June 22, 2005
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I just got my last order of Adbusters. When I wrote my book (yes…it’s not too late to buy a copy
) I quoted some good articles, and in order to satisfy the magazine’s submissions department, I subscribed.
Each magazine has a different theme. This one, you guessed it, happened to be what’s wrong w/ our educational system. As it turns out, Adbusters does a lot of “what’s wrong” articles, although to their credit they do show innovative things that might be considered “what’s right.” But…after having spent a year of my life as a self-proclaimed expert on what’s wrong and what’s right, I now look at Adbuster’s w/ some healthy skepticism.
For example, some readers submitted letters about, “not going to law school, and instead pursuing my dream and not worrying about money.” You know what that is, Douglas Coupland wrote it well in the book “Generation X,” that that is a fairly typical “I am more moral than you because I don’t need money,” attitude.
Another article told the story of a carpet cleaner. He heard an inspirational speaker talk about how to improve your business and your life. “Imagine what people would say about you at your funeral.” This made the carpet cleaner think to himself, “I don’t want to be remembered as a carpet cleaner.” While his point is obvious, the letter puts down all those people who do less-than-glamorous work and still live meaningful lives.
Another critic of today’s society wrote that people should stop spending so much time w/ technology like i-pods. “More people should learn to play music and sit around playing together.” I think I’d rather leave the music playing to those who do it best, thank you very much.
Not only have I come to disagree with much of the idealism Adbuster’s promotes, but in some ways I wonder if it might be unhealthy as well. The things they promote are all well and good, organic eating, spending time with loved ones, etc. But many of their suggestions are only practical at the fringes, and for a few people. Is homeschooling more humane than traditional schooling? I’d say so. Does it guarantee a “better” life for the child…well, nothing in life is a guarantee.
I used to criticize schools, saying “our society is full of traditionally educated people, and in order to improve and change society, we cannot do it w/ the schools we have.” What I failed to acknowledge also was, “our society is full of many successes and wonderful people who were traditionally educated, and we crying out for the end of school isn’t the solution either.” I guess in that way…I have changed in my philosophy.
Adbusters takes the bleak, and generalizes it. The cover is of a girl looking depressed on a school bus. Is depression a real and growing problem? Yes. Is everyone in society depressed and hate their jobs? Not at all.
There’s an article of a girl who grew up happily in Africa, and now is confronted with the “material culture” of America. The truth is…we have choice. If you don’t like stores, if you don’t like the noise of cars, if you don’t like anything non-organic, then live in Africa, or live in a kibbutz. But…there is pleasure to be found in our “toxic” corporate culture.
I was also watching parts of Office Space. The main character makes a comment to Jennifer Anniston, who works in a Friday’s type restaurant called Chotsky’s. “Don’t you hate wearing that stuff?”
She replies…”yeah…but i’m not gonna steal the money from them.”
This hit a HUGE note w/ me, being, life isn’t fair, life isn’t perfect, you need to jump through hoops in life, you need to do things in life you don’t necessary agree with or believe in. But…you need to do these things in order to survive. In order to fit-in, and I don’t necessarily mean total conformity, but withdrawing from a society you don’t fit-in with can be quite unhealthy.
John Taylor Gotto and Alfie Kohn will be at this conference. Gotto was quoted in this Adbuster’s. He’s a school critic and libertarian, so his bad experiences w/ public schooling have led him to oppose the entire experiment, something i don’t agree with, although we share the same educational philosophy.
it’s been a whle since i’ve written on these topics, and i do so with caution. I am currently looking for a job in int’l education, helping people who want to study, teach, and volunteer abroad. I will hopefully get a job this summer sometime, and will hopefully like it, and hopefully start doing normal things that people do when they have jobs. my issues w/ education will likely remain personal philosophy. for the sake of normality…i’ll probably send my children (assuming i have them
) to public schools.
Comments (5)
oh dan – you’re going through what i went through junior year of college!
the process of social maturation is a slow, slightly painful but ultimately important road. I’m going to see if i know anything about international education – I’m sure I’ve seen things.
There is so much I could tell you, but it just isn’t the same…coming back to what I knew before is different now, it’s kind of hard to explain. But life out there is so amazing and so different, no concern and restriction to the clock and time was the best thing, then having to move back to society where everything is dictated by the clock SUCKS! Oh my though, it was definetly the very best experience and memory I have thus far! Readjusting back to life here has been weird, I came back and I was (still am somewhat) in this time warp, it was 2 weeks for everyone else but me…I miss how time moves, or rather you suddenly realize it has gone by. I’m getting reminescent now, so I will call it a night, I have to go back to work in the morning…blah.
Emelie
I was thinking about something along those lines a few nights ago. I started my summer job a couple of weeks ago, and while it’s not the most fascinating thing in the world, it’s a means to an end. It’s not something I would like to do for the rest of my life, certainly, but any job can be honorable if it’s done well. The people who do the stuff I’m doing for the summer (sorting clothes in a warehouose) for a living have learned to make the best with what they’re given. Instead of whining (as I do sometimes) about less-than-interesting work, they don’t let their job define them as a person, just as what they need to do to do everything else they need to do.
Idealism is one thing, and a thing I do well. But even idealism put into action will run into reality every once in awhile, and you need to be ready for it.
I like the way you think. You may not have it all figured out (but who does?), but at least you’re working on it.
~Bethany
I agree with you on almost everything in this post and other people’s comments. However, people do think and act differently. I try not to label some as ‘healthy’ and others as ‘unhealthy’. As long as their ideas work, it’s all fine. Maybe I’m being too practical
I love that you referenced Alfie Kohn!
The mention of his name lends itself to an engaging conversation about education… And you’ll probably have kids someday — I’m not trying to hit on you, but you’re an attractive enough man and you’ll have opportunities to have kids if you want them. Go Public Education!