Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Responsibilities and sticking to them

So before I begin today's rant, I feel that I need to provide a bit more information about my general day-to-day routine.

Being a broke, pre-grad student who finds himself in the throngs of summer vacation, it would only make sense for me to hold a part-time job.  And this is in fact the case.  What is it that I do you ask?  I stock Dairy shelves at a local grocery store.  Not bad work really- I'm in a 40 degree cooler on the hottest days of the summer and I'm allowed ample amounts of time to consider our world and what in it I observe.  Most of the topics that I will examine in this blog are in fact brain children created in that dear cooler.

So today I was thinking about the state that schools and school districts find themselves in with regards to interactions with Parents.  I know what you're thinking- I'm just some dumb kid who has no idea about Parents.  You're probably right, but I will complain nonetheless.

It seems that schools and school districts find themselves in a Catch-22 these days.  Parents become upset if the students are exposed to content that is not deemed "appropriate" by the guardians, yet they are also quick to point the finger at the educational institute when children seem naive to sensitive subjects happening all around them in the world today.  What is a teacher to do?  Whom ultimately suffers?

It is the belief of this wannabe intellectual that this has a tragic effect on a child's entire education.  By ignoring sensitive subjects in school due to fear of scrutiny, I believe that we are creating a generation of conformists and brain-dead robots.  Sensitive subject matter when presented correctly with accurate research provided from multiple view points allows students to begin to think for themselves and formulate their own opinions.  I think that there is a general lack of this sort of teaching in our USA education at this point in time.

I intend to dive much deeper into education as I progress with this blog, but I think this is enough ranting for one night.

Before I conclude however, I must thank those parents that are thinking right now "You've got it all wrong, I'm in fact encouraging my child to question opinions and the norm!"  In many cases these are the same guardians that are encouraging school budgets (when put together correctly *ignoring bureaucracy*ahem) as well as being active with teachers and support staff in the schools.  You are in fact the all-stars of education; the ones that bring it all together and you know what, your child will be better for it years down the line.

Alright, enough for tonight.  Thanks for putting up with me; at least today wasn't too emo....

-SPaps

1 comment:

Nate said...

"(when put together correctly *ignoring bureaucracy*ahem)"

I definitely laughed out loud. haha.

SPaps? Psh. Scotty Pepps is a better name by far!