The Indequacy of Education in the Public School Systems on Topics of Human Interaction

[Linda Rosch]

I acknowledge that developing essential skills in reading comprehension and a foundaton for mathematics is CRITICAL in the public school systems. I feel that what is ALSO critical, and almost universally ignored -- is a thorough, nonevasive and "no-spin" teaching module on the "real-time interactions of human beings with each other, beginning in childhood and carrying forward into adult life -- often manisfesting consequences in the work p lace or general "arenas of action" for adult humans.

A loud chorus of voices would surely opine "this is getting into the area of morality which belongs in religious institutions, NOT schools." I could not disagree more.

Humans do very little in isolation. Most things they do require a great deal of interaction with other people. Immediately -- the stage is set for an enormous spectrum of behaviour.

Bullying is a behavior which usually manifests early in life; but that does not mean that "early in life" is where it stops. Not at all.......Bullying is manifest in the work place and it is extremely extremely damaging.

Bullying, no matter in what arena of life it is taking place , is very harmful. Understanding what the motivations are to bully other people, and how the act of individual bullying is transformed when it moves into the realm of GROUP BEHAVIOR -- is critical to the overall functioning of a society.

In general, any kind of human behavior practiced by an individual person is likely to be TRANSFORMED when the actor(s) become groups of people. This is another absolutely critical subject --- which I believe urgently needs addressing in the public school education system.

People can mature and "grow" during the course of a lifetime -- in regard to their personal behavior --- and you might say " t heir "heroic potential." But they won't do so if they are not taught to THINK about their interactions with other humans -- on a basic level -- as being a very very important subject. The way people will interact with others throughout their lives creates the very fabric of society --- the "cultural sea" in whicih we "swim" as we move through our daily existence.

I absolutely disagree 1000% that this topic, in general, is inappropriate for focus in the public school curriculum I think it should begin to be addressed in elementary schools and should be an absolute building block of education.

What good does it do us to read and write and calculate and send space probes to Mars, if we continue to generate such misery for so so many human beings on this Planet.

The topic of HUMAN BEHAVIOUR should be a critical and mandatory subject of exploration and study in public schools --- in a series of grade and age-appropriate curricula. Linda Rosch

[fiddlersinmyhouse aka Elizabeth Wellburn]

Hi Linda,

I agree and I think some of Matt Langdon's recent comments in another forum here add to this conversation as well:

http://echoesfromthesquare.ning.com/forum/topics/emphasizing-personal

He mentioned... So when you see something as "off" you react to correct it. We're trying to teach people to identify those "off" moments and react appropriately." and then he went on to refer to the internal character judgments as a basis for how we (and kids) decide what's "off".

I think that's pretty close to what you're getting at -- how to build that internal character and prevent the bad decisions that lead to misery.

[Linda Rosch]

Hi Elizabeth, Yes, certainly that is a good "focus point" in the broad spectrum of "ideas" which come under the general topic.

In general, I think public schools need a DEEP overhaul of their approach to educating. The whole idea of "what internal character" should be built is bound to open up a huge debate in certain sectors of the public. It can get "tricky" too -- I think. For e xample, someone is bound to comment that y ou interfere with peoples' freedom and civil liberties to be "totally free -- to express whatever kind of behavior they wish to."

But if you wished to put it in hard, cold numbers, something another whole group of people relate to very well -- the COST -- the financial burden to the world of dealing with hurtful behavior of people towards other people -- is STAGGERING. The waste of resources is staggering. Now THAT is something that a lot of people would be willing to talk about -- what the U.S. budget is spent on.

It's a lot less expensive to do "the right thing" the first time, than to go back and try to "fix" the results of mistakes. But then, of course, I want to be sure I don't interfere with the "RIGHTS' of cigarette companies to do everything in their power to sell their products to the public [sic].

That reminds me, I want to order "Who Killed the Electric Car" through Netflix, so I can watch the whole thing. Linda

[Linda Rosch]

By the way Elizabeth -- here is a link to my "web page" where my songs, Small Planet and Orbit" can be heard. These are the songs I submitted to the Peace Song Contest -- but they were written some time ago and have been reworked and recorded several ti mes . They were pre sen te d at the IANDS Conference banqu et of the national mee ting in Sept e m b er 2005. They were performed live by the World Chldren's Choir about 1-1/2 years ago --- http://journal.rcn.net/planetsong/ They are from the deepest part of me which transcends my own visible boundaries as a human being -- and connects with everything outside me . Linda

[fiddlersinmyhouse aka Elizabeth Wellburn]

Thanks for these Linda. Very heartfelt and I hope some schools are using the songs as ways of starting conversations about human interactions.

[Linda Rosch]

Hi Elizabeth, I hope that may happen. I have wanted to use the songs to develop a curiiculum around them which explores the many themes and off-spins of themes touched on in the songs. I have stated that idea to people before, like Sondra Harnes, the director of the World Children's Choir. Now I am hoping that somehow, if my songs get any recognition from the Peace Song Community --- I might find someone interested in helping me "open up" this idea. I am just able to keep myself going financially right now and have no extra money for anything at this time. I couldn't possibly even do another studio demo, at this point. Perhaps that will change in the future. Orbit and Small Planet are meant to be "out there" for what they can give to the world outside of me. They are an outpouring of the depths of my heart. :Life hasn't been exactly "easy" for me -- and every trouble I encountered has made me more aware of all the greater pain and need in the world -- all the world's pain -- and filled me with an "urge" to give the major part of my energy to the effort of "TRANSFORMATION." The world does NOT NEED TO BE THE WAY IT IS. WE DECIDE -- at least to a certain extent, what it is. And I think it's really time for us to stop making such generally (collectively) poor and unfruitful decisions. I do believe we can TRANSFORM the world, if enough of us throw our hearts and souls into doing so.
All the Best to You, Linda

[fiddlersinmyhouse aka Elizabeth Wellburn]

I agree Linda, and I think it's possible to create a "perfect storm" (in a good sense) of the right ideas being shared more easily than ever before through technologies like this. We need to learn to harness this power though, and put it to the best possible use.

[Linda Rosch]

David Eaton sent me a link to a video of a song which was recorded trans-continentally. It is a pretty wonderufl thing -- very very emotional.

Just look at what is happening right here!! I have many many more thoughts to contribute to this new web site of yours --- and hopefully many other people will jump in ----- resulting in new projects --- new uses of what is already "out there."

The internet (and the growth of the newer smaller and less expensive computer "book" industry" will FEED all these efforts.

I believe our job is to keep the focus on the SUBJECT ----- and not let it drift --- or not to say "it's just too hard to change human nature." NONSENSE. It may take TIME, but it is feasible. It is possible. We are in the throes of creating a new culture RIGHT NOW --- !!!!! See ---- all the people contributing to this site are doing it!

And beyond that -- we have to be excruciatingly honest about things -------- like the exploitation of people in poor and essentially "invisible" parts of the world --- for the benefit of the wealthier countries. This has GOT TO CHANGE. I believe WE CAN have an operating, functioning world that does NOT RELY on exploitation of some human beings by others. This is FUNDAMENTAL. There can be no real peace in the world, nor should there be, while there is tremendous inequity and cruelty --- causing such rampant suffering in some parts of the world, while other parts enjoy the benefits. MORE EQUITY COMES BEFORE MORE PEACE. It is NOT impossible. Technology can make it possible. It is OUR WILL to see it done -- that is the questionmark. We need to grow the numbers of people who are committed to the change. Linda