I was listening to a person teaching a computer programming course and got some interesting thoughts

They were lamenting about the fact that their students did not understand the topic, and how they were glad that all of these unsuitable (Different words where used) people where dropping out. So I asked the question why not change the way you are teaching to accommodate and deal with some of these issues? No they need to learn all of the logic first; I make them do the programs on paper that is the way it needs to be done. What this really was about after further discussion was making sure it was done in the classical computer science way. The comment that came with this was they should not be here, they will never be programmers! After this was said my first thought was you are right with you they will never be programmers, you made sure of that.

My questions for this are

1. Is the old way best?

2. What happens if half the students fail? Did the teacher fail?

3. At what point is it decided how many is too many?

4. Should the attitude be? if it was hard for me it should be hard for you.

5. Is there only one right way to do something?

My thought is that rather than helping people, in many cases we are hindering them. I think that a teacher has failed when most of their students fail. We need to relook at how things are done. We should not allow students to progress without achieving the objective, but… The objective is arbitrary and our purpose should not be to fail people or make people suffer, but rather to teach. so we need to revisit not only the content but also the methods. I think many people make it through an education in spite of the teacher or system rather than because of them.

When there is only one way, the way is probably wrong!

Stik

I often hear people talking about Zen meditation and how you have to empty your mind.

Then they talk about listening to your breath, and staying focused on your breathing and letting go of other thoughts.

It seems to me that listening/ focusing on your breath is not emptying your mind, but rather focusing on a specific item, which is fine. In my opinionated view you are then focusing on an item, you could focus on your toes too, but you breath is probably easier. Of course assume that I know nothing and this is just a different and possibly wrong view from the side.

Stik

So here is the scenario, as I head forward with hiding….

So your thought what are you hiding from, in some ways everyone and in some ways no one.

We/I are hiding from my artificial society induced bread basket filling work. (At work or at home)

Why…. good question?

No reason really other than I/ we are burned out/ tired/ bored/ directionless. It cannot be all of these reasons can it?

I cannot really put my finger on it; maybe you’re in the same boat. In a lot of ways it is self-sabotage.

Kind of goes like this, if I don’t do my work, my work will break, then maybe it will go away, but I don’t want it to go away. Quick let me put a bandage on it, let me water the plants a little more, maybe a bit too much….

And so on it goes until? Well we don’t know what “the until” is so, the cycle keeps repeating. (Sound familiar, the good old rat trap)

Should the next effort be mindfulness, hopefully not the bandage version?

The thought is that if I can figure out why you are doing something maybe you can change it. The only way to do that is the learn more about yourself. Learn how to breathe again, learn how to live in the moment again, rather than fear the future.

Stik