10.12.2006
The More Things Seem to Change, the More they Stay the Same
"Why is it necessary to develop creative and critical thinking skills in a society that primarily values a service based economy?”
10.09.2006
The Clash's Logical Syllogism - 80's music in Review
Premise 1: As soon as the shareef was chauffeured outta there
Premise 2: The jet pilots tuned to the cockpit radio blare
Premise 3: As soon as the shareef was outta their hair
Premise 4: The jet pilots wailed
Premise 5: The shareef don't like it
Therefore, rock the casbah
Premise 2: The jet pilots tuned to the cockpit radio blare
Premise 3: As soon as the shareef was outta their hair
Premise 4: The jet pilots wailed
Premise 5: The shareef don't like it
Therefore, rock the casbah
10.05.2006
Pillars of our Society
Values play an enormous role in the society we live in. Strong values are not simply ideas that direct you in the voting booth, but rather are passions that empower daily actions. Probably the greatest value we already teach in school is that of diversity. Nothing is more important than to have a firm, governing understanding of the value of how different things in the world are. Without diversity, we as human beings would be unable to differentiate between each other (or anything for that matter). Without this fixation, a collapse in the hierarchical structure of our society might occur. It is with this value at heart that I recommend we do a better job of differentiating between the more powerful and more latent values that are a part of our culture.
First, students should be equipped with an understanding that desire is paramount. It is through desire that all consumption (the driving force of our economy and consequently our livelihoods) is channeled. Even the youngest of students already can identify this feeling inside themselves and, therefore, should be allowed the linguistic access to reflect and analyze it. Schools are already teaching this lesson through the practice of on campus vending, but this is simply not enough. In the same way that natural resources are unlimited, students can be taught that there is no need to limit their personal desires. We all can desire as much as we want and the fulfillment of our “wants” will lead to our inevitable happiness.
The second value that needs to be addressed more in schools is that of self-centrism. As individuals focused primarily on themselves, our students can be better prepared to learn how society in the United States functions. Most students do not yet have cars, and because of this, are not acutely aware of how the automobile (as well as many other consumer goods) can quarantine individuals and set them apart from others. Students should be taught that collaborative interaction with others is something to be done only at work (or school) and that every person is allowed their own “piece of the pie.” How can they eventually take their place alone in the “winners circle” if they use the help of others? We must teach them that it is through our individuality that we come together as a strong, unified, diverse nation.
Finally, profit is our society's most indispensable value. Students need to be taught about what profit really is so that, eventually, they can business owners in the capitalist economy. There is absolutely nothing wrong with charging consumers more for a product than it is worth. Congruently, there is nothing wrong with paying laborers slightly less than they deserve. Don’t trouble students with the apparent contradictions between the other, lesser values of honesty and integrity. They must come to understand that the business owners of our society are actually doing the consumers a favor. It is because of the business owners that we can have the desires that lead to happiness and eventually enjoy that happiness all to ourselves. Consumers are obliged to pay a little more.
With those three values (desire, self-centrism, and profit) at the center of our values curriculum, our students will be completely prepared to enter into our society and we, as teachers, will have done our jobs.
First, students should be equipped with an understanding that desire is paramount. It is through desire that all consumption (the driving force of our economy and consequently our livelihoods) is channeled. Even the youngest of students already can identify this feeling inside themselves and, therefore, should be allowed the linguistic access to reflect and analyze it. Schools are already teaching this lesson through the practice of on campus vending, but this is simply not enough. In the same way that natural resources are unlimited, students can be taught that there is no need to limit their personal desires. We all can desire as much as we want and the fulfillment of our “wants” will lead to our inevitable happiness.
The second value that needs to be addressed more in schools is that of self-centrism. As individuals focused primarily on themselves, our students can be better prepared to learn how society in the United States functions. Most students do not yet have cars, and because of this, are not acutely aware of how the automobile (as well as many other consumer goods) can quarantine individuals and set them apart from others. Students should be taught that collaborative interaction with others is something to be done only at work (or school) and that every person is allowed their own “piece of the pie.” How can they eventually take their place alone in the “winners circle” if they use the help of others? We must teach them that it is through our individuality that we come together as a strong, unified, diverse nation.
Finally, profit is our society's most indispensable value. Students need to be taught about what profit really is so that, eventually, they can business owners in the capitalist economy. There is absolutely nothing wrong with charging consumers more for a product than it is worth. Congruently, there is nothing wrong with paying laborers slightly less than they deserve. Don’t trouble students with the apparent contradictions between the other, lesser values of honesty and integrity. They must come to understand that the business owners of our society are actually doing the consumers a favor. It is because of the business owners that we can have the desires that lead to happiness and eventually enjoy that happiness all to ourselves. Consumers are obliged to pay a little more.
With those three values (desire, self-centrism, and profit) at the center of our values curriculum, our students will be completely prepared to enter into our society and we, as teachers, will have done our jobs.
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