I have never been enthused about looking for hidden meaning in literature. I really don’t like poetry. I don’t believe that the authors intended all of the mysteries that scholars claim.
Having said that I have been thinking about a movie I show at school when we are covering the Civil War. It is called “Glory”. If you have never seen it, I recommend it. It tells the story of a Massachusetts’s regiment, the 54th. It was one of the first black regiment in the war. It was very well done: Historically accurate, good acting and a great script. The only thing missing is romance.
Why would I suddenly dwell on the movie? It reminds me of the battle I have been fighting in education for years. In one scene Colonel Shaw says to his friend, a major who has been casual in his responsibilities, “I am here to get these men ready to fight. I am willing to give my life to get them ready. I owe it to them and I think you do to.” It reflected the different attitudes toward the black men being trained, attitudes that I find permeate education today.
There were at least three general groups of people on the issue of black men being trained and armed. All were represented in the movie. All are represented in education. One group was blatantly racist by any definition. One officer calls the men “little monkeys”. To them the training was a joke. Another group represent the masses of people. They don’t even think about the issue and just follow the path of the mob. Then you have a small group who see the issues, believe in the men and are willing to pour their lives into making them ready.
Too many people in education really don’t believe that today’s children can excel. Yes, they use the term and talk about rigor. They just don’t believe it in their hearts. Most just jump on board the latest fad. The fad can be whole language, cooperative learning, new math or whatever stirs the hearts of the ivory tower. I hope I am in that small group that really believes in Martin Luther King Junior’s call to judge people by their character, not their color. If there is anything that can bring tears to my eyes it is not a student saying, “I don’t like you.” It is the waste of potential I see by slogans instead of standards. It is the lie of rigor. It is a concern with feeling good instead of having a reason to feel good. It is modern education.
I only have a few months left to fight the battle. I have done what I can but feel I have been totally inadequate. Think of the German soldier of World War II. He may have been the best trained infantry soldier in the world. He may have had the best equipment in the war. He may have fought with courage and valor. It was not enough to overcome the foolishness and evil of the Nazi regime that was giving him orders.
I am ready to return the battle to you, the general public who votes and speaks out.
homo unius libri
You stayed in wrong state too long.
ReplyDeleteI plan to remedy that soon.
DeleteGrace and peace