working the problem
I just gave a final exam that none of my students could complete. It was simply a matter of breaking down the problem into pieces, apply the known rules, and put the peices back together. I am constantly remided that this is a learned skill, but I can never eundersatnd why it takes it so long to learn.
But then I listen to the debates on popular radio and TV. People want simple solutions. They don’t want the world to be complicated. Univsersal health care is either a liber plot, or the conservatives are heartless. Global warming is either a liberal conspiracy or conservatvie plot to destroy the world.
In such an environmnet teach problem solving skills is impossible. The adults do not want to think, so how can we teach the children to think? The adults have no desire for innovative products, so why should the children learn to make them.
In this holiday season there is hope and there is simplicity and there is clarity. The person who Christmas celebrates has innovative ideas, and those who listened to him are arguably better off. While some think that he is the only one with innovative ideas, and not innovative ideas have come since, most of us know differently. Most of us know that if we listen to people with new ideas, and not just assume the old ideas are corect, we can move to a better world. A world where women are not forced to wear modest apperal, and everyone is not freaked out with cross dressing women, or semi nude bodies. A world where we can have some art, so trinkets, and not violate the commandment against graven images. A world where we can have a sausage if we so wish. A world where we can study the world, and voice our conclusions, without the fear of fundemnetalist sending Anthrax to us through the mail.
And there is a second thing, a thing that every Christian raised person knows to be the fundemental truth. To treat others as we woudl want to be treated. Most of us do not want to be called Nazis, so why do we call others that? Few of us want to be called sluts, so why do we call others that? We do not consider ourselves liars, so why do shout out such a thing in civil debate? We all want to be listened to, and loved, and respected. So why can’t we show that to others.
The truth of the season is that tolerance is not enough. We must move beyond tolerance.We must try not to pity the student who cannot solve the problem, or the person who has not heard the words of love and respect, but model those problem solving skills, model that love, model that respect, in hopes that others learn those skills.
No Responses to “working the problem”
You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
