About the Book
Hieroglyphs to Virtual Classrooms: Have We Really Progressed?
How are we learning? In recent decades, children have learned through many sources outside family, including daycare, schools, and after-school activities. Learning is in great contrast with centuries past where most things were taught by parents and family. What has changed? Why?
With intriguing background commentary, Relating to Ancient Learning provides an informal look at how civilizations were built by experiential learning, existed by efficiency, and declined with unprepared youth.
By necessity, throughout the world adults provide food, clothing, healthcare, and shelter for their children. Teens legally reach adulthood in high school, yet many are unprepared to sustain themselves. Age for teaching essential life skills has changed--it is delayed. Why are some young adults not inclined to work until formally educated for fifteen to twenty years?
Ancients, without writing, memorized independently. The world keeps changing. For over a century, electronic artificial memory designed to help seemingly made us unable to think and learn for ourselves. Meanwhile, education in group structure reinforced dependence.
There is an evolving change back to independent learning. Toddlers now use technology to learn and entertain themselves in a perceivable drift away from brick-and-mortar institutions.
Wietgrefe's thought-provoking book, Relating to Ancient Culture, has an engaging sequel Relating to Ancient Learning As it Influences the 21st Century. Topics include:
- Experience cannot be passed on; it must be learned.
- Like destroyers of ancient libraries, systems can vanish not just by destruction, but also by changed learning systems.
- Given everything, including free or subsidized formal education into their twenties, children have no needs. Consequently, their minds have not developed an ability to satisfy a need.
- Some of the world's most fascinating and innovative problem solvers of the past two centuries were independent thinkers. School was an aid, not a solution.
- Traditional learning relies on memory. The computer literate do not.
- World transition to electronic artificial memory may be the biggest setback in human history.
- The world does not survive on smart people or those that spent the most time in school. It survives and changes when people act, work, think, are responsible, and take risks.
Relating to Ancient Learning As it Influences the 21st Century provides fascinating insight into today's modern communication and educational trends and is a must read for parents, grandparents, and educators. See: www.relatingtoancients.com.
About the Author :
GARY W. WIETGREFE (pronounced wit'grif) For the past five years without a car or home, Gary and his wife, Patricia, traveled the world with a backpack and observed: Some places have bookstores and family-owned mom and pop shops; others do not. Some brick and mortar retailers thrive in places while others strive to stay alive. Why? In many locations, education is intermittent with children helping families survive. Elsewhere, too many children forced schools to operate two shifts. Often in the developed world, children try to skip school. He investigated why there were differences. As an inventor, researcher, military intelligence veteran, economist, agriculturalist, systems developer, societal explorer, and author, Gary has observed and documented his findings from his many travels and experiences. What does ancient mean? Could the difference between modern and ancient be the same reason grandparents buy books and newspapers and younger generations read electronic books, blogs, and engage social media on devices? His books Relating to Ancient Culture and Relating to Ancient Learning help answer those profound questions.
Review :
Agneta, Vancouver, BC, Canada (Author): "As a writer and life-long learner, I am intrigued by the subjects in 'Relating to Ancient Culture' and 'Related to Ancient Learning.' There is so much we can learn from the past...."
Barb, Oshkosh, Wisconsin (retired Special Education Instructor): "Mr. Wietgrefe indulges in his mid-century upbringing to bring a relationship perspective to the continuance of ancient cultures and how they affect us today and in future centuries. P.S. Your book covers are intriguingly beautiful."
Boswell, Gabriola Island, British Columbia, Canada (world traveller, author & businessman): "...I must compliment you on both the subject matter and the choice of pictures for the book covers. They effectively speak volumes in capturing the essences of what is timely, relevant, interesting and certainly provocative. As we witness society and trends unfold, it is important to understand from whence we came. In doing so, we may better understand the link between the past, present and inevitably the future. As a seafaring Captain once said, "...If you wish to know where you are heading, you must first look back at the ships wake, and from that you will understand where you are going". You appear to have done that very effectively. I recall our past conversations, when you spoke of the material that you were developing for these books. My compliments to you, as you seem to have achieved your goal. I...recommend them to all who want better insight as to why we are at this juncture in our human history. Just as an afterthought...Ancient culture is just that...something that is in the past.... History can only be interpreted or looked at differently, not changed...."
Larry, Sioux Falls, South Dakota: "As a retired mathematics teacher of 45 1/2 years, I find...your books to be intriguing in today's culture....
Robert, Calgary, Alberta, Canada: "Gary (provides) organized and thought provoking contributions to the discussions of learning and culture. While many of us think of the questions, few take the time to offer insights and reasoned opinions."
Carmen, Fort Pierre, South Dakota: "As a person who takes a great interest in preserving local culture and heritage, I'm very intrigued to discover Gary's observations from his many travels. His insights into the comparisons, both positive and negative in ways people live and the characteristics that influence their culture and the advancement of their ways of life, will be very fascinating!"
