5/2/2019; Week 2: Response to "Is the Great American Teacher Dead ?"

Well, I have to start with the part of the essay that bugged me. The author quotes Ernest Becker, who won the Pulitzer Prize in 1974 for his book, "The Denial of Death". Mr. Becker's book was primarily concerned with how people find meaning in their lives to combat the certainty of death. The quote reads:"...a major mental institution in France virtually emptied itself during the French Revolution as patients found life suddenly imbued with a novel sense of meaning and purpose."

I feel obliged to point out that the mental institutions of France - in 1789, during the Revolution- were vastly different than those that exist today; they might more properly be called work houses.  The 'patients' included invalids, those with incurable diseases (leprosy etc.), beggars, political prisoners, the elderly, orphans, juvenile delinquents, criminals, and yes - mentally ill people.  Some of the 'patients' were incarcerated (delinquents, political prisoners, criminals), some were there voluntarily ( elderly, orphans,beggars, invalids ) and some were there because their families paid the institution to house them. This would be most of the mentally ill.  If the family stopped paying, the 'patient' was turned out into the streets or put to work no matter how they felt about their lives and the meaning or lack of meaning in it.

It was not unheard of for criminals and/or political prisoners to stage revolts or to escape.  People in the work house part of the institutions were free to come and go as long as they completed their 'work' within the institution. Many of them left as soon as they were able to find jobs.

It would be erroneous to characterize the emptying of this sort of institution  as mentally ill people finding purpose for their lives. 

Ok, now I feel better! Except, I sure wish BYU-I offered an online history major. I'd be all over it...


I love that Bro. Ivers included material from both the meticulous researcher Steven Pinker, and off-the-wall-thinker Malcolm Gladwell !  I read "Blink" (Gladwell) some years ago and enjoyed it immensely, although I was a little shocked at how we humans make snap judgments. (I'd like to believe that humans put a bit more conscious effort into our judgments.)  I have not read Pinkers "Blank Slate," but may now see if I can rustle up a copy somewhere; it looks like it might be helpful for my future-teaching-self.

As far as Bro. Ivers point that teachers must be communicators, I whole-heartedly agree !  I remember as a teen, reading talks & works like "Mormon Doctrine"  by Bruce R McConkie.  When General Conference time rolled around, I was always excited to hear that McConkie was speaking - until he spoke.  Bro. Mc Conkie had a monotone speaking voice, and I invariably found myself nodding off during his talks.... 

Teachers must have the students attention to teach them anything, and the students must feel 'safe' in class to learn anything.  It seems to me that acceptance and enthusiasm on the Teachers' part would go a long way for good student outcomes.









Comments

  1. GriselMay 3, 2019 at 8:08 AM

    Lark:
    I could feel your enthusiasm and your knowledge of the topic that you speak when I read your publication. I wanted to know more about those authors and the books you mention.
    No doubt I would take history classes with you, since you would be an enthusiastic teacher full of knowledge and this would encourage me to want to have more knowledge of the subject that you speak.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Lark, on the bright side..May 4, 2019 at 4:38 AM

    Thanks Grisel ! I do love history ! I am hoping I can learn enough about Tesol and teaching in general that I can become a knowledgeable and enthusiastic teacher of English :)

    ReplyDelete

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