Education system discussion must be based on facts
Teachers deeply invested in improving system for the sake of their students and the growth of our economy
Al Moore’s recent letter to the editor (“School culture can be destructive,” Cape Breton Post, Jan. 23) not only provoked me to respond, it provoked me to discuss it with my students first.
Al regularly takes issue with the state of the education system in Nova Scotia. Granted, it isn’t perfect. But it is a work in progress that teachers are deeply invested in improving for the sake of our students and the growth of our economy.
Rather than simply provide my opinion, I chose to see what my students thought of the missive and would like to include their thoughts in this response: - “No one talks like that anymore.” - “He keeps talking about America. Does he know where we are?”
- “He’s using stereotypes from popular culture. Movies aren’t real life.”
- “Cheerleaders don’t wear their uniforms at school. No one knows who they are.”
- “There is a small group that ‘obsesses’ about athletes, but no one worships us.”
- “I don’t try to get low marks. No one would do that. But I did throw a test once to teach a lesson to a guy who was copying off of me.”
From the mouths of babes, no? There are readers who believe what Moore has to say is currently true and vote with similar beliefs in mind. Ironically, this is one of the great dangers of “fake news” on social media platforms. So, I feel compelled to offer some perspective on his thoughts if only to inform those who nodded their heads in agreement as they read them.
First, they are disjointed. He started by talking about academically inclined students and then suggests males will deliberately underperform on tests. Putting those two statements in the same paragraph conflates two disparate ideas.
Second, Moore rightly states that school is about raising the level of education. However, he neglects to recognize that education reaches well beyond the textbook and the social education of our youth is of paramount importance to building the leaders of tomorrow. Athletics, school concerts, academic clubs, social clubs, GSAs and spirit days are all important aspects to education and community building.
Third, Moore references American stereotypes, American universities and American presidents. University culture has virtually no connection to publicly funded education in Canada.
Fourth, professional athletes receive training from media specialists and are promoted by public relations specialists. Charitable action is great. Charitable actions by professional athletes encourage others to look into their own ability to perform charitable actions. There is great value in it and it is certainly admirable. But these actions are undertaken for marketing, not for goodwill. It is the idea of someone in an office, not one of the people on the team. And taking part in these activities are codified in contracts. This does not negate their value but it does suggest that professional athletes as human as the rest of us.
Finally, while I want to avoid the word racist, the idea that “Asian cultures” (a big continent from which to draw very specific assumptions) value education and work ethic more than others is a shortsighted stereotype and does not take underlying considerations into account.
Studying in North America gives many foreign-born people an excellent opportunity to develop their English-speaking skills in a less formal atmosphere. It makes sense to work in a coffee shop or restaurant because you are hearing English the way it is spoken rather than formally written. For the time being, English is the language of international trade so practical usage of the language is just another part of education.
The discussion of our education system is absolutely necessary, but if that discussion is not based upon facts it is fruitless. Citing a book and author can sound impressive, but if you balance that with the content you realize that it is meaningless. I read an excerpt of the Chris Hedges book, “Empire of Illusion,” upon seeing it quoted in Moore’s letter. It focused on the WWE and the adult entertainment industry. Ignoring the conservative bias throughout Hedges’ writings, I’m forced to wonder how Moore connects Hedges’ thesis to education.
In my classroom we discuss the fiction of social media “value” and the importance of privacy considerations. We discuss memes and the dangers of assuming truth based solely upon views/likes. Social media and celebrity culture have become educational tools insofar as they exist and require critical examination. But I fear that Moore thinks that if it exists on television then it must be true of a majority rather than a majority of like-minded social media “friends.” Nothing could be further from the truth. Perhaps they didn’t teach that when he was still in school.
“There is a small group that ‘obsesses’ about athletes, but no one worships us.”