‘MTSU On the Record’ wrestles with ‘truth decay,’ growing de-emphasis on facts in education

An educator’s concern about the imposition of agendas other than education in the classroom was the topic of a recent “MTSU On the Record” radio program.

Dr. Kevin Krahenbuhl

Host Gina Logue’s interview with Dr. Kevin Krahenbuhl, an assistant professor in the MTSU College of Education’s Womack Department of Educational Leadership, first aired July 31 on WMOT-FM Roots Radio 89.5 and online at www.wmot.org. You can listen to their conversation above.

In his book, “The Decay of Truth: Implications and Ideas for Its Restoration as a Value,” Krahenbuhl asserts that education is de-emphasizing that students retain factual information at the expense of other priorities. You can read an excerpt from the book here.

“Truth decay” has been defined by global policy think tank the Rand Corporation and other experts as “the diminishing role of facts and data in American public life.”

Krahenbuhl maintains that this trend’s taking hold in the educational system is dangerous because people tend to gravitate toward information that bolsters views we already hold rather than seeking the truth, regardless of whether it supports our existing perspectives.

“It’s an innate trait, as far as we can tell, in humanity,” Krahenbuhl said. “A lot of us have an understanding of truth. We don’t really ask ourselves about it because it’s an esoteric question.

“Those assumptions filter through everything else. You need to really unearth the assumptions you hold, try to clarify what they are, and say, ‘Are they skewing what I’m seeing?’”

Krahenbuhl also serves as the interim director for the College of Education’s Assessment, Learning, and School Improvement Ed.D. Program.

To hear previous “MTSU On the Record” programs, visit the searchable “Audio Clips” archives at www.mtsunews.com.

For more information about “MTSU On the Record,” contact Logue at 615-898-5081 or WMOT-FM at 615-898-2800.

A visitor enjoys a little reading time on campus as she waits for her sister to finish summer orientation in this MTSU file photo. The marker next to her bench in MTSU’s historic Walnut Grove quotes the Greek historian Plutarch on the proper approach to education. (MTSU file photo by J.Intintoli)