“The measure of the worth of a society is how it treats its weakest and more vulnerable citizens.”
-Theodore Sizer
I’m not exactly sure I understand what Sizer is trying to say here. Is this in relation to education, medical care, food, and shelter, all of the above? I don’t know the context of this passage so it’s difficult for me to respond to it. I certainly am a member of provided member of society: I have a nice home, I always have plenty of food, I’m literate, and I have a car. And beyond that I’ve been able to attend a university and gain an education. The only reason I’m uneasy about this quote is because it has an attitude of benevolence inherent in it: “Let me condescend from my life of privilege to help you.” That attitude, historically, hasn’t really worked in the past. While I agree that we have a social obligation to help one another—I’m an aspiring teacher, for crying out loud—I’m not sure exactly how to do it. We need to educate the uneducated and protect the unprotected but we need to do it with the right attitude.
Thoughtful response, Blake. I work with a group of African educators from Kenya, mainly. They are so tired of NGOs who come in to "help" their people, only to give handouts. What we all need is a more critical awareness of the needs of others and then help them help themselves. My friends Lilian and Steven say that they want us to help them teach their children to fish.
ReplyDeleteThat is our challenge as educators of children--considered to be a vulnerable population. Currently what do you think about the way our educational system treats students from poverty-level areas, for instance. Have you read the works of writers such as Jonathan Kozol?