Some day the load we're carrying with us may help someone

My time last night and this morning was split between getting my hands on every bit of information in the AZ Shooting story and reading the pedagogical book "Readicide" by Kelly Gallagher. And maybe this is my media/coffee-fried brain talking here. But I can't help but see a connection between the two.

Let's begin with Gallagher's "Readicide". This novel discusses how overteaching and/or underteaching classic novels in schools contributes to what he calls "Read-i-cide: the systematic killing of the love of reading, often exacerbated by the inane, mind-numbing practices found in schools." Gallagher points his finger at No Child Left Behind which forces teacher's hands at eliminating deeper level thinking in favor of teaching test taking strategies. Similarly, the pressure of standardized testing creates the brushing aside of vital practices of SSR, or allowing students voluntary reading time during the school day. He is essentially calling teachers to arms, to recognize the difference between the authentic and the political.

A huge issue he finds is that students are being tested on comprehension, not deeper level thinking. In essence, they lack the skills to pull out themes or make connections between the novel and the world around them. So when someone like 22 year-old Jared Loughner list books like "Brave New World" and "Fahrenheit 451" and "Animal Farm" as his favorite novels, you know, knowing anything about those novels, that he didn't understand, he didn't internalize the themes of those novels. Or, just as dangerously, he misapplied them. Of course, of course, of course, there was more going on with Jared Loughner than being short-changed by the educational system. But, it does raise, for me the crucial job that English teachers are tasked with. We are developing the skills that students need to be responsible citizens. I can't wait to be a part of this process.

"With school turning out more runners, jumpers, racers, tinkerers, grabbers, snatchers, fliers, and swimmers instead of examiners, critics, knowers, and imaginative creators, the word `intellectual,' of course, became the swear word it deserved to be. You always dread the unfamiliar,"
Fahrenheit 451

"Give the people contests they win by remembering the words to more popular songs or the names of state capitals or how much corn Iowa grew last year. Cram them full of non-combustible data, chock them so damned full of 'facts' they feel stuffed, but absolutely 'brilliant' with information. Then they'll feel they're thinking, they'll get a sense of motion without moving. And they'll be happy, because facts of that sort don't change. Don't give them any slippery stuff like philosophy or sociology to tie things up with. That way lies melancholy,"
Fahrenheit 451