Comments on: Self-centered social studies http://joannejacobs.com/2003/09/29/self-centered-social-studies/ Free-linking and thinking on education by Joanne Jacobs Fri, 21 Nov 2008 15:30:14 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: David Foster http://joannejacobs.com/2003/09/29/self-centered-social-studies/#comment-1190 David Foster Mon, 29 Sep 2003 23:11:40 +0000 http://joannejacobsblog.com/2003/09/29/self-centered-social-studies/#comment-1190 I onxw read a book by an African guy who was fascinated by Eskimos and always wanted to go to the arctic (and finally made it). That's what being human is all about, not the concentration on people "just like you." C S Lewis once referred to "relentless and unsmiling concentration on self" as the true mark of Hell. The objective of many educators seems to be to impose this orientation on as many people as possible. I onxw read a book by an African guy who was fascinated by Eskimos and always wanted to go to the arctic (and finally made it). That’s what being human is all about, not the concentration on people “just like you.”

C S Lewis once referred to “relentless and unsmiling concentration on self” as the true mark of Hell. The objective of many educators seems to be to impose this orientation on as many people as possible.

]]> By: Curt Wilson http://joannejacobs.com/2003/09/29/self-centered-social-studies/#comment-1189 Curt Wilson Mon, 29 Sep 2003 23:07:26 +0000 http://joannejacobsblog.com/2003/09/29/self-centered-social-studies/#comment-1189 I wouldn't read too much into those figures comparing voting rates and political interest to 1966 and 1972. We had this little thing going on back then called the War in Viet Nam and its accompanying draft, which had the effect of focusing a great many young minds on public affairs. It's not necessarily a bad thing when a lot of young people are not heavily involved in public affairs. One of the things this usually means is that times are good enough that they can just get on with their lives. Not that this touchy-feely social studies curriculum is a good idea, but I don't think you should pin too much on it. I wouldn’t read too much into those figures comparing voting rates and political interest to 1966 and 1972. We had this little thing going on back then called the War in Viet Nam and its accompanying draft, which had the effect of focusing a great many young minds on public affairs.

It’s not necessarily a bad thing when a lot of young people are not heavily involved in public affairs. One of the things this usually means is that times are good enough that they can just get on with their lives.

Not that this touchy-feely social studies curriculum is a good idea, but I don’t think you should pin too much on it.

]]> By: George http://joannejacobs.com/2003/09/29/self-centered-social-studies/#comment-1188 George Mon, 29 Sep 2003 19:35:57 +0000 http://joannejacobsblog.com/2003/09/29/self-centered-social-studies/#comment-1188 Er, that would be, "my Filipino best friend and I". Oops. Er, that would be, “my Filipino best friend and I”. Oops.

]]> By: George http://joannejacobs.com/2003/09/29/self-centered-social-studies/#comment-1187 George Mon, 29 Sep 2003 19:34:58 +0000 http://joannejacobsblog.com/2003/09/29/self-centered-social-studies/#comment-1187 It's funny - as a Chinese kid growing up in a largely Indian/Haitian neighbourhood, me and my Filipino best friend were primarily interested in ancient Greece/Egypt/Persia. And dinosaurs. Lots and lots of dinosaurs. It’s funny - as a Chinese kid growing up in a largely Indian/Haitian neighbourhood, me and my Filipino best friend were primarily interested in ancient Greece/Egypt/Persia. And dinosaurs. Lots and lots of dinosaurs.

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