As I make this argument I have already been informed that I run the risk of being exclusionary and arguing against what I do as a primary money maker. Still, when I heard this simple argument in a story I was like, “ooooof” Here is what was said, “Is this argument merely academic or is there some practical point to what you are saying?”
At that very moment I realized the line had been drawn, and on one end of it was academic. On the other was practical. I thought back to my recent conflicts with co workers and realized, yeah. That’s exactly the issue. I’ve watched some of them spend years renaming and reinventing simple concepts in an attempt to show a different way of saying the stuff we already know to be true… The recent reinvigoration of the word ‘Grit’ is a prime example. What sucks for me is to feel like there is that real division in teaching between people who are trying to activate students to be better and people who are talking about how we should be trying to do it and what language to use around that. Moreover, I fear I am sinking into an academic space where the people who are having the large conversations aren’t actually doing anything but creating structures that make them invaluable but don’t do anything practical for the end user, which is the student.
Some Thoughts:
- Trevor Lawrence is junk. I said it when he came out. I said it multiple times this year. He is a remarkable college QB, but in the pros he is simply NOT him. To that point: 3 picks in the first quarter of his first playoff game. Game exposes lack of game.