I will ignore the fact I have't been on here in near a year and continue to tell the emptiness that I am reading a book. The book "Why Teach?" is by Mark Edmunson. What I know so far about him is that he teaches at UVA. So many truths so far to his book that I am swimming in my brain that is drowning due to these ideas that I myself have been telling myself and chewing over for months, years, ever since my first semester at community college. My new facebook status (because of course when we discover something new and idealogical it must be etched into the stony crevice of our book of faces line of time), is from the book,
"Students worry that taking too many chances with their education will sabotage their future prospects...There's a sentiment currently afoot that if you step aside for a moment to write, to travel, to fall too hard in love, you might lose position permanently."
The above idea plus the hypothesis that most students are mindless creatures who live in a constant environment of activity and drama yet themselves are so unenthusiastic and have nothing to say in response to pieces of literaure except for, "I enjoyed it."
Enjoyment. Students today seem to think that education is for their enjoyment and if pleasure is not derived from the act of learning and studying then it surely is not profitable. After all if it hurts why do it? Mark mentions this attitude of "learning" has been due to most parents discouraging honesty and criticism from teachers because children must always be flattered and never must a hurtful word enter the mix.
People have forgotten that the reason we seek education is because of our present ignorance.
Smart doesn't come from smart already.
So as a present student and teacher and continuous seeker of education and opportunities to learn, I will seek for Teachers (as I have been) who don't flatter students, I will be honest with them and while I'm still afraid of raising my hand or speaking I will still face that discomfort and share. Learn. Get embarrassed and try to get used to being such.
