4 ms·
I consider myself a leftist, and when I read the article, I also got a very strong feeling of disgust. For whatever reason, I identified mostly with the kids in
by jerry1979 5y ago
I consider myself a leftist, and when I read the article, I also got a very strong feeling of disgust. For whatever reason, I identified mostly with the kids in the article. A few things caught my attention:
- The teachers were concocting some way to fix the lego problem.
- Their way to fix the problem was to exercise total, unrelenting control.
- Their total power was juxtaposed with their bewilderment about the lego problem (this bewilderment was somewhat reminiscent of the "what's a potato" dinner date story from reddit). Is this the first time the lego problem has come up??
Those three things gave me the feeling that, even beyond taking away the legos, something very unfair and very annoying was about to happen. This was confirmed when I got to the part about their twisted waste-of-time game. Do they think the kids learned anything? I actually recall having to play a similar classroom game. I remember being annoyed at the teacher for wasting my time. I hope those kids are part of some longitudinal study, because their recollection of the lego fiasco would be pure gold.
Then the kids had to do drawings about power instead of playing with legos!?
How can a person with any anti-authority sensibilities react positively to this article?
- BaronVonSteuben 5y agoCould not agree with you more. That's what bothered me the most about the article. I consider myself a leftist as well and power dynamics are one of the main things that makes me so. I have a big dislike for most traditional power systems, especially where "power" is inherited (as wealth, but also just connected names that make you a celebrity just for being born). But if the "solution" to leveling out this power is exercising your own to force everyone to conform, the solution is worth than the disease (and in my opinion not necessary as there are better more democratic options out there).
- jerry1979 5y agoI also feel a sense of injustice from unearned authority. The thing is, I like authority when it is earned: the authority of a surgeon in the operating room, the plumber under the sink, the accountant with their spreadsheet. I get the sense that they earned that authority because they already put in the hours and made the mistakes, and now they are ready to fill the space they exist in with competent decisions and well-practiced actions.