tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post5343630710383733089..comments2024-03-26T07:07:14.304-07:00Comments on Teacher Tom: Growing UpTeacher Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14606781724784785338noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15932919.post-45525247923518415302015-10-05T11:02:21.412-07:002015-10-05T11:02:21.412-07:00It took me decades to start to figure out what &qu...It took me decades to <i>start</i> to figure out what "growing up" really means (or should mean). What I've concluded so far is that it (at least) means two things:<br /><br />1) Thinking for oneself (a topic which is wrought with subtlety and is probably deserving of its own essay, but is ultimately rooted in skepticism [even of one's own positions], avoidance of intellectual sloth, and attribution of proper weight to information one receives independent of one's biases); and<br />2) Becoming self-reliant (and ultimately reliable to others under your care).<br /><br />It's sad we don't focus more explicitly on learning these skills, mindsets, etc. Instead, as you point out, we seem to place inappropriate importance on merit-badge like "accomplishments" that (I'm guessing) were meant to serve as proxies: college, marriage, home ownership, having (but not necessarily <i>nurturing</i>) children, getting promoted, accumulating power, etc.<br /><br />Perhaps becoming self-reliant has been correlated with these behaviors in the past, but drawing the conclusion that, if you tick off these boxes, you will become self-reliant probably (and dangerously) inverts any causal relationship. Worse, it loses sight of what's really important: integrity, and critical thinking.<br /><br />Thanks for the post.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com