PETERS: Embracing logical change keeps our brains young

Most of us are more open to changes in our lives when we are young, and as we age, we increasingly want things to stay exactly as they have existed previously.

Take this week’s news about grade reporting in public schools as an example.

Our school district said it would be joining other districts in piloting a move away from the traditional letter grades — A, B, C, etc. — to a more descriptive reporting system.

The reaction from the public was dominated by scoffs and grumbling from those resistant to the move.

Why?

Largely, because they simply don’t like change.

In this example, it makes a lot of sense that instructors would want to say more about how a student is doing at school than what’s communicated by a single letter or symbol or score out of 100.

We all agree that more information is better than less, right?

But the logical argument behind the proposed change is immaterial to those who have lived with one system for most of their lives; it’s the change itself that is offensive.

As the brain calcifies, so do the attitudes toward our rapidly changing society.

One could argue that this hardening of attitudes is behind the populist conservative movement in many parts of the world right now: the pace of change in the world is growing more rapid, and those who can’t keep up are saying they’ve had enough, and supporting leaders who would transport them back in time to when things were “great”.

But if people are looking to return to their younger days, the fountain of youth is found in embracing and adapting to change, not resisting it.

It’s the youngest brains that are the most flexible — the most able to be remolded and reformed.

Anyway, constants on which to cling are a scarce commodity, and change might just be the only one.

by Two & Out

PETERS: Embracing logical change keeps our brains young

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