One of the more stimulating conversations I’ve seen on booktube. Seeing the same things parroted over and over again gets old but both of you keep it fresh
Thanks, brother! I feel the same way. There's a stale, perfunctory quality to much of BookTube. A dearth of original thought. I'm very much interested in chatting with folks (like Allen) who think for themselves.
Great conversation Jordan and Allen! I don’t remember know if you said you live in Malborough or Marblehead but I recognized the town right away. I’ve spent time in both places bc I dated a girl from Peabody for a few years. I’m not even in academia at all but it was still cathartic listening to you two go off about the education system😂 Hope you enjoy the rest of your day!
Ha, glad we could provide you with some catharsis! Yes, this area is pretty nice. Lots to do. Decent economy. Close to Boston, NH, VT, etc. Thanks for watching, man. :)
We teachers have to stick together, haha. You should be proud of a career that long. You no doubt influenced many lives. Tell me, though-I once heard that Canada requires students to take Philosophy to graduate from high school. Is that still true? Was it ever? Whatever the case, I wish we required Philosophy here, or at least a course on basic logic.
Thanks. I worked hard to have a positive influence. Over the years, I have felt like the kids positively impacted me a lot. 😊 I wish philosophy was required, but I'm pretty sure it's not required (or taught very often) in Ontario at least. And I don't think it ever was. I do agree that teaching basic logic (and critical thinking) skills would be important since they're such necessary life tools.
Popped in for Allen thinking it’ll be a fun light stream. Immediately dumbfounded that I live near Jordan. Haven’t been prepared during the two hour stream since.
One thing I also really don't like about how education is approached, is the rise of the "grind" mentality. You got kids streaming themselves "15 hours studying" "How I manage to study so hard?" and so on. Now with subjects like Law and Medicine, I may understand this more, however as a Biotech student the mentality is ridiculous to me. If I am having to study 15 hours a day to do well in a test, than honestly speaking, I am NOT studying WELL, or with the right approach. I go to the libary and just see kids highlighting pages and reading sheets of paper and calling it studying vs engaging with the course material, answering questions that promt up, researching further into sub areas of the topic and seeing how you can link things together etc. One massive issue a lot of kids face these days, is that during high school we are just teaching kids to work hard to get certain grades to then get a high paying job. And I think this often sets them up for failiure at higher levels of education where, you can't just "grind" it out. I remember family members telling me how reading was useless to me, but besides the personal enlightenment it does for me, it also is massively important and has helped me SO MUCH in engaging with different forms of thinking, having to engage with new content and so on. In a way where, when I get back to biotech, I actually find I am able to interpret and deal with new content a lot easier? I have no idea what I am saying lol, I got back spasms and have just been locked to my bed all day
This is very well said. I made a video recently called "How Reading Changed My Life and How It Can Change Yours Too." When you go to my channel's main page it's pinned to the top. It's about all the real-world benefits that reading, especially fiction, can have for people. And, ftr, I didn't start doing well until I really learned how to learn and learned how to study. That was vital for me, to your point.
I've thought about teaching over the years, and my main thing is I don't know if I have the temperament for it. After hearing some of your horror stories, I don't know if I could do it. I am glad my parents drilled into me to be punctual when you set engagements. I think many of our issues stem from the fact that people don't stand for anything anymore. Or when they do, they're not consistent about what they believe, or what they posit to believe. Look, I understand we're human and we're messy and we change our minds, but at least have principles that you will stand by and, from what I've seen, people aren't consistent to what they preach. I've even been guilty of this myself. It's why I'm not really keeping up with politics anymore, because let me tell you, you'll see the worst aspects of people up close when you get into the fray and I can't take it anymore. I could go on, but I don't want to write an essay. A great chat. I have the 'Allen rant drinking game' and I didn't have to pull out the bottle too much. Keep up the good work Jordan!
Teaching is incredibly rewarding. To answer my own question from the discussion: for me, the most frustrating aspect is definitely the hours of grading. One of the most rewarding aspects is being part of an ancient and noble profession where I get paid to basically be Socrates all day long. I feel immensely privileged to be able to take part in the transmission of what perennialists call the “Great Conversation of History” or what Matthew Arnold called “the best that has been thought and said.” Given where we are-the anti-intellectualism that we see in our public life, the idiocracy and the decadence and dysfunction of our institutions-I cherish the fact that no matter what happens at home, despite how distracted people are with their phones and their TikTok or whatever else, we teachers have 45 minutes a day, five days a week to create a kind of sanctuary of learning away from all the noise and chaos.
One of the more stimulating conversations I’ve seen on booktube.
Seeing the same things parroted over and over again gets old but both of you keep it fresh
Thanks, brother! I feel the same way. There's a stale, perfunctory quality to much of BookTube. A dearth of original thought. I'm very much interested in chatting with folks (like Allen) who think for themselves.
This was a stimulating conversation. I enjoyed watch it and love seeing such an intelligent conversation.
Again, thanks so much. Cheers to you!
“If you hate half the country, you’re not a patriot”. Allen was cooking here 🔥
I agree. Thanks for watching, mate!
This quote should be on a shirt.
Great conversation Jordan and Allen! I don’t remember know if you said you live in Malborough or Marblehead but I recognized the town right away. I’ve spent time in both places bc I dated a girl from Peabody for a few years. I’m not even in academia at all but it was still cathartic listening to you two go off about the education system😂 Hope you enjoy the rest of your day!
Ha, glad we could provide you with some catharsis! Yes, this area is pretty nice. Lots to do. Decent economy. Close to Boston, NH, VT, etc. Thanks for watching, man. :)
Awesome discussion! I taught elementary school (gr. 1 to 6) for 36 years (in Canada) and it was interesting that I ran into most of the same issues.
We teachers have to stick together, haha. You should be proud of a career that long. You no doubt influenced many lives. Tell me, though-I once heard that Canada requires students to take Philosophy to graduate from high school. Is that still true? Was it ever? Whatever the case, I wish we required Philosophy here, or at least a course on basic logic.
Thanks. I worked hard to have a positive influence. Over the years, I have felt like the kids positively impacted me a lot. 😊
I wish philosophy was required, but I'm pretty sure it's not required (or taught very often) in Ontario at least. And I don't think it ever was. I do agree that teaching basic logic (and critical thinking) skills would be important since they're such necessary life tools.
Popped in for Allen thinking it’ll be a fun light stream. Immediately dumbfounded that I live near Jordan. Haven’t been prepared during the two hour stream since.
Oh, hey neighbor! Thanks for watching. :)
Care Bears and dinosaurs ❤❤❤
It's what life's all about in my estimation! lol
One thing I also really don't like about how education is approached, is the rise of the "grind" mentality. You got kids streaming themselves "15 hours studying" "How I manage to study so hard?" and so on. Now with subjects like Law and Medicine, I may understand this more, however as a Biotech student the mentality is ridiculous to me. If I am having to study 15 hours a day to do well in a test, than honestly speaking, I am NOT studying WELL, or with the right approach.
I go to the libary and just see kids highlighting pages and reading sheets of paper and calling it studying vs engaging with the course material, answering questions that promt up, researching further into sub areas of the topic and seeing how you can link things together etc.
One massive issue a lot of kids face these days, is that during high school we are just teaching kids to work hard to get certain grades to then get a high paying job. And I think this often sets them up for failiure at higher levels of education where, you can't just "grind" it out.
I remember family members telling me how reading was useless to me, but besides the personal enlightenment it does for me, it also is massively important and has helped me SO MUCH in engaging with different forms of thinking, having to engage with new content and so on. In a way where, when I get back to biotech, I actually find I am able to interpret and deal with new content a lot easier?
I have no idea what I am saying lol, I got back spasms and have just been locked to my bed all day
This is very well said. I made a video recently called "How Reading Changed My Life and How It Can Change Yours Too." When you go to my channel's main page it's pinned to the top. It's about all the real-world benefits that reading, especially fiction, can have for people. And, ftr, I didn't start doing well until I really learned how to learn and learned how to study. That was vital for me, to your point.
MAN I loved that discussion, not sure what to call it as it went from dinasours to political aspects, but that was a great listen thanks
I meant to talk about books for at least half the time, but both Allen and I seem to go off on wild tangents! :) Thanks for tuning in.
I've thought about teaching over the years, and my main thing is I don't know if I have the temperament for it. After hearing some of your horror stories, I don't know if I could do it. I am glad my parents drilled into me to be punctual when you set engagements.
I think many of our issues stem from the fact that people don't stand for anything anymore. Or when they do, they're not consistent about what they believe, or what they posit to believe. Look, I understand we're human and we're messy and we change our minds, but at least have principles that you will stand by and, from what I've seen, people aren't consistent to what they preach. I've even been guilty of this myself. It's why I'm not really keeping up with politics anymore, because let me tell you, you'll see the worst aspects of people up close when you get into the fray and I can't take it anymore. I could go on, but I don't want to write an essay.
A great chat. I have the 'Allen rant drinking game' and I didn't have to pull out the bottle too much. Keep up the good work Jordan!
Teaching is incredibly rewarding. To answer my own question from the discussion: for me, the most frustrating aspect is definitely the hours of grading. One of the most rewarding aspects is being part of an ancient and noble profession where I get paid to basically be Socrates all day long. I feel immensely privileged to be able to take part in the transmission of what perennialists call the “Great Conversation of History” or what Matthew Arnold called “the best that has been thought and said.” Given where we are-the anti-intellectualism that we see in our public life, the idiocracy and the decadence and dysfunction of our institutions-I cherish the fact that no matter what happens at home, despite how distracted people are with their phones and their TikTok or whatever else, we teachers have 45 minutes a day, five days a week to create a kind of sanctuary of learning away from all the noise and chaos.
❤🎉🎉