Teaching and educating are not synonymous and therefore not interchangeable (much like the gender/sex issue)! Teaching, especially these days, is becoming less and less of what it was (as the move towards concepts and away from first principles and actually understanding and manipulating numbers, words or facts demonstrates) when I was studying back in the dark ages.
Education brings the recipient to a place where they possess knowledge, skills and the ability to live with the stuff that is taught. It fosters the ability to assess, understand, manipulate and exist (whilst continuing to grow).
We can stand in front of whiteboards, chalkboards (apparently we mustn't call them blackboards in case it offends boards of differing colours) and TV screens spouting stuff until we're some hue in the face (avoidance of naming the colour spares us from hueist comments I guess) but what really touches those in our society is the experiencing something, even when that experiential exercise is merely film!
I have been discussing attitudes with people for a while now and find that the majority of the attitudes held, regardless of age, social status or national/ethinc origin owe much to the influence of film (TV and Web-based media too).
This can work for good and can also be damaging or corrupting at personal, familial and societal levels.
So there's a thought . . .what do we watch, read or otherwise engage with?
How much damage does watching certain things do to us, our values, witness and mental/emotional/spiritual well-being?
Be careful little eyes what you see - you might just get educated!
3 comments:
Remember how the (now) much maligned Enid Blyton had her Secret Seven investigate mysterious facts to uncover the culprit then would hand the situation over to the local policeman and other adults to put right the situation (while the kids were packed off to bed at 7.00 pm)? Nowadays, it is the precocious 6 year old we read of in children's literature who pushes the stupid hysterical adult out of the pilot's seat to safely land the damaged jet aircraft (or similar scenario) and receive the hero's applause well after what should have been his bedtime. All in the name of telling kids how smart they can be, and how dumb the adults around them. Just what are we trying to make them think?
Yes, its quite upside-down as regards appropriate roles - and not just from my Down Under perspective!
Hi Vic,
One of my favourite concepts is ‘The medium is the message’. A great example of this is what does your ringtone say about you. Someone may think they have a sophisticated piece of classical music, but everyone who hears it thinks they are a pompous twit. (I bet you have a whacky ringtone).
So back to your blog. You talk about the messages that people pick up, what do we get from your article. Your piece has sarcastic asides. Is this an acceptable way to present an opinion or an argument. Its not even on the main point of the piece. How should you view someone who puts arguements in this way?
The main point is valid, we should be on the lookout for the hidden persuaders but dont add to the problem.
Regards,
Queequog
I'm sorry you find my asides to be sarcasm, I don't intend them to be, merely smiling at the fact that we are up against it so often with regards to such silly things as the use of the word 'black' with 'board' together being an issue.
I'm glad you could see past my own whatever coming through - apologies for clouding the picture for you.
Pax
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