23 Mar Are We Losing Critical Thinking? Bob Hopkins on AI, Education, and Philanthropy
On this episode of The Jeff Crilley Show, Jeff sits down with longtime friend Bob Hopkins, a retired university professor and lifelong philanthropist, to discuss the state of education and the growing impact of artificial intelligence in the classroom. Bob shares his unconventional journey from avoiding the Vietnam War to launching a philanthropy magazine and later teaching at major universities, where he witnessed firsthand the erosion of critical thinking. He explains how AI-generated assignments and fear of open dialogue are changing higher education—and not for the better. Bob also highlights PAVE (Philanthropy and Volunteerism in Education), his initiative teaching students as young as fourth grade the principles of generosity, leadership, and social responsibility. Through stories of transformed families and multimillion-dollar student-led impact projects, Bob makes a compelling case that character education may be the key to improving academic performance and civic engagement.
Key Topics
- artificial intelligence in education
- critical thinking decline
- higher education enrollment trends
- philanthropy in schools
- PAVE program
- student civic engagement
- teacher pay and education policy
Episode Timestamps
- 00:01:30 – Bob’s Journey from Vietnam Draft to Education
- 00:04:30 – Launching a Philanthropy Magazine in Texas
- 00:05:45 – The Documentary: The Mighty 80
- 00:06:40 – Introducing PAVE: Teaching Kids to Give
- 00:08:55 – Students Raise $5 Million for Global Water Wells
- 00:11:40 – Are We Getting Dumber? The AI Concern
- 00:13:30 – Students Afraid to Express Opinions in Class
- 00:15:55 – Why College Enrollment Is Declining
- 00:18:45 – Final Message: Don’t Walk Past the Problem
Watch, Listen & Connect
Subscribe for more episodes!
Episode Chapters
- 00:00 – Introduction and Show Open
- 01:26 – Bob’s Background and Career Journey
- 03:46 – Philanthropy Magazine and Books
- 05:38 – The Mighty 80 and Launching PAVE
- 10:11 – PAVE’s Impact on Students and Schools
- 12:24 – AI and the Decline of Critical Thinking
- 14:40 – Higher Education and Workforce Shifts
- 18:44 – Final Thoughts: A Call to Get Involved