New Athenian Academy

“My boyfriend, Jim, has so many conspiracy theories.  I think he gives people too much credit. I so rarely meet a single person who is very well organized, or with any direction. What are the chances of meeting a whole group? But then, when I’m sitting at these teacher’s meetings, I think maybe Jim is right.  All these people conspiring to make children’s days as boring and meaningless as possible. All the meetings are variations on a theme: How can we all be the same and get the children to do likewise? On any given agenda: lines and keeping children in them, the proliferation of talking and how to stop it, textbooks and state goals, are all the children learning what everyone else is learning?” (115)

I sometimes wonder the same thing.  I sit in faculty meetings listening to my supervisor discuss standards and curriculum and behavior and boring activities.  And I wonder if we are trying to turn our students into the creepy little kids from Village of the Damned.  That’s what goes through my mind. And I’m sure my supervisor would not appreciate that thought.  But it’s an honest assessment.

What exactly are we trying to do in meetings?  What is the goal?  I don’t think it’s to make our students better human beings or even teach them basic skills.  I think it’s to make them quiet compliant adults.  We stress conforming and not asking questions.  Keep in mind that none of this is stated explicitly, but I think it’s still true.  We discuss how to reach students of varying learning styles, but make sure stress the need for behavior rules (many of which I think are completely out of line and restricting to learning).

Are we trying to make everyone alike while appearing to celebrate our differences?  Somedays I really wonder about this.  Somedays I feel like Jim, looking for the conspiracy around the corner.

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Uncategorized by Tobe