Mickey Z
Cool Observer
Monday, May 09, 2005
No child left behind? We need the Left behind each child
I’ve noticed that kids who go to Montessori schools are a lot happier, Mickey. Our militarized, lock down schools drive them crazy, often literally. There are some anarchist home schoolers, too, whose kids are doing well. Some of the religious home schooled people don’t do too badly, though that’s a trend I find conducive to a narrow, sometimes paranoid, world view.
The management/behavioral models prevalent in the mainstream are really conducive to anger, fear and violence. That paternalistic control impulse is so destructive. I wonder how much real progress in science and humanities has been crushed by it.
Posted by Harry on from 05/09 at 06:15 AMIncarceration - I mean -
Education - is a real ‘sore point’ with me.Obviously, it’s in “their” best interest to keep us as ignorant as possible. They teach us almost nothing of value in all of our junior / senior high school experience, but they do teach us how to be the best submissive herd animals we can possibly be. They consistently pound it home that those who work hard to assimilate and demonstrate obsequious attitudes and values during their school years will surely be most successful when they enter the - AARGH! - job market… (The Brass Ring of the Secondary Ed. System - Success In The Job Market!)
They emphasize that there is ONE right answer and that is the OFFICIAL answer, which the school system will supply to us, and which we will dutifully memorize. Kids who ask too many questions or who attempt to understand their studies from perspectives which deviate from “Official Norms” are dealt with quite harshly by the corrections off… by the teachers and administrators…
Most of the high school ‘history teachers’ I’ve talked to, since leaving school, apparently believe that they really teach history. They’re only distressed by the lack of adequate time to really “flesh out” the basic outlines they present in class… (Obviously, most junior / senior high school teachers are a product of the same system in which they now work...)
Posted by joe on from grants pass 05/09 at 12:56 PMMickey, what a great graphic and that is a wonderful Chomsky quote. Harry and Joe, your comments are what I would have said but you beat me to it. Recently I finished an article in which I say that ignorance grows exponentially when a teacher is misinformed. That’s why the media is the way that it is. They, too, are products of this dumbing-down system and worse yet, misinforming system. I have spent most of my adult life trying to unlearn what they taught me in school. I wish that I had been absent more and had not paid attention to the teacher when I was there.
Posted by rosemarie jackowski on from home schooling myself now 05/09 at 02:16 PMHere’s where being a slacker paid off for me. I rarely paid attention except to memorize what was needed to regurgitate on tests.
Thanks for the great comments…
Posted by Mickey Z. on from Astoria 05/09 at 02:43 PM“. . . spent most of my adult life trying to unlearn what they taught me . . .”
Spot on Rosemarie. I recalled some of my parental teachings while overseas. I had never actually attempted to reconcile what I was taught as a youth by my parents, educators, or psychotic society. Once I mulled it over thoroughly, I decided like you, that I had a great task ahead of me as I dutifully recalled, then critically examined each of the *wisdoms* that had been passed down to me. I’m sure that I am still under the influence of some poorly defined myths, but I continue to do the real work.
My partner asked if I wanted to go back to school, I initially rejected the idea--I’m one of those kids that didn’t learn to read-n-write in school--considered developmentally challenged (and therefore spent most primary school time in *special education* rooms in the ‘60’s and early ‘70’s.) My education actually started after I decided the quit school after the sixth grade. So much information that is routinely handed out by parents, religious zealots, society, and *television* is pure poppycock. Yet the more I put my mind to work on issues effecting me and so many others, the more I felt a pressing need to quest for an educated peer.
Here is where I throw a wrench into this simple educational ignorance argument. I’ve spent the last several years at my local community college questing for education. A few classes stand out in my mind: philosophy, speech, psychology, human sexuality, U.S. history, anthropology, meteorology, and I feel most important of all, environmental ethics.
All these classes dove beyond petty societal kakah and helped me realize many different levels of thought.
One of the later classes I found myself in was environmental ethics. I think this was the one class that pushed my face into the dirt of reality (exactly what I had intuitively known was waiting for me to discover.) Of all the courses I studied, this is the one course that will help guide my every decision for the rest of my life.
My life is far more complete. My quests are more grounded. My love for community is extroverted, worn like a tattoo, so that no one can easily confuse my motives.
The decade preceding my decision to return to school, I had already unravelled much of the corruption that is our religious_political quagmire. I had already known that peace must be worked for, never killed for. I had already undone much of what my peers and pseudosuperiors had handed out to me so that I would take these nutty ideas as a life policy to strictly subjugate myself to. But I still needed more *grounding* to more fully appreciate what is and what is thought to be.
The history class was taught by a brilliant doctor that also spent many years digging into our local indigenous people massacre (Indian Island.) The text book was amazingly enlightening. Slave torture wasn’t glossed over--religion wasn’t glossed over--murder of entire tribes wasn’t glossed over. I realize how lucky I was to have had the chance to study under such an honest teacher.
I do appreciate the underpinnings of Noam’s poignant assertion. I think that many (far far too many) students are in schools today to learn how to become *successful* as well as learning how to be *appropriately submissive,* yet when these students are asked to define what success is, they almost always indicate money (and/or power (over people.)) Every time I would hear this sentiment expressed in the classroom, I would cringe. The thing is, I’m positive that I wasn’t the only student in these classrooms that felt deep concern for these adolescent beings!
I am willing to bet that Noam is one of those teachers who causes students to think, therefore causing their minds to ache.
At this precious moment in time, I think we have some very good teachers, text books, a flood of ignorant people, and a determined desire that all this must come together for our beneficial collective future. For us, the people who go beyond recreation, we need to find these teachers and these text books, and support them in their educational efforts the best we can.
--Wishing you well.
Posted by J Byrd on from Eureka (like the vacuum) CA 05/10 at 02:30 AMYes, what a wonderful Chomsky quote, Mickey! Indeed the whole post is quite wonderful and cuts to the chase!
Posted by Helga Fremlin on from Daylesford, Australia 05/10 at 06:46 PM
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