Recently there was a discussion on my family's website. My nephew had posted that he was on the debate team at his high school and he was occasionally required to debate the opposite point of view to the one he holds. One example he gave was why high school students should not have freedom in school. Apparently he won that one. I think that's great. It's always fun to debate and play devil's advocate; it's fun to be persuasive and to really get into a different perspective. Plus, he's my nephew and there's that pride thing.
One of my nieces, his cousin, said something to the effect that there isn't much of an argument for why students should not have freedom in school.
Freedom in school. It cracks me up. Well, freedom in high school does anyway. Freedom to...? What? Leave? Speak? Eat? Pee? Laugh? Learn? Oh, I see, freedom to choose between American History and World History (from an American perspective). No there's not much of an argument when there already is no freedom in school. I agree. It's interesting how self-evident truths, written into our constitution and protected with the lives of thousands of men and women, can be suspended for the cause of public education.
I'm remembering now my decision to reduce the level of complaining going on in my head and focus more on what I want instead of what I don't want. So, let me live freely, learn when and how I want to, be human, pee; and let my children too.
And as my cousin said, he and his fellow debaters argued that "the giving of freedom to students would ultimately destroy the structre of american government and society." Hmm, who knew that giving freedom to anybody would destroy the structure of our government which offers "liberty and justice for all..." I wonder how they managed to find a compelling debate for that. Are you sure he won that one?
@Ellen - Actually, I'm not sure. I thought he said he did but I'll have to check again. Thanks for the comment. Hope I don't sound snarky!
Just popped in to this blog ring an took a peak at your blog.
My youngest of six just completed driver's ed. This was her first and only taste of classroom schooling and it was an eye opener for her. She was glad when it ended but did do well in it too. She was frustrated, disgusted, distraught, intrigued, and sympathetic with the other kids who were used to spending their time this way. It is odd to have to sit in a seat you are told to occupy and not be able to move for any reason unless the teacher tells you to do it was one of her observations. But she thought it was really annoying to be stuck next to kids who were misbehaving almost constantly even though this was an extra, after school class they had to pay to be involved in!! It is nice to not need to send her to that setting day in and day out but just let her have that glimpse and then come home again to learn in a much better setting.
Jane, I am giving you the tree of happiness award. Tell us 6 things that make you happy and then pass it on.
Comments (4)
And as my cousin said, he and his fellow debaters argued that "the giving of freedom to students would ultimately destroy the structre of american government and society." Hmm, who knew that giving freedom to anybody would destroy the structure of our government which offers "liberty and justice for all..." I wonder how they managed to find a compelling debate for that. Are you sure he won that one?
@Ellen - Actually, I'm not sure. I thought he said he did but I'll have to check again. Thanks for the comment. Hope I don't sound snarky!
Just popped in to this blog ring an took a peak at your blog.
My youngest of six just completed driver's ed. This was her first and only taste of classroom schooling and it was an eye opener for her. She was glad when it ended but did do well in it too. She was frustrated, disgusted, distraught, intrigued, and sympathetic with the other kids who were used to spending their time this way. It is odd to have to sit in a seat you are told to occupy and not be able to move for any reason unless the teacher tells you to do it was one of her observations. But she thought it was really annoying to be stuck next to kids who were misbehaving almost constantly even though this was an extra, after school class they had to pay to be involved in!! It is nice to not need to send her to that setting day in and day out but just let her have that glimpse and then come home again to learn in a much better setting.
Jane, I am giving you the tree of happiness award. Tell us 6 things that make you happy and then pass it on.
(You can get the picture from my blog)