“What does it do to children’s sense of curiosity to learn that any expression of shared interest with a teacher will subject them to verbal and physical abuse?” Thomas Hart Benton, Remedial Civility Training, Chronical of Higher Education
I was recently assigned an article in my American Government class by the penname Thomas Hart Benton called, Remedial Civility Training. The article outlines the hostile learning environment our society has incubated with passive rules.
Having experienced both public and private educations, I can attest to the general popular attitude of students to be contempt or resistant towards education no matter the background or upbringing of the students. Is this because our teachers are not engaging or we are lazy or some other variable?
Benton points the culprit of the degrading attitude towards education as the lack of discipline. Those who want to learn, will learn, and those who don’t, won't is usually the common idea. But, I can still remember as an elementary student the taunts from kids towards others who showed interest in a subject or the exasperated sighs when a single student ask their fifth question in the same class.
These actions are still persistent into college and it was not until I read this article that it clicked in my mind, ‘wait a minute, I love asking questions and gaining knowledge and solving problems and new situations, so why do I grudge to class and continue to sit silently until I am dismissed?’.
I am not one who can confidently say ‘I don’t care what other people think’ because I desperately do, it is only human nature. I have created in my mind this idea that school was a burden and as Benton said I saw it only as hurdle I had to get over to be able to attain the future I wanted.
I want to learn I want to have an arsenal of knowledge at my disposal and more prominently I want to be able to confidently ask questions in class and smile that goofy smile you get when you find something out for the first time.
I think it is time we make a conscious effort to realize how much of a blessing knowledge is and the power it can give to a person and be happy we are making strides for a better future but also a healthier self. When you can see even the slightest ray of positivity in your actions and everyday it can lighten your load ten-fold.
