Tyranny of Talk and Time

Consider the Tyranny of Talk:

Whomever controls the narrative, the Story, controls behaviors. We behave in ways that fit whatever stories we were told. What we think, become words, words become actions, actions become behavioral.

My hypothesis on this is thus… (?)

The majority of our stories derive from two places: Media and School. (I’m excluding religion because it is not mandatory). And one cannot escape the Media. Advertising.

Thus, the two major sources of where our stories come from- School and Media, are controlled by a tiny tiny triangle at the top of a mighty pyramid.

It’s not necessarily what we are learning in school, like the three R’s of reading, writing, and arithmetic (which never made sense to me as that two out of thee are not spelled with an R) anyway, It is not what we learn in school but what we are Not learning.

Math classes, for example, more than not turn kids away from math. Math phobia is a thing.

Solution from the tiny tiny triangle at the top? Blame the kids for being math illiterate. Turn the talk to blaming children… Do not focus on the leaders of institutionalized education. Nope. Blame those lazy kids for not wanting to learn (mostly unusable) math.

Literature? Do many many kids become more or less enthusiastic about reading? After required English classes assigning mandatory books, annotating poetry (which is counter intuitive). Bored? You bet.

Solution: Screens. Easy answer to intolerable realities. Created by tiny tiny triangle controlling talk. Check out. Numb with pleasurable unrealities of other peoples scripted, acted, painted, politically correct- beauty. Call it good. Get people talking.

Consider the Tyranny of Time:

Not only are our stories cleverly narrated for us, school in particular, there is also the matter of time. The time it takes away from ourselves.

What is the Opportunity Cost? Of school. What other things could you be doing? What could you be learning if it was not for the legally mandated time requited to spend in a school house? For six to eight house a day, five days a week, plus homework… (dot dot dot). For your most formative years. Ages 5 to 18. Graduation.

The conversations I have with people over this topic rarely deviate. Yes, school had its bad parts. Agreed. “And what about the time you spent learning subjects you never use? Taking tests that did more harm than good- for many.”

Well, kids need…

Inevitably, the conversation ends up justifying the existence of school. It’s almost as if we can’t imagine the dire costliness of precious time deemed criminal if you try to take it back. There are detention laws in every state for truancy. Attendance requirements are the upmost essential and thus punishable act. Kids and parents have faced attendance legal issues, none more striking to me than the Reservation schools. The stories are horrific and not taught in most schools. No time. Learning would take time from more standardization testing and data collecting.

Your time is a most valued resource.

Not read many stories about reservation schools? Or have a vague notion of “Indian” reservations. First Nations. Where did those stories come from? How many stories do we not have time to learn about? And for what purpose? Wha is the Opportunity Cost of school? Time.

Consider the Story (talk) over Time:

If Time and Talk are dominated by media and school,

Ask: Where do our stories come from?

Who tells the stories and for what purpose?

-School Board leaders:

-Heads of Media:

What is the narrative? How do we learn stories?

What is the Cost?