Educators: Expanding

What does it mean to be an educator? Where does the job begin; is it even a 'job'? I have been observing educators for a number of years, and have in my own work, served as educator to adults and children in the various disciplines of the wilderness realm. I am finding many of those responsible for teaching our children about the world, have themselves, many aversions to the realities that surround us.

What ever happened to Socrates? It would seem our general approach to education aims to instill a "know it all" mentality, or worse as I am told over and over by products of the higher educational system, that there is no 'right'. This would mean there is no wrong and would beg the question: What are we really teaching our children? Educators today lack the ignorance, or, humility to surrender to the role of teacher. I am constantly amazed at the level of distraction educators exists. Enamoured by pop culture; propagating the social oppression of glamour (make-up, socialized beauty, expensive material). This is just one example.

This fiercely patriotic culture comes from our educational system. It is common knowledge that we have been fighting a war for six years based on a lie. IT is not so clear that we, or our children even, feel it is a bad thing; to drop bombs on civilians for no good reason. Our economy too, is based on "limitless growth", or, a fairy tale. What do we not teach our children of the problems so they may understand how to "do it better". We shelter our children, just as we shelter ourselves, form the truth.

The commonality among the stereotypical educator is they blend in with the general populace who wallow in apathy. In the respect, we can only see a continued decline in our culture as we instill thoughtlessness in our up and coming generations.

FUN HAPPENS; EXPANSION MUST BE FACILITATED

Many educators strive to make things 'fun'. What ever happened to the concept of balance? Is it sound philosophy to make our educational environments as shallow as our social environments? I am talking about children in the woods/wilderness. If our only role as educators is to teach the child about the world and how to think freely (a parent instills morals, in theory), the outdoor classroom provides the perfect platform to accomplish this. First and fore most, you must work for every inch you travel, and the deeper you get the more humble you become.

If we can accept that our children are bombarded with distraction: TV, video games, news/mis-information/propaganda, etc, then a moment spent in the wilderness in a program that is not concerned with 'fun' is a rare moment of opportunity for the child to over come distraction. You must remove the distracted one from the environment of distraction and let them realize they ways in which they were distracted. Only through questions can a teacher, or, facilitator unlock the students mind, opening it to a wider view of existence. Than is what life is about, at least, that is what my life has been about.

I can't say to any degree of certainty, that the time I have spent with children and adults has had any positive impact on their lives or our culture. I can only say I have given them a rare opportunity to grow off of reality; to suffer for the truth rather than for a contrived system. I don't entice them with 'fun' for I have complete faith that a child will never forget how to have fun, and its this faith that allows me to confidently provide them with the myriad other stuff they need to be well-rounded human beings.

As always, I would love to hear what you think.

Peace and love are actions