Unlike being an aerobe, we were not obligated to write a poem

Every subject in school suffers from the need to make learning fun, rather than for its own sake. Even though teachers will say that they are trying to get students to learn for its own sake by making it “fun” they are cheapening the knowledge, giving only the most limpid parts. Leading students to believe they are experts, that their opinion is just as important on a given subject as fact, or as that of someone for whom this is their life’s work. If learning isn’t “fun” then it is obviously busy work, the most odious phrase to student and teacher alike. However all that is boring is not necessarily busy work after all Repititio est mater studiorem (repetition is the mother of learning). But there comes a point when, yes, it is busy work.

However now with this focus on “fun”, to keep kids in school because we want every child to be their best, and the only way to do that is through pushing every child through college, obviously. We have a conflict of interests. There are still students who would learn for its own sake, who would prefer teachers to be teachers instead of guides and friends. “There are three classes of people: those who see. Those who see when they are shown. Those who do not see.” ~Leonardo de Vinci Is it better to pour our focus into those who will not see, or those who are able? Perhaps it is most just to still pour the resources of those who see and use their sights for the betterment of themselves and their families into the eyes of those who will not behold on their own, even when shown. But is that fair? Of Course Life isn’t fair, hasn’t been for a very long time, and frankly won’t be till the end of ages.

But that is what our school (and I am sure other’s as well) tries to do. And when it can’t it just lowers the standards, or in a truly radical proposition eliminates them. The justification? Grades (based upon standards) are in direct opposition to fostering a love of learning. So how do teachers intend to prepare students to live in the world? Or even in college?

Most students don’t intend to be unemployed. And many do not really have what it takes to be self employed, they haven’t learned the skills. Teachers are trying to be friends, which diminishes the respect for them. Friends don’t tend to give much work to friends. They would rather have fun together. But a teacher had obligations as well. And it is possible to be a liked teacher by just doing the job. The shift towards teachers being guides on the side, takes from their value.

Boost Up (a program to help students stay in school) claims one reason kids drop out is because they are bored. Yes they are bored, but making all the lessons into games which then must be discussed. While enforcing teamwork, it brings the caliper of the classroom experience down to the middle of the room, in theory neutralizing the lack of understanding of these who don’t get it (for whatever reason, be it valid or not) with those who do.

But it leaves the kids who get it bored. And lead the majority down the false idea that they are somehow experts on a subject. Which is dangerous.

There are programs in place for struggling students, or those who are statistically more likely to struggle. AVID is one such program, it states(I have no idea how well they uphold this as I am not qualified for the program) that they get students college ready by raising the bar.
We would have a better world if the bar was set high, and the push to be the best one can be was just directed to the underachievers. The way to push those that know how to do well in school is not to give them more work because they got done quickly. Nor is it to ignore them, It is better to stop trying to make classes “fun” and make them actually enjoyable instead. By making them challenging for all students, fascinating, and covering the basics first.


(a few other notes on the importance of math and where frustration comes from: Frustration : the students here : HTTP://IMGS.XKCD.COM/COMICS/FORGOT_ALGEBRA.PNG WHY MATH IS IMPORTANT: Because “anyone who cannot cope with mathematics is not fully human. At best he is a tolerable sub-human who has learned to wear shoes, bathe, and not make messes in the house” ~ Lazarus Long

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