Lessons Learned Blair McDonald
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veryone has an opinion on education – and rightly so, we have all been put through its trials and tribulations in one form or another. For most students, going to school will always inspire a mix of dread and disdain. Whether that will ever change, I have my doubts. But from an educators’ standpoint, the responsibilities of education are not to be taken lightly. Between the lines of every complaint or controversy with the education system, we can read concerns with how the youth of today should be taught, what they ought to learn, how they should be tested, and how they should be disciplined for poor performance or behaviour. In a recent talk at Drexel University in Philadelphia by one of my favourite “shock jocks” of the academic world, Camille Paglia (the paper was later turned into an article titled “Free Speech and the Modern Campus”) discusses not only the history of classroom dissent but, of equal importance, the concern with teachers using the classroom as a platform for their own personal ideologies or worldviews. In her estimation, today’s teachers have confused their role as educators with that of social workers. This is not to say that the teacher cannot have strong social convictions, it is more to the point that, for Paglia, “teaching and research must strive to remain objective and detached” from the personal agendas of the instructor. Rightly, Paglia adds the following: “The teacher as an individual citizen may and should have strong political convictions and activities outside the classroom, but inside, he or she should never take ideological positions without at the same time frankly acknowledging them as opinion to the students and emphasizing that all students are completely free to hold and express their own opinions on any issue, no matter how contested.” It remains to be seen how much of what
we teach (and learn for that matter) is the result of our own biases. Unfortunately, I know from experience that courses with the same topic (for example, a history of the movies course) can be taught in completely different ways just by changing the instructor. In a funny way, history appears to change and come to life differently depending on who is at the helm. Similarly, in one of the finest modern essays I have ever read on education, Albert Einstein (from his collection of essays written between 1934 – 1950, published in his book Out of My Later Years) reminds us that while the instructor does have a definite “influence upon the molding of the psychological foundation for pupils” it is the school itself (as a social institution) that is “the most important means of transferring the wealth of tradition from one generation to the next.” Educators would do well to recall Einstein’s claims on the role of standardized schooling. He writes: “a community of standardized individuals without personal originality and personal aims would be a poor community without possibilities for development.” One can only wonder what Einstein would have thought of our current careerist, grade-driven era of education where a B grade is enough to send students (and some parents) into a tailspin. In contrast, Einstein writes that the goals of higher learning, in particular, ought to consider its use within the greater community. In this sense, he writes, schooling ought to generate “independently acting and thinking individuals, who, however, see in the service to the community their highest life problem” – regardless of the ‘status’ of the profession. How often we forget that it’s the little ideas that can generate the biggest changes. Tweet and follow me at @bmcdnld.
Beyond the Doors: Home and Garden Tour Lillian Bufton
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his year’s annual tour will be held on Saturday, June 4 and will support the programs and activities of the Lennox & Addington Seniors Outreach Services, which is celebrating its Ruby (40th) anniversary this year. The day-long tour goes from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and features eight properties in Odessa, Newburgh, and Napanee. The houses range from custom-designed and built newer homes to 19th-century heritage properties that have been lovingly restored. “These are absolutely stunning homes and gardens, and this tour is one of the highlights of the year for us; one of our best fundraisers,” says Ruth Graham, who is coordinating the project for the fundraising committee of the SOS. “We have already had people coming in for their Passports.” They are available at the SOS office at 12 Richmond Park Drive, and at the IDA Drug Store on Dundas Street in Napanee. Graham expects that the Passports will sell out quickly so you are encouraged to purchase one soon.
Mixed adult soccer league Starting in June Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m. Free at Tamworth Field For more details: cna420@yahoo.ca
Tamworth Elementary School
Fun Fair
“We remind people to be courteous at each home, removing their shoes before entering the house, and not touching any household items,” says Graham. To be respectful to the owners, no pets are allowed in the homes or gardens, children must be well supervised at all times, and no smoking is allowed. Photography may be allowed outside, but no photographs may be taken inside any of the homes. For more information about the annual Home & Garden Tour on Saturday, June 4, please contact Ruth Graham at the SOS, 613.354.6668, ext. 104, or ruth@ lasos.ca.
ANNUAL OUTDOOR CEMETERY MEMORIAL SERVICE TAMWORTH CEMETERY
Sunday, June 12 at 2:00 p.m. Please join us for a short service at the cemetery with guest speaker Rev. Howard Dudgeon and music by Michelle Pyatt and soloist Janyce Arnill. Refreshments will be served after the service. Donations to the enhancement and maintenance of the cemetery greatly appreciated.
Friday, June 10 5 p.m. – 8 p.m. We are hosting Erin Ball from Kingston Circus Arts as our entertainer from 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Ontario Woodlot Association Quinte Chapter Annual Meeting Saturday, June 18 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Slide put on by our very own
Arts Centre Hastings 239 Durham Street, Madoc
as well as games Albert Einstein speaking to students at Lincoln University in 1946.
New Ways of Looking at Your Property From the Air: Aerial Photos & Drones
There will be a BBQ /Slip-n-
Tamworth Fire Department,
and face painting.
NAPANEE AUTO RECYCLING INC. 4941 County Rd. 8, RR#2 Napanee ON K7R 3K7 12kms South of Napanee
Nick January, Coordinator GIS Hastings County Community Online Maps Chris Droog, with his flying quadcopter and camera Lunch $15
Large Selection of Car & Truck Parts!
To reserve lunch Louise Livingstone: 613.395.4388 info@harvesthastings.ca or Kevin Durkin: 613.396.6381
Call Dan: 613-354-3838
ontariowoodlot.com/quinte-chapter localwood.harvesthastings.ca
The Back Kitchen reopened on May 20th and will be open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays and holiday Mondays until Canada Day, when the restaurant will be open seven days a week until Labour Day.
613.389.1005 5660 Front Road, Stella backkitchenai@gmail.com www.backkitchen.com
Passports include a map for the selfguided tour and participants are welcome to start and stop wherever they wish. The SOS office will be closed, but parking is available for those who want to carpool. Signs and balloons will mark the properties where participants must get their Passport checked by the home’s volunteer guide. Guides will answer questions and show visitors through the home and garden.
June / July 2016 • The SCOOP
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