It all falls apart, and a moment of clarity

On Wednesday, our oven range called it quits. According to my darling husband, this happened in rather dramatic fashion as he was trying to warm up a burrito for lunch. 

There are several ways in which I could have reacted to this event, the natural reaction being one of frustration as the water heater just had to be replaced 10 days ago.  But, another convergence of events has taken place and I have learned that it does no good to get stressed out about such mundane things like water heaters and ovens.  We are really doing okay.  We are put on this Earth for a tiny blip in time and need not concern ourselves too much with such minor annoyances.  We simply had to get creative in the kitchen, using our wood stove to cook ham and eggs, and to bring out the electric griddle for pancakes (breakfast for dinner is the best!). We may have the new oven hooked up by Monday.

Where is this new calmness coming from?  I think I can largely thank some acupuncture treatments for this current moment of clarity, as well as some significant changes that have occurred at work.  One of our team member's lost her job due to budget cuts, and the entire school faces some major restructuring.  I think that sudden slap in the face provided me with the impetus to reevaluate and figure out how to pursue a dream I've had for the past ten years, which is to become a midwife.  I enjoy teaching, but I'm not passionate about it.  When I first considered midwifery I was in my third year of college, and the idea of five more years of school was too daunting (it would have been easier if I had decided to go into nursing right after high school, but hindsight is 20-20).  I will still have to go to school for at least three years full time to take the most accepted education route to become a midwife.  But, with my darling husband's blessing, the process doesn't seem as daunting as it did 10 years ago, even if it requires me to move to the City for a year (yikes!). 

I think we all have a Truth inside us that sometimes we ignore, or sometimes we fight against.  Some find that Truth more easily than others.  My path thus far has certainly been long and winding, but I suppose it's all part of the journey of life.

Hot Button Issues

This post is for my grandfather who has obviously been thinking about some of the major issues facing our country. He sent out a questionnaire to family members regarding health care reform; immigration; social issues such as abortion, gay marriage, gun control; foreign policy and domestic economic policy.  I have mulled over the topics for some time now, and I will attempt to write a concise response.

In the wake of yesterday's attack in Arizona and countless similar acts of violence against innocent people, there is clearly something out of balance in our society.  Trying to pinpoint it is not easy, and certainly everyone will have his or her own thoughts on this topic.  For me, I see the root of the problem (and really the root of all the hot button issues) lying in the rampant capitalistic nature of our society.

It has gotten to the point where corporations, greedy for money, have gotten so large and powerful that they run our country in lieu of the government of the people, for the people (for an interesting take on our dependence on big business check out the Story of Stuff).  Look at big pharma, big agricorporations, big media, and even big education (in New York State, the Board of Regents has an amazing amount of control over what is valued in New York education).  While we keep telling ourselves that we are individuals and have that individual spirit, that we believe in the American Dream, the country's view of what is "sucess" is so narrowly defined (by big business) that very few people, even if they are good, hard working citizens, can truly live a comfortable, happy life (there was a large international poll conducted by Gallup about 5 years ago on national happiness and you can see some of the analysis here).   This has led to a great lack of trust in the government and people are clearly upset.

It's ironic that our country, so focused on being the best in everything--of being the world superpower--, is really in a downward spiral because of that hyperfocus.  We are so intent on this narrow view of success (making the most money as quickly as possible) that we have created this chasm between the rich and the poor, the haves and have-nots, that can no longer be ignored and is seriously threatening the fabric of our nation.  For example, big business exploited migrant workers for so many years and now the immigration "issue" has come to a forefront.  Don't punish the immigrants; punish the businesses.  The millions of workers who are picking our vegetables, constructing our homes, and cleaning our hotel rooms, are trying to make an honest living.  Yet our society is currently designed to elevate a few, while suppressing the rest, so that the dreams of these individuals are usually unobtainable and the cycle of poverty continues.  All the red tape and prejudice preventing migrant workers from staying in the U.S (even if they are here legally on a Visa) benefits whom exactly?
Another example: healthcare.  Young people spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to go through medical training (which automatically prevents a certain sector of our population from pursuing this dream).  Once doctors, they themselves are managed by big, greedy insurance companies and spend so much time doing paper work that bedside manners are completely non-existent and patients must feel a bit like cattle being shuffled along from one doctor to another in order to get a correct diagnoses of the problem.  Unless patients have the right insurance at the right time, a condition can easily bankrupt a family, and those individuals can say goodbye to their American Dream.  Why can't there be universal, free coverage for preventative care and treatment of common illnesses and conditions (this was my father's argument?). 

There is such a stigma against socialist practices as well as for big government intervention.  People see the failure of the Welfare program, and realize that Social Security is not going to be around for much longer in its current form.  Any media outlet will report that we don't trust our government to change our lives for the better.  But again, I don't think folks realize that the big corporations are driving the government, and we as consumers with capitalist spirits are driving big business.  Look at the Wars in the Middle East.  Regardless of the reasons for going to war, the question remains "why are we still there?"  Two words:  defense contracts.  These wars have been contracted out to these defencse companies, who thrive in this environment and make oodles of money; war for the executives of these companies is good.   Perhaps you would rather think that we are there to secure the area to save our national interests.  After all, there is so much oil over there; its certainly worth the hundreds of thousands of lives lost.  Why not invest all that money in alternative energy strategies here?  Let's look at solar and wind power.  We have the technology and the intelligence; we just need to apply it.  Or how about just looking at reducing power consumption.  Does a family of three really need a 5000 square foot home?  Are SUVs really necessary if you don't have 6 kids?   Are week long cruises a necessary vacation plan?  Do you really need to eat that avocado that traveled 3000 miles to get to you?
If the government was truly run for the people by the people, I don't think the general population would be so wary of its practices, because I think the government would make wiser choices, being free from the chains of corporations.  People, therefore, would not be so up in arms about universal healthcare, universal education with a variety of alternative programs (more on that issue later), a social welfare program that really works (look at Oportunidades in Mexico).  Trust would be restored and senseless acts of violence would not be so common.

What is an answer to all of this?  We have to look at community and we have to make sacrifices and be flexible (by the way, isn't it odd that we've been to war for nearly a decade and there has been no war tax?).  We also need to realize that fair is not equal.  What works in one section of the country, may not work in another.  Our federal government needs to trust our local governments to make healthy, wise decisions for their own constituencies.  For example, I work in a school district that is fine in terms of meeting the NCLB standards.  However, the 8th graders still have to take 4-5 state tests every year, amounting to 10 days (5.5% of the school year) lost to mandated testing. Imagine what could happen if we didn't have to administer the tests and we could bring some creativity and higher thinking skills back into the curriculum.  Another school district may need to focus on meeting the basic, non-educational, needs of the children (housing, food, adult guidance, good health).  Yes, in the short term, these districts may not be meeting the NCLB standards, but if these larger issues are not addressed, the cycle of poverty and despair and violence will continue. 

In summary, we need to tackle the core issues: the poverty and discrimination, the hate and the intolerance.  We need to let go of the "ME!, ME!, ME!" mentality and the "MORE! MORE! MORE!" ideology.  We need to not allow big business to run our government (any ideas on this one?!) or our lives, and we need to become a more trusting people and have faith in one another.

My grandfather wanted to know our political leanings.  While I tend to vote democratic, currently I am disenchanted with both major political parties due to their reliance on corporate funds and not being bold enough to say "Enough already!  Let us do what is truly in the people's best interest!"

The State of Our Society

Ideas have been swirling around in my head for months now about the state of our materialistic culture.  I fear I could write a book, but my thoughts are nowhere near coherent enough at this point.  The triggers for the following post are, in no particular order:

1.  The incredibly rude behavior brought on by cell phone users in public spaces
2.  The Chilean miner rescue
3.  The inability for today's students to actually think critically about a question and problem solve
4.  The amount of money in big business that looks at profit margins instead of the greater good

I will attempt to connect this all, although I've added a little something to the hot cider I'm drinking, and it is a Tuesday night after all.

I have become disenchanted with education (you know that already if you are a follower of the blog).  I am most severely disenchanted with the way in which our students are conditioned to learn.  Case in point:  I'm having my kids conduct a research project that requires them to develop hypotheses about a certain procedure.  There is really no right answer, because the procedures were done in the past, in some cases, thousands of years ago.  But through lab activities, the kids have learned concepts which provide them with the background knowledge to actually construct a viable hypothesis.  They have struggled with this.  I am sure this age group will be known as the 'Google' generation, because they think they can find any answer by just googling it.  When was the wheel invented?  I'll google it.  How is an arch constructed?  I'll google it.  They are so used to instant answers and instant gratification that they no longer have the attack skills necessary to problem solve.  Furthermore, they also no longer have the patience to struggle through the problem.  Which means, sadly, that they know no longer feel the joy and sense of accomplishment when they finally figure it out.  The passion of learning for the sake of enlightenment seems gone. 

Part of this, perhaps, is just the older generation looking at the younger generation and reminiscing for the "good old days".  But I am convinced there has been a fundamental shift in the way kids learn, and how they expect to learn.   And I think this new way is not necessarily helpful for society at large.

The most detrimental result of this new way of thinking is the lack of true social growth in individuals.  Instead of debating a problem with group members, kids go straight to the computer.  They don't learn how to argue effectively, to respect each other's opinions or to work together as a team.  In fact, with the advent of the cell phone and texting, kids don't even need to physically see each other anymore.  I believe there have been statistics published that a lower percentage of teenagers are actually getting their licences, because there is no need to physically hang out anymore.  As a side note, the amount of cyberbullying that occurs now is disheartening.  Kids don't have to be mean to each other face to face, and thus it's easier to be mean and say hurtful things.  Again, this demonstrates the lack of opportunity to learn and practice much needed social interaction.  Direct eye contact, civility, reading body language, etc.   Plus, if they could, kids would have the cell phone would be out 24/7.  Perhaps it is becoming socially acceptable to text while having a conversation with a real live person out at a restaurant.  Perhaps it is becoming acceptable to always be available to talk by phone; if it rings, you answer it.  Perhaps it is becoming acceptable to let the world know what you are doing every second of every day (Yes, I am a FB user, and I do post my status occasionally).   Where is the line?  Whatever happened to privacy? Whatever happened to downtime? What ever happened to real friends?  

I worry about all of this because from an evolution point of view our bodies and minds are not designed to always be on.  New York may be the city that never sleeps, but our bodies and our brains do need to sleep.  We are not capable of the constant stimulation (or the instant gratification). Something has to give, although I'm not sure what it is.

And yet, as a society, we seem to go on, driven by our need to get more NOW, do more NOW.  Parents are working two or three jobs to maintain the lifestyle they choose (or feel the need) to create for themselves.  There is this outside pressure that chants "More, More, More" incessantly.  Again, it is the children who suffer.  Many kids have very little meaningful contact with parents, but instead are left at home staring at some sort of screen.  We don't know what the long-term effects of this behavior are.  The hand-eye coordination, I'm sure, is much better in this set of kids, but what about their attention spans? Or, their ability to behave appropriately in social circles.  Or the opportunity to learn from older generations (vertical learning) as opposed from their peers (horizontal learning).

The other group that suffers are the millions of workers who are producing the goods that we demand.  I admit, I was glued to my computer screen watching the streaming video of the Chilean miner rescue.  There are no words to describe the strength and perseverance of the miners or all of those individuals and groups who assisted in rescuing them.  It was helpful to see good news (even if it was sensationalized) when we are usually constantly bombarded with stories of violence, sadness, death.  Unfortunately, only a few days later, we got news of a mine collapse in China.   Around the same time, my brother shared the beginning of one recent Simpson's episodes where they portray the darker side of large-scale commodity production (come to think of it, is there a lighter side?).   I am convinced that if we reverted back to local economies the demand for such large mining operations (and other forms of production) where safety and human welfare is sacrificed for money would diminish. 

But of course, my students remind me (after we read "The Sacred Rac" in my class) that at this point it is highly improbably that we could return to local economies.  Our very infrastructure is set up to require transportation to a commercial center, to purchase food that was produced thousands of miles away, to require transportation to go to school, to use energy that was harvested on the other side of the world.   How do we go back?  Never mind that big corporations are going to do their best to keep us wanting more.  After all, it's all about the bottom dollar.   And that, my friends, is the sad conclusion.   We have sacrificed our sense of self, our sense of social responsibility to our fellow human being and to our environment, our sense of creative thought.  All in the name of what?  Progress? Money?  We need to slow down, think about the consequences of our actions and consider this question: Just because we can, does it mean we should?

Addendum:  After drafting this post, my darling husband mentioned Bill McKibben's work to me, which I had heard about, but, unfortunately, I have not read much of.  I look forward to reading his book, Deep Economy: the Wealth of Communities and the Durable Future.

As Easy as Pie

I just finished making an apple pie using the recipe from "New Basics" by Julee Rosso and Sheila Lukins as a guideline. Making a pie from "scratch" (Carl Sagan reminds us that if we truly want to make an apple pie from scratch we must first create the universe) isn't really that difficult, although I know the thought of having to make a pie crust terrifies some people. Two hints: Chill the dough first, and then have plenty of flour on hand. I also roll the dough up around the rolling pin to transfer it to the pie dish.

Anyway, the phrase "as easy as pie" doesn't make much sense in today's context, because it is time consuming and as mentioned before, somewhat intimidating. I suppose however, this wasn't always the case. Pies (both sweet and savory) were a staple of American (and European) tables in the nineteenth century. So what happened?

Enter my first foray into modern education on this blog. We no longer teach the practical arts in our schools, and it's been this way for a while so now kids' parents can't teach them either (or they are never home, or they don't consider it a priority because of the ways we can get around not learning these skills). First, in the 1980's, was the loss of home economics. I never "learned" how to sew, and I certainly didn't "learn" how to cook. Through trial and error and a few lessons with my mom, I can replace a button and hem a pair of pants. I am indebted to my maternal grandmother for teaching me how to knit when I was about 6 years old. Now "shop" class (usually called technology education or industrial arts these days ) is also on the way out. Kids will no longer have the opportunity to design and build a birdhouse, a framed bulletin board, storage box, etc. It really wasn't the finished product that made these projects so integral to a sound education, but the process kids had to go through to create the end results. The measuring, the mistakes, the safety lessons, and the pride that that process instills when the project is finally finished and you have this beautiful, useful item. With the loss of these programs, kids sit in a classroom and are inundated with information about many different subjects, rarely learning skills that will be necessary later on in life, when they can no longer depend on their parents.

Over the last twenty years, the K-12 curriculum has become overstuffed with thousands of objectives that need to be taught (whether they are actually meaningfully learned is another subject all together). Kids are tested up to whazoo on all these different facts but their critical thinking skills, never mind the practical ones, are hardly ever evaluated. Educational administrators and policy makers have forgotten that our paradigm of learning has shifted with the information age. Any information kids need is right at their fingertips. Yet we spend 6 hours a day tossing more information at them. But what students don't have at most schools are the opportunities to create meaningful final products with their hands, to participate cooperatively in activities, to learn the business skills for life outside of high school or the practical skills such as how to fix a flat tire or change the oil in the car.

Part of the problem is that we live in a consumer culture and that culture is reinforced by the education system. There's no need to learn how to change the oil in the car because you can always take it to Jiffy Lube. No need to construct your own fine furniture...just buy it. No need to learn how to darn socks--just buy a new pair. No need to learn how to cook (and serve) a healthy family meal--you can pick up fully prepared meals at a grocery store or restaurant. I'm not suggesting that everyone should become an expert in all of these areas but students should have the opportunity to become exposed to these valuable trades, not only to help themselves in the future, but to also see what options there are in terms of professions. For many school districts, all that kids need to know is how to perform well on standardized tests including SATs so they can go to the top colleges (also a product of our consumer culture), come out with a Bachelors and no idea what they are good at or where they are going after school.

Schools often use fiscal constraints as a scapegoat for not bringing the practical arts back into the curriculum. But there would be plenty of money if we were to eliminate the focus on mandated testing (the amount of money spent on state testing is ridiculous) and there would be flexibility in the curriculum to teach these meaningful concepts as well. Policy makers, educators and parents really need to think about what testing shows us about students. That they are able to answer multiple choice questions and write essays based on documents? That they can memorize facts (without really understanding the hows and whys)? Where is the real creative thinking? Where is the real applied knowledge? Where are the practical skills that everyone needs in life? Just some points to ponder while nibbling on that apple pie.