[Reposted; sorry, I put it in the wrong place the first time]
An editorial in my local paper said that "We should be concerned about the anguish of non-conformists who feel harassed and humiliated." I immediately fired off an email pointing out that kids who are different feel harassed and humiliated because they ARE harassed and humiliated.
The columnist replied brightly that her daughter, an outgoing, happy high school senior, told her that students *don't* harass kids who are different (except boys who are thought to be gay). So there you have it. It's all in our minds. (Except for you boys who are gay or are believed to be gay. I guess the columnist doesn't think you matter. Sorry about that.) Gosh, I thought that other kids made my life a misery when I was in high school, and other kids are making your life a misery now, but no! They didn't! They aren't! A popular kid assures us this is true. I'm so happy now.
I of course suggested to the writer that perhaps she was consulting the wrong source.
"Kids should learn never to be bored"? Why, so they can be trained for boring adult jobs? What about empowering kids, so they *don't* have to go to boring schools, listen to boring lectures where the teacher is taking an hour to explain something that they can understand in fifteen seconds?
I'm an adult. I don't have to be bored, because in a boring situation I can leave and go find something interesting to do, or I can decide that the temporary boredom is worth it for whatever goal I might be trying to achieve. Captive kids in jail^H^H^H^H^H school don't have that choice.
My mother has been known, even now, to give what I call the "Transforming Power of Boredom" lecture, where she explains how useful it was for me to have been bored for 13 years in public school. Well, it did transform me. It transformed me into someone who hates schools and believes that there should be alteratives available. Schools, and high schools in particular, are ridiculous institutions that should be abolished and replaced with places where people can voluntarily learn.
I read an editorial in my local newspaper that said "We should be concerned about the anguish of non-conformists who feel harassed and humiliated." Naturally, I immediately emailed the author, pointing out that nerds feel harassed and humiliated because they ARE harassed and humiliated.
The columnist replied brightly that her daughter is a high-school senior, a happy, outgoing kid, and she reports that students *don't* harass kids who are different (except for boys who are thought to be gay). So, there it is. It's all in our minds. (Except for you boys who are gay or are thought to be. Oops, sorry, I guess the columnist doesn't think you matter.) Gosh, I thought that other kids made my life a misery when I was in high school, and other kids are making your lives a misery now, but no! They didn't! They aren't! A popular kid assures us that this is true! I'm so happy now!
Naturally, I suggested to the editorial writer that perhaps she was consulting the wrong source.
My son is never going to go through this. We homeschool.
Slashdot Mirror
[Reposted; sorry, I put it in the wrong place the first time]
An editorial in my local paper said that "We should be concerned about the anguish of non-conformists who feel harassed and humiliated." I immediately fired off an email pointing out that kids who are different feel harassed and humiliated because they ARE harassed and humiliated.
The columnist replied brightly that her daughter, an outgoing, happy high school senior, told her that students *don't* harass kids who are different (except boys who are thought to be gay). So there you have it. It's all in our minds. (Except for you boys who are gay or are believed to be gay. I guess the columnist doesn't think you matter. Sorry about that.) Gosh, I thought that other kids made my life a misery when I was in high school, and other kids are making your life a misery now, but no! They didn't! They aren't! A popular kid assures us this is true. I'm so happy now.
I of course suggested to the writer that perhaps she was consulting the wrong source.
"Kids should learn never to be bored"? Why, so they can be trained for boring adult jobs? What about empowering kids, so they *don't* have to go to boring schools, listen to boring lectures where the teacher is taking an hour to explain something that they can understand in fifteen seconds?
I'm an adult. I don't have to be bored, because in a boring situation I can leave and go find something interesting to do, or I can decide that the temporary boredom is worth it for whatever goal I might be trying to achieve. Captive kids in jail^H^H^H^H^H school don't have that choice.
My mother has been known, even now, to give what I call the "Transforming Power of Boredom" lecture, where she explains how useful it was for me to have been bored for 13 years in public school. Well, it did transform me. It transformed me into someone who hates schools and believes that there should be alteratives available. Schools, and high schools in particular, are ridiculous institutions that should be abolished and replaced with places where people can voluntarily learn.
I read an editorial in my local newspaper that said "We should be concerned about the anguish of non-conformists who feel harassed and humiliated." Naturally, I immediately emailed the author, pointing out that nerds feel harassed and humiliated because they ARE harassed and humiliated.
The columnist replied brightly that her daughter is a high-school senior, a happy, outgoing kid, and she reports that students *don't* harass kids who are different (except for boys who are thought to be gay). So, there it is. It's all in our minds. (Except for you boys who are gay or are thought to be. Oops, sorry, I guess the columnist doesn't think you matter.) Gosh, I thought that other kids made my life a misery when I was in high school, and other kids are making your lives a misery now, but no! They didn't! They aren't! A popular kid assures us that this is true! I'm so happy now!
Naturally, I suggested to the editorial writer that perhaps she was consulting the wrong source.
My son is never going to go through this. We homeschool.