> Wrong! Students waste everyone's time when they challenge the teacher.
> Teachers don't have the luxury of that much time.

I have two reactions to that statement, both quite strong, one for and one
against. Complex, aint I?

On the one hand, yes, teachers are currently overburdened and have been
forced into the position of drill sergeants, leading a little group of
soldiers onward, lockstep, to the conclusions accepted by society. And
perhaps it is true that many kids don't have what it takes to be of value if
they question too much. There do seem to be the "epsilon minus" types around
more and more and society protects us from ourselves more and more. Less
chlorine in the gene pool, you know.

On the other hand, it makes me sick to see kids being smashed into the
"Obedience to Authority" mind mold. Anyone who has read that book would
probably feel the same way. See:
http://www.massmind.org/techref/other/anarchist.htm and the little section
about 3/4 down that discusses "Obedience to Authority" by Stanley Milgram

> Also, one of the things students need to do is learn to 
> respect authority, and how to get along with others.

How about "how to question authority with respect" or "how to get along
without loosing yourself"? How about reading Gandhi or watching movies like
"Spy Game"
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0266987/ or reading "Star Diaries" by Stanislaw
Lem
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0156849054

How about knowing when to stand up and say "no" when everyone around you is
turning into a mob? "When they came for the..."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_they_came

How about "being too dumb to know it couldn't be done?" Like the 3M post it
notes guy? Did you flunk Albert Einstein? Did you put "Rain Man" in an
institution? Do you know who Daniel "Brainman" Tammet is?

> Remember, students are in school to learn, and they are doing 
> it under the guidance of their teacher. If the teacher wants 
> the students opinion, he/she will ask for it.

Deep breaths, calm ocean, must control fists of death...  Yeeesssssss.....
That is true, Dogbert. 

Teachers must cover the subject matter and explain what the society has
compiled as a base of knowledge.

But that is also why MY kids are home schooled. And why we DO ask them for
their opinions. 

And that is also why most "engineers" turned out by our current school
system are... Lets see... How can I put this politely... Uninspired? Unable
to think outside the box? Robots?

> I am constantly reminding young people that the best way to 
> get good grades and also to get the most out of their 
> education is to figure out what the teacher wants and to give 
> it to them. Resisting education is not the way to get an education.

You wouldn't want them to LEARN anything would you? No, just give the prof a
blow job and wave that sheep skin high? Awww come on! The goal of a teacher
has to be to allow as much independent thought as they have time and
resources to support while still covering the syllabus.

> If a student wants to have a debate, he/she should get on the 
> debate team(or join the OTlist).

Actually, s/he should have an active hobby, publish what they have found for
themselves, and perhaps turn that hobby into a solution that makes them
rich. If they only know what everyone else knows, how are they ever going to
come up with something unique and valuable?

---
James.
 


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