This was a student or group of students that complained. It had nothing to do with the government and everything to do with society's attitudes towards education or at least a certain segment of society. There is a culture of disrespect towards teachers and school in general. What this means is that teachers like my Dad had the unenvi…
This was a student or group of students that complained. It had nothing to do with the government and everything to do with society's attitudes towards education or at least a certain segment of society. There is a culture of disrespect towards teachers and school in general. What this means is that teachers like my Dad had the unenviable job of trying to get students interested in a subject that nobody outside the school building really gave a damn about and had very little relevance to their lives. Students are there not because they want to learn but because the law said they have to be there or else. Hmm, does that sound familiar?
Some years ago the daughter of one of my neighbors who had just graduated from high school asked me why it was necessary to study history. I started out with the canned speech I'd heard all my life, no doubt you've heard a variation of it yourself, and then I stopped, looked around at this girl's surroundings, her family, and her life. There was never going to be any college or career in her future. So what I said next shocked her. I said, "For you, studying history was an utter waste of your time in high school that could have been better spent on other things. You will never use it. Or any of the other things that they wanted you to learn." Her eyes opened wide. Now, disclaimer, I am a history buff--BUT when it comes right down to it, that is not what puts food on my table and a roof over my head. What did put food on my table and a roof over my head was a typing class I took in high school. Not any of the other subjects I studied--and I was on a college prep track. Knowing how to type meant I wasn't stuck washing dishes or doing other menial unskilled work. So I stand by what I said to my neighbor's daughter.
There is a story about a group of colonists on the East Coast and a band of Native Americans who decided to swap places. Each would send two of their young men to the other group to see who had the better education. The two English youths went to the Natives and in due time learned how to hunt, fish, and otherwise survive in the New World. The two Native youths went to England and received a classical education. When they returned home, the tribal leaders said that they were cheated and that these young men were ruined for tribal life. They did not know how to do anything of use to their people. I often think about these two young men, how lonely their lives must have been afterwards. Because they could no longer relate to their society. They couldn't share the things they'd learned. No one was interested. No one gave a damn.
Of course it does. If this had happened in Rob D's day, or mine, the official government people (a.k.a. school principal) would have absolutely backed up the teacher.
This was a student or group of students that complained. It had nothing to do with the government and everything to do with society's attitudes towards education or at least a certain segment of society. There is a culture of disrespect towards teachers and school in general. What this means is that teachers like my Dad had the unenviable job of trying to get students interested in a subject that nobody outside the school building really gave a damn about and had very little relevance to their lives. Students are there not because they want to learn but because the law said they have to be there or else. Hmm, does that sound familiar?
Some years ago the daughter of one of my neighbors who had just graduated from high school asked me why it was necessary to study history. I started out with the canned speech I'd heard all my life, no doubt you've heard a variation of it yourself, and then I stopped, looked around at this girl's surroundings, her family, and her life. There was never going to be any college or career in her future. So what I said next shocked her. I said, "For you, studying history was an utter waste of your time in high school that could have been better spent on other things. You will never use it. Or any of the other things that they wanted you to learn." Her eyes opened wide. Now, disclaimer, I am a history buff--BUT when it comes right down to it, that is not what puts food on my table and a roof over my head. What did put food on my table and a roof over my head was a typing class I took in high school. Not any of the other subjects I studied--and I was on a college prep track. Knowing how to type meant I wasn't stuck washing dishes or doing other menial unskilled work. So I stand by what I said to my neighbor's daughter.
There is a story about a group of colonists on the East Coast and a band of Native Americans who decided to swap places. Each would send two of their young men to the other group to see who had the better education. The two English youths went to the Natives and in due time learned how to hunt, fish, and otherwise survive in the New World. The two Native youths went to England and received a classical education. When they returned home, the tribal leaders said that they were cheated and that these young men were ruined for tribal life. They did not know how to do anything of use to their people. I often think about these two young men, how lonely their lives must have been afterwards. Because they could no longer relate to their society. They couldn't share the things they'd learned. No one was interested. No one gave a damn.
"<i>t had nothing to do with the government</i>"
Of course it does. If this had happened in Rob D's day, or mine, the official government people (a.k.a. school principal) would have absolutely backed up the teacher.