Re: Coercion
Dewey Dykstra, Jr. (dykstrad who-is-at varney.idbsu.edu)
Fri, 19 Apr 1996 17:43:22 -0700
>I agree that the term coercion should be used sparingly and with care. I am
>not even sure that the criterion of pain is complete enough although it
>largely statisfices as a heuristic, at least for me and particularly in
>relationship to other people's children. Still, George Steiner once commented
>(in the London _Guardian_) that, "I owe everything to a system that made me
>learn by heart till I wept. As a result I have thousands of lines of poetry
>... I owe everything to this." If nothing else, this seems to suggest the
>incommensurability of socialization and learning; telos or the culturally
>ideal form (cf. El'konin) and teleonomy. How often and hard should a child be
>pressed? How can the child know what is possible unless it is seen--tried
>--experienced? Can the pleasure of competence come without immersion? Is this
>not sometimes painful?
>
>Perhaps it is always, as Max van Mannen suggests, that pedagogy must be a
>science of the unique. Some children require more pressing than others and
>this must be ascertained with sympathy and care but none-the-less tested; no
>methodology can encompass what is ultimately so completely human. Or, as
>Rabindranath Tagore more elegantly phrases it, "In the last analysis, we must
>come to the inevitable conclusion that education can be imparted only by a
>teacher and not wholly by a method ... Just as a water tank can be filled
>only with water and fire can be kindled with fire, life can be inspired with
>life ...the mere pill of a method instead shall not bring us salvation."
>
>
>Rolfe
>
This prompts me to point out that this same system which "coerced" George
Steiner did not have the same results for thousands of other students of
poetry. This is, to me, so painfully true in science and mathematics
education that I become quite fierce in my attitude about the damage done
by education as it is today.
I realize that Rolfe is advocating uniqueness, but so often people who
teach, esp. in the sciences, look at exceptional cases to justify their
methods. I'm not against persuasion, but the press of mindless activity
and "facts" from authority are beyond reason for me anymore.
Dewey
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Dewey I. Dykstra, Jr. Phone: (208)385-3105
Professor of Physics Dept: (208)385-3775
Department of Physics/SN318 Fax: (208)385-4330
Boise State University dykstrad who-is-at varney.idbsu.edu
1910 University Drive Boise Highlanders
Boise, ID 83725-1570 novice piper
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