On the Scott Leffler show this morning, a lady called in inquiring about the progress on the "NO TOXIC WASTE IN NIAGARA COUNTY" signs for our front yards. Of course, as far as I know there is no such "progress." Now we know why thanks to her call. Scott, I believe, suggested that she might do it. The caller responded,"That's not my job!"
I can see the wry uncomfortable smile on her face right now. She should be uncomfortable because I have to ask her whose "job" it is.
Let's just get to the point. It's no one's "job." Poltical action is a responsibility and an initiative. Unfortunately most people in Niagara County seem to have no such sense of political responsibility or inititiative let alone inspiration or self-determination. The caller seems to believe that those whose "job" it is are going to take care of her and her interests. I guess she must believe it's George Maziarz's or Francine DelMonte's "job" to do it. Well, don't hold your breath Sports Fans. You will die of asphyxiation.
If the caller was speaking figuratively and not literally, then she could only have meant that it's not her responsibility to take such action, apparently even if it's only making a sign herself and putting it in her own front yard. So it's not her job and it's not her responsibility.
Maziarz has taken the inititative to send cardboard protest letters to his constituents which is good and commendable but probably not enough. He needs the overt, explicit and physical support of his constituency. If this caller is any example, he doesn't have it and it's partly his responsiblity that he doesn't.
So this caller exemplifies and partly explains our political situation today in this dying democracy. Most think 'it ain't there job' to do it. Screw it! "I don't have the time, money, energy" I can hear them saying now. Politics becomes somebody's "job" for which we pay too much money and get no significant results except to lose our sense of democracy, our sovereign identity and our national purpose.
Americans on the whole have become passivized, pacified, demoralized, commodified, infantilized and cretinized. So it's not surprising they think somebody is actually going to take care of them. They still think the world owes them political freedom and responsiveness. Democracy is a full-time "job" for all of us if we want to get our "freedom" paycheck.
I hope this lady gets the wake-up call and makes the god damn sign. Maybe others will follow her lead. That's how it happens. Witness the movie Ghandi with respect to how he started the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa.
After all if there hadn't been the minimal stir and and discontent that there has been regarding the 3000 truckloads of waste slated to come here, Maziarz would never have mailed out those protest letters to us. I wonder what it would take to get him to lead a Martin Luther King style march to stop the trucks?
Great post Larry, now some concerns. Getting real teachers in schools would be a great start to educating children on these issues. Don't depend on the parents, most of them are overworked or single parents who never even read newspapers. Having 2 kids in elementary school, I see that almost all the teachers cannot be bothered to do anything extra and you might as well put a time clock in the school for them. Teach the test its all about the test, dont ask the kid to think. Larry what do you think?
ReplyDeleteSadly enough, that woman represents the “mind set” of a large part of our society.
ReplyDeleteFolks don’t get involve or don’t become aware until something “really big” happens.
To many followers – no leaders.
Joe Niagara,
ReplyDeleteYou are no different than the women. Get a life.
Spoken by one of the time clock teachers...
ReplyDeleteI ran into one of my favorite teaches this summer, even in retirement he was helping at a kids fishing contest. My point, today's teachers are not dedicated to teaching, they do it because they can do a shitty job and no one notices it. If they had jobs where they had to work all year long they would be lost.
ReplyDeleteJoe Niagara,
ReplyDeleteI’m not entirely sure what you mean by having teachers “do something extra.” I don’t think it’s necessarily a matter of the amount of time teachers spend but the quality of the time they spend. And that’s partly a matter of how much teaching is a passion for them.
As far as teaching to the test goes, that’s not all just the teachers fault or problem. The tests are made to be so important by the state education bureaucracy that there is considerable pressure to “teach to the test.”
However, some research I’ve read recently has even tried to defend ‘teaching to the test’ as a justifiable practice. Of course if this practice is nothing more than training an imitative or mimicking response in children, then we’re training “monkeys.” But if ‘teaching to the test’ means that the objectives are clear and one teaches critically, then it might be justified. In other words simply coaching a child to memorize is a mistake; but teaching a child to think flexibly, openly and critically isn’t compromised by “teaching to a test.”
I agree that there are undoubtedly too many teachers who don’t care. I don’t know how to make teaching a passion for those teachers. I can’t comprehend just doing it as a job. For me teaching is a passion. Do I do “enough?” I don’t know. I’ll let my students judge.
As far as working “all year long,” no, I don’t work all year long in the classroom. But I do work all year long at my work. I read and write and learn constantly. Ask my wife. Also, I frequently have discussion groups at my home for students who have a passion for philosophy. It’s free for them and I don’t have to do it. But I do it because I love it.
But I’m lucky because my work is my life. The great American poet, Robert Frost, said his ambition was to unite his vocation with his avocation, that is, his work with his life. I feel I’ve done that. I think every teacher should feel the same way. If they don’t and teaching is just a job, they should get out and find something they love. Teaching is for someone who cares about learning, thought and creative living. Possibly we need to figure out how to screen out those who think it’s just an easy job.
My job as a professor is “easy” only because it’s a joy. I look forward to the beginning of every new year with exhilaration. When the day comes that I don’t, I promise I’ll get out.
I agree Larry, it's all our jobs otherwise the elected representatives have no direction. This is the election year and if there is anytime we need to feel to speak out, it's now. Seize the moment people if you want to make a difference. You don't need a fancy sign, just make it yourself. I can't tell you how many home made signs I've made throughout the years.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I'm sick and tired of people telling me it's the "mind set". My question is how did they get there and how do we get these people out of that "mind set". All I know is direct action must be taken by phoning, e-mailing, joining groups who are working for your same agenda and vision.
Just for once, make a call to your representative and be counted for or against something. They actually do count the calls, e-mails, letters, etc.
Keep a close eye on the issue if you trully care.
Larry, what I am saying is for at least the teacher take some interest in what they are teaching. For them to know more than the facts and dates, but add things that would make learning interesting and exciting. To add some little known facts or anything beyond the bland text books that may not even be correct. Most of the teachers treat the kids like faceless students and they just can't wait for the day/week/year to end.
ReplyDeleteJoe Niagara,
ReplyDeleteI get it now. Absolutely, I agree. What this means to me is that the textbook stuff has to be connected to real life. There has been for some time a yawning gap between the classroom and the street, between learning and living. Part of that problem is that “reality” can be so disconcerting for students that they may well prefer to be bored by academics and just put in their time, than face reality or try to connect learning with the real world. Now, granted, this is a many sided and complex problem, but one reason they may not even want to be “interested or excited” is they might actually have to get involved in the world and change their lives.
An example of what I’m getting at (and of course I’m talking now about a college level course and not elementary school educational issues) is a very good activist student in one of my political philosophy classes. She was high energy, excited and politically engaged, seemingly. I had the class reading a book called “Who Will Tell the People: The Betrayal of Democracy in America” by William Greider. The book opened her eyes to how bad things are especially in Washington. She got so depressed she dropped out of the course. She told me it was too much for her, too traumatic to see what was really going on in our country. Now this an extreme case. But it points to a problem in education. That is, how do you inspire students to become excited, energized and interested in a world that they may have to confront head on and do something about, when that task is very daunting?
Elementary education problems are of course different. My wife is an elementary school teacher. I see her develop projects that make kids think and go beyond the ordinary and mundane. It is very possible and does depend on the vibrancy and vitality of the teacher.
Education is in crisis in our country and we can’t buy our way out of it. To me America is a viciously anti-intellectual, anti-learning culture and we’re paying the price.
Joe Niagara,
ReplyDeleteOne thing I forgot to say in the last post about the Greider book that so depressed the student I told you about, was that it was a very optimistic book. Greider wrote also about all the positive things that were happening in the country politically that the people were doing for themselves, not depending upon government to do it for them. He opened up a lot of possiblities for political self-understanding and poltitical action. Yet the student couldn't get past how bad things may actually be. I unfortunately couldn't even get her to finish reading the book such that she could get to the uplifting part that was in fact very inspiring.
Joe Niagara,
ReplyDeleteI still think you are full of crap - You should be the one managing your child’s education not some tenured teacher.
And no I’m not a teacher; I make my living in the private sector where most of these folks would not last 90 days.
But back to your point, why do you assume that just because they are deemed a “teacher” that they “signed up” for anymore than just a paycheck with a nice summer vacation. And why would we expect anything more, doctor don't make house call anymore.
I think your perception is wacked –it up to you to make sure that your children are educated in the manner that best represents what you believe is important for your child.
OUT
Mr. Out,
ReplyDeleteHome schooling would be best I agree, but due to both parents having to work just keep the wolves from the door its not possible. Private schools would be great if you can afford your school taxes and the tuition for this school.
You must not have children in school, because you would know the stone wall your up against when you ask for a meeting with the teacher or the administors about problems with the school.
So mr. out, wipe the snot from your nose.
Maybe your student was just lying to you.
ReplyDeleteBecasue, I really don’t see NCCC students as the “change the world type”, those kids went to a university.
I love to hear people wine about how hard their life is.
ReplyDelete“Oh my wife and I both work and we are running the kids everywhere and there is no time for anything that why little Johnnie is a bed wetter”
Control your life.
I’d Imagine, your household resembles those that are syndicated on “The Nanny”?
But you are "the" adult, you have a free will make a choice and reep the benefit of your action.
I know a working couple that lives in the city, blue collar people more or less living week by week. They decide to send their children to private schools, how, by sacrificing – a little less of everything for them and a great benefit for their children.
I’m not saying that Joe Niagara should do the same, however, maybe if he'd watched a little less football or whatever his kids would be making the grade.
You too suffer from the same problem that Larry spoke to – it’s not your job to manage your life. Well good luck with the “leaf in the stream” thing.
Out