Are we getting stupider (sic)?

I recently stayed with my good friends overnight and had a very interesting conversation about something that has been preoccupying my mind for quite a few months now. We came to the conclusion that as a Nation we are more stupid now than we were a decade ago. That's a sweeping statement I'll grant you but I'm prepared to stand by it.

This thought first occured to me properly during the summer when RTE radio announced changes to their broadcasting line-up. Their afternoon schedule in particular was getting a complete make-over. Rattle Bag the current affairs and arts show was being taken off the air and was going to be replaced with a radio chat show hosted by Derek Mooney. Mooney isn't the worst when he talks about topics that interest him, i.e. animals. In fact Mooney goes Wild was an informative and interesting show and I know a lot of people listened to it on a Saturday morning. However place him in a situation where he doesn't have a theme and you get the usual inane drivel that you hear everywhere else. And what's more there are no good arts radio shows to be found. There was a small outcry at the time but it seems that information about arts and culture in Ireland just isn't going to pull the crowds, and so Rattlebag was no more. I still miss it.

I have also been observing the younger generation, now that I have a bit of time, and while I admit there have never been many 15 and 16 year olds who approach anything outside of music and pop culture with anything approaching enthusiasm, it seems to me that this is even more true now than it ever has been before. With the advent and ascension of reality tv,(Pop Idol, Big Brother etc etc), the ambition of becoming rich and famous for doing very little seems attainable to young people and almost a given right. Drama, singing and dancing classes are two a penny all over the country, and while I think that in itself is not a bad thing, the fact that it seems to be all that many people concentrate on as they develop themselves into young adults worries me.
When I was that age I was involved in youth groups, Amnesty International, Green Peace and youth politics, I really and earnestly wanted to make things better. I was naive and I was interested but what's wrong with that? I wish I saw more of that now instead of the jaded cynicism and ennui which emanates from this current youth generation.

To put the icing on the cake I was informed recently that Leaving Cert Honours maths has been dumbed down. It is now apparently at the same level as the pass paper was when I sat it ten years ago. English classes in schools analyse modern films, as English study, you don't have to read Emma anymore just watch Cluelesss instead and independent thinking has been replaced by rote learning and spoon feeding.

To give another example we went to a large and modern shopping centre today for a little retail therapy. Out of 200 shops there was only one book store and it specialised in children's books, and chick lit. An up to date copy of The Economist could not be found. We could find a copy in Spain and France while travelling there but it is proving difficult to locate on a regular basis in this country.

I think it is indicative of what is rapidly becoming a problem in this country. We prefer to read the English tabloid newspapers, cheap novels and comic books than seeking out international opinion on important topics of the day. How much worse does it all have to get before we wake up and realising that we are becoming staid, ignorant, boring and worst of all stupid?