever someone complains that students are ignorant of -- they seem to prefer history and/or geography -- a particular piece of knowledge, you can be sure that piece of knowledge is something said detractor already possesses."

His bet? Take that critic of modern education. Then match him or her up against a randomly selected 16-year-old. "Find some piece of knowledge that NEITHER possesses. See which one of them finds the answer first. I'll bet on the 16 year old.

"A philosophical question for you: In this day and age, which is more important -- having specific knowledge, or knowing how/where to find the knowledge?

"With information and data multiplying in quantum leaps, maybe it's not import for the 16-year-old to know where Samoa is located on a map if he has the ability to FIND OUT where it is.

"End of rant and GET OFF MY LAWN."      

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