Ow... right in the amygdala
In other news, I like science. I must have been going about this "education" thing in the wrong way. It seems that science teachers like it when you ask annoying questions they don't know the answer to, or suggest alternative explanations
they hadn't considered. Such behavior isn't regarded as an annoyance by the professor or your peers, it's the process. It's rewarded.
Math too. Math is powerful and mysterious. Mathematicians are like wizards. I've always sort of known this, but I never had a teacher who could relay it. It's not like my current math teacher is flashy or "hip", he doesn't play games or try to make math fun. He just actually gives a shit (and smokes a lot of butts). Which, for me, is a refreshing change. I can only imagine what it will be like once I get past the remedial classes and the other students actually give a shit.
If I had only known during my childhood that this was the case. The problem, perhaps, originates with teachers who don't care about the subject they teach. Thinking back, the only teacher I ever actually respected was a science teacher (Mr. Enos!) because he didn't care very much for convention either. All of the other teachers we primarily concerned with conformity of behavior, and sticking to the specific facets of knowledge that they were held responsible for imparting to you.
I don't think you could exterminate the creative impulse more efficiently if you were actively trying to do so.
I could speculate what things might have been like if I had gotten into an environment like this years ago. But what's the point? I'm intensely grateful that I get a second chance this late in the game, despite having done little or nothing to deserve it.
they hadn't considered. Such behavior isn't regarded as an annoyance by the professor or your peers, it's the process. It's rewarded.
Math too. Math is powerful and mysterious. Mathematicians are like wizards. I've always sort of known this, but I never had a teacher who could relay it. It's not like my current math teacher is flashy or "hip", he doesn't play games or try to make math fun. He just actually gives a shit (and smokes a lot of butts). Which, for me, is a refreshing change. I can only imagine what it will be like once I get past the remedial classes and the other students actually give a shit.
If I had only known during my childhood that this was the case. The problem, perhaps, originates with teachers who don't care about the subject they teach. Thinking back, the only teacher I ever actually respected was a science teacher (Mr. Enos!) because he didn't care very much for convention either. All of the other teachers we primarily concerned with conformity of behavior, and sticking to the specific facets of knowledge that they were held responsible for imparting to you.
I don't think you could exterminate the creative impulse more efficiently if you were actively trying to do so.
I could speculate what things might have been like if I had gotten into an environment like this years ago. But what's the point? I'm intensely grateful that I get a second chance this late in the game, despite having done little or nothing to deserve it.