What is Freedom?

: the absence of necessity, coercion, or constraint in choice or action~ MW

The absence of necessity? Necessity: the state of being at need. Need for food, water, shelter.

Coercion: the power to impose one’s will on to another. (Business model’s peak goal)

Constraint in choice- the power to choose, from limited options… (phone service, food, water, housing… is it a choice, or a coin toss between two evils? Is it a choice or an alternative?)

Questions: 1- do you really have freedom? 2- do you really want freedom? 3- can you really handle freedom?

“People do not really want freedom, because freedom involves responsibility and most people are frightened of responsibility.” Sigmund Freud

Time is the Universal measure of Freedom.

“Doing Time” is a colloquial for spending time in jail.  Jail is punishment for doing a crime, and “if you can’t do the time, don’t do the crime.”  (According to a 1970’s cop-show, Baretta, and later Spongebob Squarepants).  Credibility. 

It is a crime not to go to school.  I repeat, it is a crime… NOT to go to school.  So, punishment for not attending a coerced economic-political institution is to go to another coerced economic-political institution.  For what? Being born? If you don’t go to school, you could go to jail.  School or jail?  What a choice in a ‘free country’. 

Prisons take away freedoms, so the incinerated are ‘not free to commit more crimes’. 

Schools take up time to teach freedoms, and if you don’t go to school, you are not, what, free…?  (Head scratcher)

If schools take up time, and time is freedom, then schools are taking freedom.  Kids are “doing time” every day with the hope of… freedom?  You know this when “It’s time for everyone to stand and chant together about “liberty and justice for all”. 

Take time to pledge allegiance to a free society that takes your time and freedom.  

Too tired to think about this stuff?  Don’t have the time? Perfect. Enjoy your freedom. 

https://bostonreview.net/class-inequality-law-justice/mike-konczal-time-universal-measure-freedom

Wasted Time.

“The time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time.” (numerous claims to the quote).

and the time wasted with witless meetings, unnecessary homework, ‘mandatory’ classes that stifles creativity is absolutely wasted time- unless you enjoy it. I do not.

Interestingly, when asked “what do you do with your time?” There is a weirdness and a pregnant pause for me. If I tell people what I really do, I get a dazed and confused, sometimes pitiful or condescending look followed by a comment- “awe, good for you” but it’s more like I just got out of a mental institution ‘taking it easy’ and enjoying my ‘wasted time’.

In our society, if your time is not being used for profit it is considered a waste. Usually the profits benefit others -bm’s- rather than ourselves, but we tell ourselves and each other that we are being ‘productive’ members. (I wonder where we get that message?)

As a teacher, I could rattle off all the ‘quite verily important rigorous tasks’- “oy, I’ve got grading, lesson planning, preparing kids to fill in bubbles on a test. A test that both threatens the future of kids and is meaningless in the long run. But it sounds very important.

Wasted: “unprofitably used or expended”. “Laid waste”. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wasted

That’s me. Unprofitable, expendable, laid to waste.

And it is scarily scrumptious. It is also NOT for the weak. Not being profitable is not easy, but it’s a lot more satisfying, personally speaking. No, I’m not going to go into what I ‘do’. But what about you? How do you spend YOUR time?

The last time someone asked “yea, but what do you DO?” I just said, “nothing”.

And to do nothing is really something! Try it. I dare ya.

Time After Time!

Institutions instill psychological conditioning techniques- socially, politically and economically- and then use additional psychological techniques (socially, politically economically and intellectually) to place blame on individuals gaslighted by said psychological conditioning techniques. 

It’s big BM’s (business model’s) signature move. Business models seldom deviate from this pattern of control because it works. For “them”. 

Examples:

#1 Sin industries: Alcohol, tobacco, junk food, pharmaceuticals, 

Socially- clever ads designed and targeted to prey on insecurities in order to swoon kids into anesthetized states of mind. Opium wars 2.0. 

Politically- influence and finance politicians to literally buy into the ‘regulation of sin’- thus making all this ‘legal’.

Economically- cha ching- it works. We would not see ads if it didn’t ‘work'.  Legalized Personalized propaganda intended strictly for BM profits. 

Conclusion- Exploit peoples disfunction, make it legal, pass it on to already inherited BM profiteers- thus keeping it in the very small family. 

But wait, there’s more!  Use some of those profits into more buying more ads- shifting attitudes on ‘sin thinking’.  Create ‘information’ and ‘news’ articles blaming “abusers”- you know- the alcoholic, the smoker, the fatty, the druggie.  More insecurities arise, yep, you guessed it, more profits. For?

#2 Technology as an institution:

S- Everything about technology is socially and psychologically seductive.  Socially apt apps create illusions of connectivity, that ultimately leave us sad thus craving more.  Look to a phone instead of a person- human connection.  Phones offer Ring tones, vibrations, colors, personalization devours our senses as planned. As Planned!

P- Regulate it, but put the responsibility on the user, not the institutor.  Mass campaigns mechanized to get kids hooked on technology cleverly and simultaneously plant fear, guilt and shame articles in the technically driven news feeds.  Articles instructing parents to ‘limit screen time” or else… shift the blame to parents, not the puppet masters…

E- planned obsolescence.  An industrial design to purposely and artificially manufacture technology to fail, thus creating more consumption.

Sure, then blame children and parents and teachers-time after time.  Turn us against each other while we subconsciously praise ‘technological advancements’ and ‘worship’ the profiteers (we love to woo the money makers).  Profiteers profiting off our addictions, our vulnerabilities, our pain that BM’s helped to contrive.

Keep clicking “accept” after scrolling and subsequently NOT reading 100 pages of technical legal jargon that clever lawyers couldn’t even decipher. Keep clicking “accept” because it puts culpability on your finger, you, and not the institutions.  Facebook vs Congress for example.  Two institutions in the same bed squirming to not get caught in the act.  

#3 Schools

S- condition kids young. 

P- make it not only legal, but compulsory as to enforce complacency. 

E- make money off the backs of children, cuz, why not, they are vulnerable. (kids have lip$, and we want them.)

Historically, NO global empire can rise without some sort of ‘educational’ control.  None.  Money and politics as is- cannot exist as is without consent. Period. Consent cannot occur without pre-school training. Conditioning. Sit down, shut up, do what you are told. 

Sin industries, technology, schools, prisons as institutions repeat the same pattern.  Look for it.  Be silent and see it in local grocery stores, gas stations, fast food chains, tv… watch how all follow the BM standard.

If you are open, you can start to see it globally.  

Pop quiz:

Is it in the best interest to promote ‘democracy’ or a dictatorship for BM’s?

Think Latin America.  Is it more profitable to make countries poorer or richer? Poorer countries are more easily susceptible to manipulation and economic control.  BM’s systematically keep countries poor, and then blame ‘their’ culture for ‘their’ failure. Enslave peoples and call them lazy when ‘productivity’ drops.  Look at your labels, where are they made?

Haiti is great-y when Disney (copyright) uses workers (child labor) to make toys for children.  *See Mickey Mouse Goes to Haiti*  

Time after time- BM’s construct institutions to maintain a hierarchy which strictly benefits the top BM’s.  

It’s About Time!

and Monopolies monopolizing each and every minute of it!  BM’s (business models) objectives aims to occupy time so it is occupied by anyone but ourselves.  

Take schools, for example. A typical day is to see kids at a bus stop early, blurry-eyed standing around darkened corners well before sunrise in October wearing black hoodies.  

High school kids (at least) then have 5-6 classes lasting 50 to 90 minutes of mostly sitting.  Sit down, shut up and listen to lectures that mostly won’t help you today or ever.  Tick Tock, look at the clock, you are only getting older. 

Lunch is a tight 25 minutes to drive and get take out. (Yes, it might be nicer to bring a lunch, but no time for that eh?) 

After school activities include jobs, sports, family, commitments, work from work- lasting into late evenings.

Don’t forget about home-work on top of that.  More work added to a 8-10 hour day.  Heavily pushed AP classes add even more time suck-age. 

Meanwhile, kids want to stay connected to friends. So more time is then occupied by screens riddled with ads taking up more time.

Many kids then stay up late in order to find time to chat- to connect- you know, to be a kid.  Precious time to share or just be alone.  Awake and buzzing from the day into wee hours of the morn.

Alarm rings- stumble to the kitchen- try to come to life- blurry eyed heading out the door in order to stand around that same darkened corner with others sharing similar experiences.  

Semester after semester; year after year; hoping to reach that what? Friday? Holiday? Retirement?  Death?  

Meanwhile kids are suffering needlessly with superfluous conditioning by monopolies monopolizing their time- occupy kids minds so they don’t get to.  Cradle to grave- it’s about time.  

“Your time is limited,

So don’t wast it living someone else’s life.  Don’t be trapped by dogma- which is lining with the results of other peoples thinking.  Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice.  And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition.  They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.”  

~Steve Jobs

A Riddle:

“This thing all things devours;
Birds, beasts, trees, flowers;
Gnaws iron, bites steel;
Grinds hard stones to meal;
Slays king, ruins town,
And beats mountain down.”

Gollum to Bilbo Baggins, The Hobbit

Answer: Time

“Kids Count!”

was a cozy bumpersticker adhered to a metal fine cabinet in my first classroom.

My first thought was- geese, I sure hope kids can count by the time they get to high school- 1,2,3,… (ha)

My second thought was promising.  Kids count, meaning kids matter.  I agree, but became disillusioned after teaching for 29.4 years. I believed schools were designed to help kids and society. Naive of me.

I believe kids count for a labour force. Used for profits.

Here is an example. I once stumbled upon a memorable quote by a tobacco representative: 

“They got lips? We want them.”

This was the answer given to Terrence Sullivan, sales representative for R.J. Reynolds, when he asked the company which young people they were targeting — junior high kids or even younger? R.J. Reynolds, 1990 https://the84.org/get-the-facts/tobacco-executive-quotes/. 

Kids are a highly marketed tool and today is October 1st.  Schools yearly “head count”.  Teachers are encouraged to give ‘incentives’ to keep kids at school.  More kids counted = more money.  Simple. No field trips, no tests, nothing too strenuous to discourage attendance, even illness. 

From colleges to AP classes; from chrome books to data collecting- Kids count. They account for big profits for big BM’s (business management styles)!  Kids have data? BM’s want them! 

I’m a pre-re-semi- retiree.

Speaking of Labor Day- A day dedicated to the working class until they ‘retire’…. Let’s break it down:

Pre- prior to

Re- anew; re- “a drop of golden sun”

Semi- partly or somewhat

Tired- overworked, broken down, enfeebled

So, is a re-tired person the opposite of tired?  Somewhat? Anew? Prior to being “sapped and worn to a frazzle?”

Leave it to a thesaurus to feel “refreshed, rejuvenated, relaxed, rested, revitalized”.. re-tired?

The thing is I don’t feel retired.  I still feel like a teacher/ student. (I have not received my “retirement” checks after 29.4 years of teaching, so no data to show as of yet).  But I dew feel re-newed, sort of- I don’t feel the taxation of administration.  I don’t wake up stressed and burdened with meaningless meetings on top of weighty student discomfort. 

And I never wake up NOT thinking about school and the education system and my beloved students who have endured far too much discomfort necessary for fulfillment, eudiamonia, or even moderate solace.  More serenity in an already hurly-burly world iso eager to appease. 

I am re-tired.  More awake.  A pre-re.  The opposite of a preemie, something born prematurely,  a pre-re is something acquired late. Postmortem.  Like a ghost, I wish to whisper cautionary tales to those unsullied in education as of yet… 

It seems like the name of the game is retirement.  “Once I retire I will______.”  Problem is we become so conditioned we don’t know what to do with the time once we have it.  Yes? Buying our way to some sort of deliverance from what- life?

Once Friday is here then my life will improve.  No? Ok, how about the next holiday! Not yet? Surly next year will reign supreme.  Still no?  What about when you graduate, get married, get a job, have kids, wait for kids to walk, talk, and eventually leave.  Get a house, buy a car, get that promotion, lose weight, get buff.  Essentially,  live for the next corner until the coroner. Isn’t that what we are doing?  Selling sanctuary when it is here all along.  

Wait for retirement- and enjoy being really-tired until then, you know, when you are old and more naturally tired and ‘enfeebled’. Then, and only then, closer to death, we can be “happy”? 

Labor Day

When did some schools start weeks before Labor Day?  That is a question not easily answered.  Across the nation- schools have curious start dates. Which leads to more curious questions.

Isn’t it ironic that on Labor Day, businesses sell more and more cheap stuff?  Buy a cheap mattress- because you’re not getting enough sleep. You’re not getting enough sleep because you are too stressed from work. You are too stressed from work because it’s just too much, too much work- too much unsolicited labor.

So, we employ more workers to sell more cheap goods which ignores the arduous labor that laborers laid foundation for change- hence Labor Day. 

Instead of supporting the working class- the laborers- we continue to enable this system of oppression buy buying cheap goods.  But at what cost?

Oh sure, ask business management (bm’s) folks about schools and Labor Day and you will get an ear full of BM’s rhetoric.  Do you believe them?

Schools start before labor day for money (that is my assessment). No matter what jargon you hear- Year after year, day by day, inch by daily inch, bm’s whittle away at our precious time, confuse our senses with ads, and create legislation dictating the labor force- starting with schools.  Who do you believe?

And we literally buy into this hurried, life sucking system instead of stopping to take a breath, take a quiet nap on a plain ole worn mattress. Wake up. Can you?

Dolly Parton’s 9 to 5 Thesis

As juxtaposed to Martin Luther’s 95 Thesis

(Or in this case- 40 Thesis combined)

Martin Luther challenged corruption of the Catholic Church in the 15oo’s.  Dolly Parton honestly writes about day to day struggles within corruption in the workplace in the 1980’s. 

Church controlled education in the 16th century in order to remain in power. Religious and political philosophies got blurred and maligned.    

Corporations control education in the 20th to 21st Centuries in order to remain in power. Economic and political philosophies get blurred and maligned.  Let’s take a look at the lyrics:

Tumble outta bed and stumble to the kitchen

~blurry and in a hurry

Pour yourself a cup of ambition

~consume caffeine copiously  

Yawn and stretch and try to come to life

~how sad to have to try to ‘come to life’

Jump in the shower and the blood starts pumping

~how sad indeed, hurried lovely shower for work

Out on the street, the traffic starts jumping

~road rage 

With folks like us on the job from 9 to 5

~most of us working ‘stiffs’ 

Working 9 to 5, what a way to make a living

~mindless jobs dubbed “a living”

Barely getting by, it's all takin’ and no givin’

~income and wealth inequities 

They just use our minds, and they never give us credit

~mine the minds of minors

It’s enough to drive us crazy and we let it

~literally, but what choice do we have? 

9 to 5, for service and devotion

~as long as you play the game

You would think that we would deserve a fat promotion

~algorithms of oppression won’t allow

Want to move ahead

~to an inherited position nearly impossible to achieve

But the boss won’t seem to let us

~why would they? 

I Swear sometimes that they’re all out to get us

~to remain in power

They let us dream

~false illusions 

Just to watch ‘em shatter

~bummer, eh

We’re just a step on the boss-man’s ladder

~data analysis 

But we’ve got dreams they might just take away

~who's dreams? Yours or those false illusions? 

We’re in the same boat with a lot of our friends

~fighting each other instead of institutions 

Waitin’ for the day our ship will come in

~TGIF

N’ the tides’ going to turn and it’s all going to roll us away

As if, but keep dreaming?

9 to 5

~24-7

They got you where they want you

~Live, buy, consume, die

There’s a better life

~Of course there is- but what kind of “life”?

And you think about it don’t you

~Yes, Dolly, I do

It’s a rich man’s game

~Duh 

No matter what they call it

~”executive financiers”

And we spend our lives putting money in their wallet

~Exactly! Preach Dolly!

Working 9 to 5 

~for 95% of the population that continues to play along

Martin Luther examples- very loosely translated into ‘Modern Times’

1. #1- “Repent.” Don’t just stumble, make a commitment to personal change and live a more responsible life.

2. #3- Luther argues that the sale of indulgences and the trust in indulgences for salvation condemns both those who teach such notions and those who trust in them. (The selling of education trusting it will bring richness and happiness- is condemnable to those enforcing and supporting this system. We are all culpable)

3. #27 They preach human folly who pretend that as soon as money in the coffer rings a soul from purgatory springs. (Money for education- but is it a ‘good’ education?)

4. #32 Those who suppose that on account of their letters of indulgence they are sure of salvation will be eternally damned along with their teachers. (Those who rely on a false degree for money will be “damned”= misery, debt, unhappiness, sick.)

5. #36 Anyone should be able to get “salvation”. (Everyone should be able to pursue an honest education-regardless of finances).

6. #37- Money given to the church (or universities) would be better spent on the poor (or at least not going into mass debt).

7. # 62- Individuals receive salvation alone- that is the true gospel, not a piece of paper from even the highest human authority. (A piece of paper does not make someone educated. Self-enlightenment and true pursuit of the truth allows this alone.)

8. #78- “Preaching a false hope is really no hope at all. As a matter of fact, a false hope destroys and kills because it moves people away from (Truth), where true salvation is found.” Preach.

9. #92- Enough with “teaching peace” when there is no peace. (Enough with the shooting- lockdown drills and get to the root-truth like violence in schools)

10. #95- be confident- that through there will be many tribulations- that is better than through the false security of peace. (Pursue an honest education that aims toward self-actualization instead of pretending, even if it is challenging.)

Note: Martin Luther was an anti-semite. I know this, and if I were to abstain from ideas due to lack of character, I would have no material at all.  So indulge me. His fight against the church is the focus here.  He was disturbed about the church teaching doctrines that went against the Philosophies of the Church in 1517.  He was tormented by this and fought anyway.  

I compare the sale of indulgences (buying your way into ‘heaven’) to the school system of- buying our education.  How much real learning goes into the day to day? I’m suggesting we are buying a pice of paper.  We are not truly allowing individuals to thrive through real learning.  Real learning is the idea that what you learn will directly benefit the learner, not the business model’s off-shore bank accounts.  

Fast forward to Dolly Parton’s 9 to 5 song and movie. (Dolly you beautiful songstress and teacher!) In the movie, the secretaries tie up bureaucracy, make flexible schedules so workers can have a better, more sustainable life, help with child care, put money toward addiction counseling, and offered part time work for those who wanted a choice; and production went up because the workers were more fulfilled with their lives.  

In 1980 Dolly gave us this song. For the next three decades, however, business models- BM’s- have fought to keep this fantasy scenario from happening. Schools are designed to support the 9 to 5 grind. Cells and bells.

No, It is Not ok for the kids to be Not ok! Ok?

After dismissing kids mental issues for decades there has been a recent acknowledgment of- “the kids are not ok, and that is ok.” I get it, start to concede to the fact that the kids are, in fact not alright. It’s a good start. For some. My perspective is that this becomes another quick fix. Hey, we can admit it so it makes for a good one liner.

Can we take it to the next level yet? WHY are the kids not alright? They have not been alright for a long time. And I’m talking pre-covid (which added a whole new DEFCON level of psychological destruction on our children). School shootings are not enough? School related suicides are not enough? All the bad’s- racism, misogyny, wealth gap, you know the list. It’ all is structured, conjured and perpetuated in education.

The next level for me is to slowly (or quickly) break down public education and then build it back up with more enlightened thinking, long term, rational and reasonable sustainability for the best interest of posterity. For more Liberty and a drive for better Justice for All, especially groups that have had limited liberties and Unjustness for far too long.

Of course the kids are not alright! and any humane society would protect and defend kids when they are not alright. DEFCON alert! Level RED. Maximum readiness, Immediate response necessary…. and here comes the inevitable- “but how are you planning on fixing it?” This is a no quick fix situation. However, reading, thinking, discussing, challenging and doing your part is the start. Look at your self, your own family’s “non- alright-y-ness”. Start small, think big.

Stop teaching girl empowerment.

Because I think it is more cruel to teach girls ‘empowerment’ than  the realities of the Modernity. We should teach girls their bodies will be judged and scrutinized their entire lives.  That their bodies will never really be their own. And with that body- their mind and spirit leashed accordingly. Owned. Teach girls that it is ok to “grab em,” humiliate them, minimize them while also magnifying exaggerated female features of them. 

Because while prepubescent girls have magical powers.  Powers of imagination, powers of curiosity and a genuine light. That light will soon be dimmed.  So better to brace them for impact. Prepare ‘em young.

Teach girl inferiority.  

Because it’s already in the language.  Synonyms for inferior are: boss, chief, foreman, headman, headmaster, kingpin, master, captain… superior.  

Because it’s everywhere. Ever watch a movie or show where a woman wakes up with no make up? Me neither. And you won’t notice until you notice. Women in crisis, escaping fires, giving birth, “reality shows” show women made-up consistently. Now, you might start rummaging through your brain or you might start paying more attention and trying to prove this wrong.  You might find an exception to the rule, but  it is still the rule.  So the lesson is: girls and women need to look less natural, less real, less human.  

Because it’s already playing out economically, politically, socially, intellectually, and scientifically.  Women still get paid less, are politically underrepresented, socially molested, intellectually patronized, and scientifically undervalued. Why teach them “yes you can!” only later to be told with actions that, no you really can’t?

Look up girl books and they are riddled with girl empowerment.  Juxtapose that with lists of politicians, comedians, ceo’s, producers, coaches, influencers that have adversarially influenced the lives of so so many women. So so cruelly and negatively.  Teach girls you can become a Doctor of Psychology, testify on sexual ‘allegations’ only to be dismissed and watch your accuser become a supreme court judge that has power over women’s reproductive rights. Again.  

How about children’s books like this? “Yes, Sweetie, You are smart- but will still never president.”  “It’s good to be a girl, until it’s not.”  “Malala. You may be an activist, but you had to get shot in the head first.”  “Girl, if you want to be a gymnast…we need to talk”  “Are you there Harvey? it’s me Hollywood.”  “Women are A lesser cut of meat”: And more hilarious quotes from senators.” “A girls guide to boys locker room talk.”  “Miss. Information a guide to fe-male re-production.” 

Let’s keep encouraging gender reveal parties. Pink and blue.  Only, let’s make pink a color of mourning.  A death of the soul if you are born a girl.  Disempower women in education as early as possible so can we spare them a lesser whip.  

There once was a girl

“There once was a girl- 

Who had a little curl right in the middle of her forehead

When she was good, she was very very good

Bit when she was bad she was horrid.”

My dad used to recite this little bed time limerick to me as a kid.  It stuck.  It stuck because I had curls. This is a Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s poem, and I have some questions for ya Mr. Wadsworth.  So what’s the message to curly hair girls here Henry? “Horrid”, Henry?  Really? Your assessment is that if you have curls, and are a girl, you could go only go one of twos ways?  Let me rephrase that. Good or horrid were my choices?  Boy, that’s a stickler Henry.  Synonyms for horrid are: gross, nasty, noxious, obscene, scandalous and ugly.  Synonyms for good include… Ok, actually they include words like- actual, real, true, informed, logical, levelheaded, plausible, respected and principled.  I like those.  I strive for those, but I don’t think that is the connotation you intended.  Am I right, Henry? More fitting synonyms for this context would be: agreeable, congenial, obedient, pleasing, and pretty.  I wanted to be good to be very very good, Henry. Unfortunately, fast forward fifty years and I failed. Turns out I am bad, very very bad.  Horrid indeed.  I tried to be good, you know agreeable, amenable compliant, and submissive. Turns out that didn’t work so well.  Like my curls, I am uncontrollable, wild and unruly.  I don’t know what went wrong H.W.  Honestly I don’t.  But I think it has something to do with my curly hair as you originally suggested.  Sure enough, in 2003 Jack White and the White Stripes later substantiated your 19th century poem when he wrote: “cut up your hair, straighten your curls, your problems hide in your curls.” in Little Acorns. Note taken. 

Non sequitur here. … As a historian, I also have some questions about your other poems.  The Ride of Paul Revere and the Song of Hiawatha specifically. Paul Revere was recited in schools for the last century in America.  Your poem was used as historical evidence in classrooms and created substantial misconceptions in the minds of young Americans. I heard Paul himself was uncomfortable to acknowledge fame from your prose.  I read he disapproved of his own recognition from your fictional ride about him and refused tribute to it on his tombstone.  I don’t know Henry, is any of this true?

The Song of Hiawatha also became debated in schools, absorbed in English classes and later parodied in the media.  Your vivid descriptions of Native Americans were revived in the 1940’s.  Another time of war propaganda.  Stereotypical “Indians” condescendingly dressed in colorful mock frocks. Traditional dignified Native American garments reduced to ridicule from your poem.  Example: “Hiawatha’s Rabbit Hunt,” starring a one mr. Bugs Bunny (copyright).  It became commonplace in cartoons.  Indians portrayed as simple- minded school children popularized with a single feather in a headband, black braids and big dopy eyes that induce pity.

Is that what you wanted Henry?  I don’t think I’ll ever know, but I have a hunch what happened, and I want to believe that you just wanted to write.  Write about cool stuff and cool stories.  Whats the harm, right?  My suspicion is that your words were used out of context and capitalized on by the current chiefs in charge. (no sad pun intended).  ‘Managers’ turned your words about civilized peoples and one fictitious Revolutionary ridder into characters, mascots and maligned morons.  Your vivid descriptions became Halloween costumes and scripted school plays.  You became a celebrity and the masses bought it.  

Now, I don’t want to make you feel bad Mr. Wadsworth.  Feel a butt coming on?  Just so you know, from your time (the late 19th century) to 1996, tens of thousands of indigenous children were taken from their parens and “re-educated” by cruel Catholic institutions.  Just last week I read that in Kamlops British Columbia the bodies of 215 school children were found in a an unmarked mass grave. I don’t think this is your fault Henry, and I don’t think as many people would have been complicit with those catastrophes if your words were not propagated. 

Your words influenced generations of learners from curly haired girls being taught to acquiesce- to an unfortunate factitious his-story poem about an un-hero thought to be a literal reenactment boasting conquest from the ‘victors’.   Those victors then exploited your words and taught others to dehumanize Indigenous individuals through the clever use of lyrics in the classroom.  I’m leaving this with a cautionary tale Henry.  I think I’ll be ok, as I am not a writer, like you, as I have been told by teachers, you know students from your generation, that told me because I don’t write as good as you, I am not a writer.  So, my words should be safe. Thanks. 

Stop with the Mindfulness

Some schools are trying into bring in a ‘new word’: mind-ful-ness.

But schools are more like Mind-Less-Ness.  Now that makes more sense.  If schools are run by businesses then the LESS mindful the better right?  Think about it.  The better to see you, hear you, manipulate you my dear.  The less you know of yourself the more the bm (business model) can tell you to…. finish that sentence.  

Who you really are? Who are you really? 

Mindfulness becomes another trope word. Another faculty meeting topic. Think of a peppy teacher leader voice saying “We need mindfulness in the classroom…because kids are too stressed.” 

Now, let’s have meeting on top of meeting- meet the hell out of that word then practice the exact opposite. Daily.

It’s ‘mindfulness’ couched in data collecting couched in guilt and shame that you the teacher are not doing more.  Always more. 

No time for the mindful.  

It’s amazingly orchestrated.  What appears to be an emergency call for the health and wellbeing of kids turns into a rue for the wicked time-consumers of industry.  

“Keep Calm and Carry on” But For what? and For whom?

“Keep Calm and Carry on” was A slogan designed by the Ministry of Information in Britain after WWI. The MOI was established and financed under the crown and was responsible for education and propaganda. 

Here is how I read it: Don’t get angry at the status quo of war and destruction, we need you to stay calm and optimistic while you are being bombed, so you can carry on the bomb-making jobs that militarism creates to carry on war and destruction.  To be continued… through WWII. 

Interesting how that slogan popped up currently, And consequently- after an antique road show poster find.  Re-branded in an era of climate catastrophes, encouraged by corporations constant craving for consumerism; Keep calm and carry on creates a compliant convenient creed. Stop complaining, and carry on the work of cavalrymen. 

The traditional sign for KCCO is under a crown.  Is it a  symbol of citizens best interest, or keeping the monarchy in power?  Either way let queen-y press an index finger onto your piqued lips to hush disquieted dissonance. Who are we carrying on for today?  “Calm down folks.” “Nothing to get upset about here kids.”  Don’t get angry at the status quo of classroom conformity, we need you to stay placid sunshiny and obedient so you can carry on the business model credo. 

I don’t know about ya’ all but when someone tells me to “calm down", I qualm up! Like someone making a sexist joke and then telling me to calm down, “it’s just a joke”.  Catch 22. If I get angry, I’m a hysterical woman and not taken seriously; laugh along and I’m a traitor to my own sense of humanity.  Catch 22.  Another war- themed phrase for another day.  Until then, seek truth, get angry, know thyself. https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20200723-how-anger-can-be-put-to-good-use But it comes with a caveat- a warning:

“ANYBODY can become angry, that is easy; but to be angry with the right person, and to the right degree, and at the right time, and for the right purpose, and in the right way, that is not within everybody's power, that is not easy.” Aristotle, The Art of Rhetoric.  https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/aristotle-rhetoric/

https://www.forbes.com/quotes/642/

“All you have to do is follow three simple rules. One, never underestimate your opponent. Expect the unexpected. Two, take it outside. Never start anything inside the (classroom) unless it's absolutely necessary. And three, be nice.”  “I want you to be nice until it's time to not be nice.” Dalton, Roadhouse Rules. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0098206/characters/nm0000664

Know Thyself.  Think for yourself. 

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/psychology-tomorrow/201802/know-thyself-is-not-just-silly-advice

Reasons why you feel tired all the time- and what to do about it.

When I research the word “tired” I get a litany of articles advising tired individuals to seek individual help.  Here are some examples of what you can do to commandeer sleepiness  and my personal commentary as to why you are tired and what you can do to commandeer sleepiness.  

“12 reason you feel tired all the time and what to do about it:”

1. Diet: Right, well Skipping meals is a reality of this system. I had a student once say “Ms. Newson we don’t have eating disorders anymore we just don’t have time to eat.”

2. Vitamin deficiency: Vitamin D is produced by the sun, and we don’t let kids see the sun. Trapped in a box, cells and bells for 10 hours a day, is not a thriving environment for kids.

3. Lack of sleep: No duh! But the lack of sleep is a direct product of institutions creating an environment of lack of sleep. Hurried, busy lives in the name of productivity leaves little time for rest.

4. Being overweight: Right! Sit kids in desks for 8-10 hour a day can cause tiredness. And lack of activity causes some to be overweight. But then put it back on the individuals to ‘fix’ a problem that is systematic at its core.

5. Sedentary lifestyle: see #4.

6. Stress: Fight-or-flight response. Exactly! And what is the cause of an increase in cortisol and adrenaline surge preparing your body to deal with chronic stress? School! School is the cause of stress, and then we read articles about how YOU, individual students needs to manage the stress which is caused by school to begin with.

7. Depression: Again, let’s leave it to kids to “talk to your doctor” or a “mental health counselor” or better yet, (for BM’s) prescribe medication for anti-depressants instead of looking at the root cause.

8. Sleep disorders: I used to be an insomniac, until I left school.

9. - 12: Serious biological issues creating tiredness. Fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, Diabetes, all contribute to lack of sleep. Way to get scientific and make it a personal endeavor to get rest.

My takeaway? Stop putting the responsibility of something as basic as sleep on the individual when it is the institutions themselves creating a chronic sleepiness. That is their purpose.  Sleepy people are easier to control. Opium wars. What can you, the individual do to commandeer sleepiness?  Do less. Do less, sleep more.  

What color is your lip-switch?

Well color me conservative, Lips.  I listened to your show today and I think you pulled an ole lip switch-a-doo.  You said: “I can’t say enough…” (that’s true) but when you said, “please take covid seriously and get vaccinated?” Wait, what? That is the opposite of what you have been saying since the beginning of the pandemic. Did I misunderstand?

You didn’t admit to wearing mock-up covid hoax purple for the last year. Understandable. Who likes to look back at the bad hair and make-up days? Right, lips? You thought it looked and sounded good at the time.  In fairness, the whole Liberal Lips League changed their colors too.  Like a new fad.  I’ve been liking your new color of Red, but why the sudden change?  

I’m guessing you weren’t really defending science, (just a hunch), but I wonder who your influencers are. Money, politics or both?  It doesn’t really matter, it still looks like desperate oily  orange.  

There are a million names for lip sticks, so Lip-switch ideas could be fun. How about- “Pants on fire-engine Red”, “Tongue juggling turquoise”,  “Chartreuse charade” “Tewkesbury mustard- yellow.”  Just some ideas.  I’m trying to follow and I see some of your colors.  I would like to see you in an unassuming amaranth pink, or a come-clean citrine.  Just sayin.

Keep it up though, your colors are becoming more and more visible to the untrained eye for lips.   

Operation Cyclone

As the Taliban advances in Afghanistan in 2021, I think about lessons NOT taught in history classes but should be.  Operation Cyclone 1978, was “one of the longest and most expensive covert CIA operations ever undertaken.” The US funded the extreme Islamic group the mujahideen to counter the Soviets in the Cold war.  Still with me? 

Some simple points I would make IF I could teach this:

1. The mujahideen wanted to stop the progress of educating women, prevent re-distribution of land to farmers, preserve ancient fundamental religious ideologies.

2. The US was on board because the mujahideen went against the Soviet Union.

3. The US sent billions to this group as well as ‘non-US weapons’ as to not be detected.

4. The mujahideen, although different, became the even more radical Taliban we see today.

5. Why this matters- Same lame, simple blame game rhetoric is used in 2021 as it was in 2001. Sure -blame the current president, and every democratic and republican prez since the 1970’s.

6. Until we start teaching- and taking responsibility for US foreign policies, we will continually find ourselves in a nightmare groundhog day sort of loop.

Now, this gets more complicated, but I think it is important to teach accuracy.  When I have heard students defend the invasion of Afghanistan in 2001 and then Iraq, I wanted them to defend a position based on historical content not current political rhetoric. Actually taking time to teach some of the complexities of the middle east is not easy- and absolutely vital for critical thinking-decision making, and absolutely vacant from teaching it in schools.  

Realistically, this will not be in social studies curriculum.  Why would it? Critical thinking might reduce an army.  And the responses I get, if I even breached the topic (off topic of course), of US backed radical groups? I usually got three responses- apathy, curiosity, and antagonism.  Apathy, because these kids have problems of their own.  Understandable.  Curiosity, those who wonder why this is not taught in school.  They are curious and then get bogged down with 6 other classes so… no time to delve.  Antagonism due to students that see any perceived criticism of the US as anit-US.  

Same response every time from critics: “they (Taliban) cover their women,” Saddam was a terrorist, and the US is helping with infrastructure. 

sigh- the US prevented further liberation of women by supporting the mujahideen, the US backed Saddam in the 1980’s, and who needs help with infrastructure? Them or us? 

Instead of exploring the conversation, I get huffy students claiming- I therefore-must be a communist.  End of discussion. 

Bell rings- class over.  Many prior antagonists have wanted more conversations which I respect. Once you pass an initial shock- intelligent students start to question and appreciate being challenged.  They begin to see some of my logic which is to help the US by creating more historically savvy students.

I use this analogy to sidetrack students:  “You athletes, musicians, writers… do you want to be told how great you are all the time or do you appreciate criticism?”  Nearly 100% of serious athletes, for example, say they want some criticism. “Why?” So we can improve.  “Exactly.” 

If you get sick, do you keep going to different doctors until you hear you are well? Or do you hear the bad news and begin to remedy the situation?  

The truly tragic part for me is that I wanted to teach this stuff.  I felt hamstrung, but then watching students go to war in Afghanistan and Iraq with no real rational is on me.  I should have fought more for them to understand the situation better.  I caved into data collecting and standard tests.  Their real test was war itself.  I wish I had been a stronger cyclone. 

Operation cyclone- counterclockwise winds of change.   

There is a documentary Cold War series- CNN- (if you critics can get past that), that shows live interviews and footage.  Powerful primary resources not easily disputed. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Cyclone

Waiting for Superman? Stop.

Waiting For Superman is a School “documentary” exploring problems within public education.  

Complain about education and potential solutions? Pay attention to the sway of blame and responsibility. Listen for words like- principal, superintendent, and the president of the US. An understandable reaction. However, the more you, me, we, students deflect and blame, we perpetuate the current status quo. This concept is magnified in “Waiting For Superman”.

Funded by the Koch Brothers, the message is clear- teacher unions are a root cause of ‘failing’ schools.  Unions protect a bad teacher vs. a ‘high-performing’ teacher. 

"Students with high-performing teachers progressed three times as fast as those with low performing teachers. A bad teacher covers only fifty percent of the required curriculum in a school year. A good teacher can cover up to 150%.”

Questions: Is that a good thing? What required curriculum?  Who writes this required curriculum? Who funds the required curriculum? Who benefits from this required curriculum?  A good teacher does not question the curriculum? A good teacher obeys? 

The Koch creed is- starve public education, make it bleed so BM’s (business model’s) can feed their greed.  

There is a lottery system? Kids who are smart enough to get into college but don’t have the funds- gamble for their future.

Let’s think about this- a society that has intelligent kids that can’t afford higher education. And a society in which some kids that can afford an education might not necessarily be astute.  

Now riddle me this- what kind of society are we going to have?  What kind of society do we have?  what kind of society do you want?  Is it in the curriculum? 

Waiting for Superman or the Ubermensch? Two totally different conversations if only we had the time….  and curriculum. 

Welcome Back!

Welcome Back Kotter was a 1970’s sitcom representing a remedial classroom of about 4 to 7 “sweathogs”. An affectionate nickname (sobriquet), for this group of misfits not cut out for ‘regular’ school.  I loved this show growing up.  I have some issues with it today. 

1. Four kids to a class, for two years? I wish. Try close to 150 kids a semester.

2. The sweat hogs were in their 20’s.

3. The sweat hogs ‘problems’ had a laugh track.

4. Ironically, some states did not want to show it due to real life bussing and teacher disputes. ‘Luckily’, the content did not make teachers look bad and kids problems were not seriously discussed.

5. Mr. Kotta has no curriculum. He has time to get off topic and get real with students.

Why this matters- because tv and media portray schools as a joke, a side note, or a tragedy easily solved with a tough but clever teacher.

School as a joke- Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Ferris Buller’s Day Off, The Breakfast Club.  Kids have the power, teachers are laughable. 

A Side Note- most movies or tv shows that take place in schools but shows nothing about school.  Glee, High School Musical, Riverdale.

Easy solutions- Dangerous Minds, Stand and Deliver, Freedom Writers- Just get one ‘good teacher’ in there and kids will be alright.

From the 1950’s movies like Blackboard Jungle to Grease to Juno to, what, Bad Teacher? I don’t know of many current movies on schools, but I can predict.  I’d guess more edgy topics, but still no serious discussions about education.  

Welcome Back to the new 2021-2022 School Year.  I.School style.  

The Welcome back theme song is “Welcome Back, your dreams were your ticket out.” I like dreams, let’s go there. “Welcome back to that same old place that you laughed about.” Do you though? Laugh about those school days?  “Well the names have all changed since you hung around, and those dreams have remained…” Yes, this is an old show, and the names have changed but the system has not.  We need a new show depicting school with more serious and relevant topics. 

Calling any former film students: I have an idea for a school movie/ show.  E-mail me. :)  hotplate7@yahoo.com