A Pedagogical Success? A Supply Side Young Republican Meets the Human Face of the Great Recession

[Oilwellian]

I don't fancy myself one of those change a life by leading a college class type of instructors. Those who teach at the primary and secondary school level have more solid claims on that power than those who teach at colleges and universities. Why? Most of the answer lies in the fact that we live in an age where a college degree is obligatory. Thus, we deal more with snowflakes who are clocking in time for the necessary credits, than we do with young intellectuals who believe that knowledge and learning can be transformative.

All those qualifiers noted, there are still moments where I have to repress a smile as a student has a lightbulb moment. These instances of critical self-awareness can come from growth where before there was weakness and intellectual flaccidity; these same moments can also occur when a student realizes that they played themselves, their priors now dispelled, and basic fictions about how the world works beyond their own ego upset.

Because I am a sadist I like the first, but I revel in the latter...forgive me that trait for I was trained by Jesuits.

This quarter I am blessed with a good group of students. Although many are still finding their way, for the most part they are engaged and curious. I am doubly fortunate to have an arch-conservative as my interlocutor. There is no malice, this student simply asks good questions which proceed from a set of ideological priors that he has yet to realize are not universal. Moreover, my conservative charge has yet to realize that not all opinions are created equal, and that Fox News talking point conservatism is utterly dishonest as it is based precisely on a rejection of empirical reality in the pursuit of a narrow political agenda.

The first moment came in our discussing the myth of meritocracy, American exceptionalism, and the Great Recession where he recycled the standard story of how America is a great country of opportunity, the best country in the world in fact, as well as the most productive, innovative, and most dynamic economy that has ever been seen on this planet.

I queried, "how does the Great Recession and the fact that America has decreasing rates of intergenerational mobility, a shrinking middle class, and is solidly subpar in education, health, and many other measures, complicate your narrative of American greatness?"

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/09/28/1020913/-A-Pedagogical-Success-A-Supply-Side-Young-Republican-Meets-the-Human-Face-of-the-Great-Recession

[geardaddy]

1. K and R

Fantastic post!

[OHdem10]

2. Love those "Jebbies". I just wish our Democrats and our Media

would take your very Jesuit-like question and break
it into parts and force Republicans to answer it
part by part. I only say this because all Americans
might not follow it.(No, I am not a snob). Have become
obseessed with importance of our side making strong
points.

It was perfect for your student, however.

It has baffled me that our side has not shredded
this Conservative Economic Fundamentalism, illustrating
once and for all that these "Free Market Principles"
have created a system in which the same rich people
get richer and the poor get poorer and the middle class
is desttoyed.

Until the ideology is is clarified for what it is,
we get no where.

Enjoyed your post.

[JDPriestly]

7. There is no way that you can truly be for a free market and

conservative at the same time. Behind the concept of a free market lie the concepts of competition, new ideas competing with old (and often triumphing over the old), allowing old concepts and organizations to be destroyed, to change, change, change and to succumb to challenges.

The conservatives do not want any of the risk that comes with a truly free market.

They want the protection of socialism without paying their dues. They are essentially leaches, and their claims that the poor are leaching the system is simply projection of the truth that they know but cannot admit to themselves.

[hifiguy]

3. Was there anything left of that smartass kid

other than a pair of smoking shoes after that riposte?

[ashling]

4. I had a student who believed that the Constitution was divinely inspired

She was writing a paper on Judicial interpretation in which she asked what do you think would have happened if the meaning of words in the 10 commandments had been questioned when Moses brought them down from the mountain, and proceeded to quote all 10 in the paper.

[geardaddy]

5. I love this quote:

"An important detail for context and flavor: The students in my classes run the gamut from working class, to the poor, to the solidly middle class, and also include a sprinkling of the born on the third base of life trustafarians who believe they hit a triple in life crowd. "

Emphasis added.

[JDPriestly]

8. Is your website Galic, Welsh, Icelandic? What language?

[geardaddy]

9. It's a Welsh site in Wales that promotes learning Welsh.

It's not my site, just one that I like. :)

The English translation is "Language Initiatives Wales"

[JDPriestly]

13. Thank you. Very interesting.

[JDPriestly]

6. Wonderful!

[DirkGently]

10. This is why teachers & professors are the enemy. They threaten the airless bubble of ideology.

Edit: A really terrific piece, by the way.

[Blue_Tires]

11. I had a little success during a student discussion recently

when they were quoting their bible verses and their "homosexuality is a choice!" memes... (sadly three-fourths of the students in the audience raised their hand when I asked how many thought it was a 'choice'...there is still much work to do)

[Oilwellian]

12. Kick back to the top n/t

[Martin Eden]

14. Thanks -- Loved it K&R n/t