Thank you for that heartfelt response, some of the things you said I agree with or can identify with.
Other things I don’t and I’ll leave it at that.
However, you agreed with Nephorm when he said that schools “are run for the convenience of teachers and administrators,”
I’m asking for examples that prove/support those claims.
Those have not been presented yet.
Nephorm also said that schhols are not run "for the welfare or advancement of the children. At least, the latter is only a secondary concern.
How can you agree that teachers and administrators do not have the welfare of children in mind?
How can you agree that the advancement of children is at best a secondary concern?
You are saying that teachers don’t care much for the children,
What proof is there of this?
Because they give tests and grades? Giving a test and grading someone based on their work is HARMFUL to a child?
Setting expectations and expecting them to be met is HARMFUL?
And as far as the “who are you to judge me?” sentiment, that is classic teenage rebellion,
“Who are you to tell me what to do ? You ain’t my daddy. Why should I study? I don’t like Mrs. Donnelly, and I don’t like math. Why should I study? Why should I try? The system sucks, The homework is stupid. The teacher picks on Johnny, The teacher only calls on the popular kids. Down with the system! Why? Why? Why? The world has to prove itself to me, not the other way around!”
I understand where this is coming from. My senior quote was from Suicidal Tendencies:
“How you gonna judge me, you’ve never taken a walk in my shoes?”
Once you mature and get past those feelings, you maybe start to understand how things work, just as in every other area of life.
[quote]Alpha F wrote:
Sonny S wrote:
How old were you when you understood the system and made the decision to reject it?
And how did you reject it, what actions did you take or not take?
13 years old.
I rejected its values. Example: It’s emphasis on performance, acheving somebody else’s goals as opposed to developing your own standard of excellence, mechanical indoctrination of every child as opposed to a natural unfolding of their individual potential. Many kids in my school were highly intelligent but because the system didn’t allow for thier type of intelligence and learning style, those who were primarily visual learners or kinestetic learners, for instance, they were mocked for not meeting the grades that were only measured through auditory learnig. Not to mention the tactic intelligence of many who were gifted in sports and had to be made to sit through a lesson with a teacher who could only explain physics on a blackboard.
I could go on and on. I saw the cracks in the exam and grading system and felt insulted; how dare you measure my intelligence with your flawed “tests” and then blame me for not meeting the mark…
Out of teenage angst, I then went on to develop a method of cheating which was more sophisticated then the stupid questions I was made to answer as my way of beating the system. I also flunked many a exam and since I had previously had a brilliant record ( brilliant according to their standards which I had no respect for ) and was considered very intelligent ( again according to their standards ) teachers were baffled as to what went “wrong” with me. There was nothing wrong I just didn’t want to be part of a system which I felt wasn’t intelligent enough to accomodate mine and many other of my fellow students needs - and didn’t care to scrutinize their inadequate methods either - it was and it still is the fault of the child who “doesn’t achive” what the system requires of him/her. I befriended and spoke powerful words to the underdogs, children I knew had a star but were not allowed to develop their potential since the system clearly did not accomodate their learning style, the substance of their nature, their dynamic energy or the particular type of their creativity. Many turned to drugs and hurtful practices because the system had failed them. I lost respect for my “experts” and “superior authorities” and began to rely heavily on my own authority. And as far as guidance is concerned I travel solo - I trust that I will know what I need to know when I need to know it - and my experience has been the case. I am an independant thinker and I do not feel the need to have a piece of paper to prove the substance of the woman I am within. My mind is constantly expanding, what does it prove to me that I get a paper at the end of my stay in any educational institution? My intellect cannot be intitutionalized so I rejected the system that tells me I am someone only after being indoctrinated and “approved” by their mind. That’s a violation of my autonomy right there.
I did not and I still am not interested in meeting the world’s requirements - I let it be but I do not buy it.
I am unimpressed with our “style over substance” mentality. It matters not the substance of the man or woman that you could develop into to as long as you meet the world’s style of intelligence, beauty, athleticism, the substance is overlooked. Get that Phd, make it to the cover of Vogue, break a world record and you have arrived, nevermind that it may have cost the development of that childs true nature as a complete human being naturally unfolding and reaching his/her full potential, the system wants you to achieve and it wants it in its terms and it wants it now.
Hence drugs, cutting corners, neglecting your loved ones in the persuit of knowledge, sacrificing ones family to meet the unrelanting demands - and achieve more not TO BE MORE.
The schooling system is desingned for us to achieve more whilst at the same time become less of a human being.
I remain defiant and refuse to be bought into a system that will praise me and prize me as valueable for distorting my human nature and turning myself into a human machine or a puppet ( Paris Hilton ). No child should be made to feel they have to “prove themselves” to anyone. Accomplishment, yes. Achievement, no. The system carves the image and then expects us to worship it. I want to be an accomplished human being not an achievement machine.
Let the deficiency be theirs not ours.
I don’t need a prize. The world can keep its trophy.
[/quote]
