Jack’s Winning Words 9/8/21

“We learn from history that we do not learn from history.”  (Georg Hegel)   For the life of me, I can’t understand how one can teach history without mentioning racism, sexism and other isms.  It’s like trying to do a Bible study without mentioning how the Bible came to be written.  To say that each word, “dot and tittle” is immutable puts the brain in neutral.  Gaining an understanding of context often means having to unlearn certain things.  What’s a teacher for?  There will always be those who second-guess the teacher, whatever the subject.  Was there some teacher who taught you to think?  ;-)  Jack

FROM WILLMAR REV:  As I look back, the most challenging were my best! 0;-) ===JACK:  ...like with the poem, Footprints, where the one set of prints were the times when Jesus carrie3d you (when Jesus carried any of us.  

FROM DR J:  I actually have a distant family member who said that PARENTS should be the ones to teach the history of race relations… it’s their job, not the schools.  And they can do that… it’s called Home Schooling!  But public education needs to stay focused on truth, skill building, and fostering positive attitudes about learning.  Public schools must teach the WHOLE learner…. So they grow intellectually, emotionally, socially, and physically.  Today, there are Social Emotional Learning Standards to help teach kids resilience, grit, self concept, conflict resolution, etc.  I’m for it… as these skills are success skills for a happy, productive life! ======JACK:  Home schooling can be a postive3.  But, it can also be a negative.  What if the parents are racists?  I learned to appreciate diversity by being among diverse classmates, starting with grade school...not that my parents didn't teach certain "values" in the home.  I know!  It's a different world out there now, compared  to the "Dark Ages."===Dr J:  I agree.. home schooling is a risky business… and it angers me that some today think they can bully the PUBLIC schools into changing the curriculum to “shelter” their children from truth!  I wonder if they will consider today Dark Ages 2.0 in the future? I’m still an optimist… but the world is darker - in places- than I’ve ever known it to be.===JACK:  You have been privileged to be a teacher at various age (and situation) levels.  Where do you think that you had the most impact?===Dr J:  Hmmm… I've been thinking about this question since you’ve asked it… I don’t know the answer really?  I still work in public schools, and that is a very enjoyable part of what I do… I love seeing young learners engage and get passionate when learning!  But that same engagement and passion is what I strive for at all levels.  I can only hope that it makes an impact.  I will say I love it when a former student tells me that I’ve helped them grow as a teacher… that means a great deal to me!  Thanks for asking!===JACK:  I value your thinking and your responses.

FROM FACEBOOK LIZ:  i taught the teachers to think.===JACK:  When teaching Confirmation classes, I always appreciated those students who asked "probing questions.  I remember asking a class to "draw a picture of God.  (What would you do?)  One class-member dress a blank face and divided it into four segments, leaving one, white and coloring each remaining part with a different color.===LIZ:  ooooh... you are good. i learn a lot from you. i have always learned a lot from my "not teachers."  i'd turn it in blank.===JACK:  I might do the same...except with a question mark as a face.

FROM DANDI SANDI:  So true about learning our true history. Those who are trying to erase it are damaging opportunities to understand and improve on ourselves.  Yes. I had those teachers who taught me to think, also those who stifled thinking. I learned lessons from them as well. And I continue to learn from my children and grandchildren, who are wonderful thinkers!! And from you too, of course! 😉===JACK:  LIFE, itself, is one of the best teachers...the people you meet along the way and are "forced/privileged" to live and work with.  Think back....and remember.

FROM THE SCIENTIST:  Well… there was this confirmation teacher in 9th grade … and then this science teacher who was around for all the schools … :)  I suppose my HS English teachers, which is where I learned formal writing, played a big role in learning to break down ideas and build up positions.  As a teacher, it’s ok for you to question me. Sometimes I make mistakes. Sometimes things are murkier than I present them.===JACK:  As a matter of fact, you were one of my best students, ever.  As always, your questions and asides are "on point."  There were times when I learned, without being aware that I was learning (the best kind).===S:  You are kind. I have made a career on asking, and working to answer, the right question ===JACK:  That's one of the keys to learning.

FROM BLAZING OAKS:  Unfortunately, that is a good  quote today! Teachers who taught me  to think occurred more in College than H.S.  Of  course many of the elementary and H.S. teachers were teaching material that was "How to" or had to be factual learning, like Math, and English or history...but could get creative; "Put your  thinking caps on!!" And challenge us to come up with original thoughts.....bright students were eager to share  their thoughts!===JACK:  Each class level has it's role.  Looking back, high school Civics and English and Chemistry were a real help in shaping my thinking.  College philosophy and seminary theology had major roles...but people I associated with were the major "shapers" of my mind.  Oops!  I forgot Sunday School...not the classes so much, as the experience and the songs. 

FROM RS IN TEXAS:  I hear and read about how some families pass down their "history" and traditions from generation to generation.  When it comes to our schools, what is taught is in the hands of politicians who decide what they want students to learn.....often eliminating those "ism's" and other facts that some feel put our country or a certain group of people in a bad light.  Racism, the Trail of Tears, Japanese internment camps, hatred and  discrimination of LBGTQ, a President barring all Muslims from entering the US, and other facts seem to be excluded or minimized.  It's hard to learn from your mistakes if someone never tells you there were any.===JACK:  I'm sure that your Viet Nam experience helped shape you more than you anxious to remember.===RS:  Indeed.  I view that very differently now than I did back then at a young age, but a major factor to be sure.  I find it interesting how my priorities....and views.... have changed over the years.===JACK:  People in cemeteries never change their mind.

FROM ST PAUL IN ST PAUL:  i am forwarding this one on to a friend in AZ who is an absolute literalist regarding the Bible.   he believes the Bible should not be interpreted.   just accept EVERY word at face value.    (he also is not what i would call a deep thinker:):):)===JACK:  People can be "deep thinkers" and still drown if someone has not taught them to "swim" in deep water.  Literalism can be the bane of those trying to understand the Bible.===SP:  i also like this line:  a text without a context quickly becomes a pretext for just about anything. ===JACK:  You have to be "educated" in order to understand the meaning of text, context and pretext.===SP:  but if they are not educated,  they can be very dangerous in terms of the conclusions they arrive at.===JACK:  "Educated" means nothing when the education involves false information.===SP:  You got that right.

FROM BB IN CHGO:  I am smiling.  LCMS was very much about rote memorization.  That is teaching of a sort and I’m glad that many of those verses stayed in mind and were there to draw upon when needed.  On the other hand, asking questions and thinking for yourself were not skills that were highly valued back in the day.===JACK:  I, too, learned some verses (by rote).  I a way they can bring comfort or inspiration (at times), but the true meaning comes from understanding the background...and, even then, there is more to be learned.

FROM MD IN BS:  All the isms socialism, communism, Marxism i nihilism should also be taught no time for the 3r's Chinese kids are  not bogged down with this nonsense and will outperform our woke kids. Let's leave it to the parents.===JACK:  I believe in the value of a liberal education rather than one that is simply "job" directed.  Yoy would not be able to talk inteligently about the isms, had you not been educated about them.  My parents advised me to further my education, an opportunity that they did not have.  In that sense, they "educated" me.===MD:  Liberal education does you no good if you are bereft of the skills to function in a dynamic s ociety. Hopefully  that education you had enabled you to ferret out the actors who advanced their personal agendas over your well being.===JACK:  As you may know, "liberal" in the field of education means, "broad."  In today' world, too many think that that kind of schooling is a waste of time and money.  My professors were intent of teaching, not indoctrinating.  I purposely chose a Philosophy major, believing that it would be better than Religion...broader.  We have too many in this world who know much about their field, but too little about anything else. ===MD:   I truly enjoy a good discussion particularly with someone with a different point of view. That is how we learn. I have a few liberal friends where nothing philosophical is shared because they are thin skinned and even resort to name calling. You are a lighthouse.===JACK:  I learn from you, too.  I also am disappointed in people who use "welfare" as a crutch.  Welfare is truly for those in need, with limited ways to meet that need.  (Example: the way that you and MaryAnn tried to help some "needy" children.  We have more to discuss.  I wish that it could be face to face.===MD: My biggest disappointment is the amount of funding for innercity schools and the concurrent abysmal results. I would hope that the dems make an effort to eliminate graft and corruption. JACK:  The problem of "unequal education" has been around for a long time.  It's easy to blame graft, but than can be a strawman...an easy blame.  Money is part of the solution, but not the solution.  Disfunctional homelife, parents with limited education, competent teachers who do not want to work in the city, more difficult access to technology, neighborhood environment...You name it.  Who is the administrator who has the skill and desire to "fix" the problem.  If qualified, would you take the job, if the choice was between the city and one of the affluent suburbs?  Corruption is an "easy" blame.  Not to say that it hasn't existed...and it isn't a political party's fault, either.  I give the Detroit district E for effort in offering trade-school classes instead of pre-college courses.  And the WCCC is offering free college tuition to qualified high school applicants.  You pushed a "hot button" as far as I'm concerned.