| |
Re: U.S.: What are we teaching our kids?
GMarmet (GMarmet@aol.COM)
Wed, 29 Apr 1998 12:06:44 EDT
<< The Situation: A Fifth Grader happens to witness the theft of
a test answer sheet by some others. If he tells then, he will
be targeted and probably hurt. Naturally scared, he goes home,
and talks to his folks about it. The next morning, he does
report the incident to the school authorities.
The Result: _He_ is placed on 5 day no-recess, 5 day community
service, and 5 day lunch detention. (No word about the others.)
His crime? Not telling _fast_ enough.
The Lesson: According to him "Never tell the truth. Ever."
This is probably not a Scouts-L issue, but I will wade in anyway. In my
opinion, what is described is a direct result of a failure of our society to
recognize wisdom and a failure to learn how to acquire wisdom.
If the results described are true, they result from a not uncommon school "no
toleration" policy. This is the same sort of policy that gives students
taking aspirin in school a suspension for drug use.
Our society has gotten to the point where we have forgotten how to think. And
we have forgotten why we used to put people who can think in responsible
positions. Instead, because we are concerned about certain behaviours, and
because we do not trust the ability of administrators to properly handle
certain behaviours, we create no exceptions- no tolerance rules. This is the
same theory that was promulgated to cut down a judges ability to grant
appropriate sentences in certain federal and state criminal matters.
How do you solve it? Beats me. For my part I try to teach using wisdom,
rather than manipulating facts. I love my computer. But all the data
manipulation in the world will not create the answer to moral or life
experience questions. For that you need wisdom. The wisdom found in our
great books, like the bible, like the great moral thinkers, ranging from
Aristotle to Jesus to Moses to Emerson, and in some instances, Baden Powell or
Bill Hillcourt.
Wow. Send flames. Send them now. I will hide.
Yours in Scouting,
G. John Marmet
Terry Howerton Sakima Group, Inc. SCOUTER Magazine Kansas City |
|
|
A few Commercial Links from the SCOUTER NetCompass...
|
 Cell Phone Recycling Scout Fundraiser
Protect the environment! Earn up to $100 for every old/used cell phone collected!
# 1 Eagle Scout Gift For Past 5 Years
Over the past five years this gorgeous 8x10 framed print, with inset poem - This Uniformed Little Boy - has become the number one gift presented at Eagle Courts of Honor.
FL - Florida Sail Training Adventure
Sail Training on Florida's Emerald Coast on an historic wooden sailing schooner
Packsacks BWCAW Canoe Trips
Packsacks BWCAW Canoe Trips, located at the edge of the Boundary Waters, is a resort and canoe outfitting base. PACKSACK is in the midst of fishing at its finest! PACKSACK offers a wilderness adventure of canoe trips into the BWCA and Quetico Park,
Corn maze, Pumpkin Patch & Country Fun
Get lost...in over 20 acres of cornfield mazes including a Haunted Maze at Dewberry Farm! Shoot the incredible Corn Cannon, take a hayride to the pumpkin patch, or have a campout around a campfire.
Scrapbooking Papers/Stickers for Scouts
Scrapbooking papers and stickers for Boy Scouts, 4-H, FFA and Girl Scouts and other occasions
Panama Canal and Rainforest Adventure
Canoe jungle rivers and waterways of the Panama Canal. Hike the jungle and old Spanish Treasure Trails. Visit and live with Indians of the rainforests and camp at centuries old forts. Retrace the paths of Conquistadors, Pirates, and 49’ers.
Add your link to SCOUTER NetCompass
|
|
|
 |
|
|
