The most fun day ever! A double-whammy of mind-expanding "teachable" moments from Dr. Bartoo--Gene, and Dr. Jim Tucker--Dr. Jim Tucker. I jest.
I guessed right away that the DVD would be Dead Poet's Society, but I actually did get something out of the supposed moral dilemma faced by Keating (Robin Williams). When Neal came for advice he said to stand up to his father and talk to him man-to-man. Neal didn't do this but did the play and killed himself after his father embarassed him in front of his friends.
Agreements: Keating should have seen the bigger pciture of this kids life. He should have left the decision firmly in Neal's hands.
Disagreements: There was no moral dilemma for Keating. A) He is a Kantian who believes in ideals and rules that should never be broken. Carpe Diem-don't follow the rules, don't obey your parents. B) He never told Neal to go play Puck in the play. He said to talk to the old man first. Neal didn't do this. C) Neal was never faced with any dilemma. By definition a dilemma is a choice between two Right but very different solutions. Such as, tell this kid to rebel, or tell this kid to obey his father. Keating did not ever realize this. He should have.. he should have weighed all available options and the kids familial context, but he didn't. No dilemma, no problem, no hesitation. Do the right thing, talk to your father like a man, tell him what you want is not what he wants.
I really don't even care for that movie that much anymore and typically laugh at my teacher-friends for whom I think it was made.
We debated several ethical dilemmas and again, I disagreed. I guess I am far too willing to make decisions or judgements. You tell me.
2 superintendents conversed about their year and discovered a common name among 2 teachers. 1 told the other that this man had been accused of molesting a kid and had left the school. He then went to another school were rumors had spread and parents asked him to leave. The superintendent now supposedly has the moral dilemma of what to do: support the teacher/individual who was never charged or convicted, or support the parents/community who would not want to take the risk of such a teacher being around their kids. There is no right/right situation. He cannot dissuade or fire this guy A) legally B) morally-just allegations, innocence til proven guilty, or C) when you give in to mob mentality where do you stop? Lynchings?
"The time is always right to do what is right."
Then we started talking about education vs. learning. Education is structure, rules, tests, buildings, etc. Learning is (in my definition) that spark that fires in a child's mind when he or she discovers something new and exciting. NCLB is not exciting, nor is it backed by empirical evidence to support it's goals. Actually by definition it cannot meet its goals because its wording is counter-intuitive. NUK-U-LAR!
Learning best takes place upon prior knowledge, though I was the worst at the learning exercise (rehearsal) that we expereinced in class. People can only learn magical 7+-2 things (each day?) so our American way of educating is basically just confusing (casuing interference for) our kids.
Learning is a natural phenomenon and is best replicated that way. Many of the things we do are unnatural wastes of time. How can we improve?
Posted by cmwillis at June 9, 2005 10:47 PM | TrackBack