I spent two hours this morning sitting in the lobby of the local high school, ostensibly there to sell tickets to the upcoming musical production. We're new to the school, new to the drama department, new to all the volunteer
I manage our home life quite often rather like a single parent. There is no other choice when the other parent is out of town, out of state, out of my time zone, out of the country. Volunteering for evening things can be very tricky with a small child who needs to go to bed at a reasonable hour. Rather than complaining, this is simply how I see my availability and responsibilities.
15 minutes into my shift of two hours (!!!), I realized that the someone who had decided selling tickets this way would be a good idea had a different idea than I as to what it a good use of my time. So, I learned today that I will volunteer elsewhere.
Watching the students walk by me in ones and groups, I had another realization about the truth of the "generation gap," as they used to call it. It's not just that the clothes are different, and the mores are different, and the language is different. It looks to me like the level of autonomy, direction and self-empowerment have gone way, way down since my time in high school.
Of course, I never watched the students in my own high school through my parent's eyes, or my grandparent's eyes, so I can only surmise that things have changed.
Perhaps it is the juxtaposition of being in the high school today with being in a room with 40 men yesterday who were checking in with a judge in drug court. Hearing their conversation before the meeting, and then observing them in the meeting.
What do young people count on these days? Where do they get their moorings?
I read the news story about the Phil Robertson story about murdering and raping an athiest's wife and children and how the atheist would have no justification for proclaiming this to be wrong. I was dumbfounded. People actually think this.
I wrote a song when I was in my "christian rock" band in Australia. "Don't be a simple mind who gives simple words to questions that are anything but simple." No, not a Top 40 hit anywhere ever, just an early expression of my conviction that critical thinking is one of the most essential characteristics we can have.
In the school system, are they teaching critical thinking? I can't speak for every class and every teacher and every school system, but in our very highly regarded system, critical thinking seems to be low on the priority list most of the time.
In our religious systems, are they teaching critical thinking? Not in my upbringing and church experience. Critical thinking seems to be one of the things that lead people to leave their religion, so it isn't always recommended or encouraged.
In our court system, are they teaching critical thinking? Not from what I have seen. They are teaching criminals and the accused to follow the rules, jump through the hoops, give the right answers, and not get caught.
Where do people go to take off their masks? A brave few take them off anywhere and everywhere, but most of us have several masks we wear to prevent anyone from discovering who we really are.
There are pockets of hope. Marianne Williamson is hosting the SisterGiant conference this weekend (in person in LA and online here.) Your political leanings need not fit in any particular box. The topics are universally applicable.
Please join me for the next SISTER GIANT Conference on March 28-29, in Los Angeles and/or via livestream. (This one is for all of us — women and men too!) We’re going to have a deep conversation that weekend about conscious citizenship and political change. From getting the money out of politics to racial justice and mass incarceration, from the corruption of our food supply to how to build a more peaceful world, from spiritual enlightenment to political transformation, we’re going to spend a weekend digging deep and flying high…in our minds, in our hearts, and hopefully in our country.
Will you take the time to look at this link? Will you be someone who considers the possibilities of conscious citizenship and political change? I'm registered for the livestream of this conference. Please join me.
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3 comments:
Excellent post. So well expressed. And, such good points. I am lucky that my son is a critical thinker, on the other hand, that leaves him few choices for fitting in the job market. I am lucky, too, that I talk about these things daily as my niece is interviewing with grad schools to find one that will prepare her to MAKE A DIFFERENCE in education. It is more challenging for her than I imagined.
My goal is to learn from all sides. I fear we are lemmings adopting the popular view of the moment without research and thought. I would hope the conference provides for all viewpoints without rude derision for some which seems to be going around as we approach an election.
"... critical thinking is one of the most essential characteristics we can have." I agree.
As a Christian married to an atheist, I know that simple platitudes don't go very far and that "Christian-speak" can do more harm than good. I strive to learn as much as I can always, both spiritually and intellectually (they aren't mutually exclusive).
I, like you, fear that our youngsters are not being taught critical-thinking skills. God gave us brains - we need to use them.
The sad truth is that conventional ideas - eat less, run more - do not work very long term. Counting calories, exercising for hours every full time and trying to disregard your hunger? That’s needless struggling and it wastes your time and effort and valuable willpower. It’s weight reduction for masochists. Eventually almost everyone gives up. That’s why we have an obesity epidemic. Fortunately there’s a better way. low calorie snacks
http://www.cureidea.com/keto-snacks-list
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