Judging by some of the comments, the attention spans of commenters are definitely something to worry about. They don't seem to go beyond a (somewhat misleading) headline.
I don't agree with this article. I've taught in International schools for 20+ years and the rise in attention deficit among students is a real concern.
While the article makes some interesting historical observations, it doesn't address the medical reality that many educators like myself are facing. More students require medication to maintain focus, so this isn't just about different modes of attention or changing cultural preferences.
Things change. Audiobooks are increasing in popularity and are not short. YouTube videos just keep getting longer, as do podcasts. Seems like young people may be changing where to pay attention.
"Bate laments the days in which he could ask a group of students to read three Charles Dickens novels in a week."
Sorry-- in what world are students able (and/or expected) to spend an average of 7+ hours a day reading 3 novels? Is he assigning these readings to retirees?
My point isn't that attention spans haven't become shorter (and that is/isn't an issue), my point is that an inability to read 3 novels in a week is a pretty terrible measurement of attention spans.
I got the impression that the writer really underestimates the extent of the problem. Please go ahead and ask any person that works several years on high/higher education.
Comments
Sorry-- in what world are students able (and/or expected) to spend an average of 7+ hours a day reading 3 novels? Is he assigning these readings to retirees?
"He was also a fascist... Not only did he court audiences with Mussolini, he delivered pro-axis and anti-Jew broadcasts four times a week between 1941 and 1943, on Italian radio." https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2018/aug/11/ezra-pound-wrote-the-worlds-single-greatest-poem-but-is-it-wrong-to-love-a-fascist