TEACHERS AND STUDENTS READ THIS FROM "AMERICAN EDUCATOR"
http://www.aft.org/pdfs/americaneducator/summer2000/BadSummer2000.pdf
SELFISM AND STUDENTS, BY RUGGERIO
The negative attitudes we see in our students can be traced to ideas of “selfism” advanced by modern philosophers and/or psychologists throughout this century and,
in some cases, in previous centuries.
Of course, very few students are familiar with the original expression of these
ideas, but many are familiar with popularized (and sometimes distorted) versions of the original ideas. And virtually all students have been exposed to the advertising industry’s and the entertainment and communications media’s glamorization of the self-help message.This glamorization may have a more powerful effect than reading
because it occurs when the mind is essentially at rest.
The concept of self-improvement has undergone dramatic change since 1911, when Ambrose Bierce mockingly defined self-esteem as “an erroneous appraisement.”
Good and bad character are now known as “personality
differences.” Rights have replaced responsibilities. The research on egocentrism and ethnocentrism that informed discussion of human growth and development in the mid-
20th century is ignored; indeed, the terms themselves are considered politically incorrect.
A revolution has taken place in the vocabulary of self.Words that imply responsibility or accountability—
self-criticism,
self-denial,
self-discipline,
self-control,
self-effacement,
self-mastery,
self-reproach, and
self-sacrifice—are no longer in fashion.
The language most in favor is that which exalts the self—
self-expression,
self-assertion,
self-indulgence,
self-realization,
self-approval,
self-acceptance,
self-love, and the ubiquitous self-esteem.
Not content with self-adulation, many psyche-strokers
have escalated their message.They now urge self-worship!...
In opposition to active living, mass culture promotes a spectator mentality and a desire to be entertained.
In opposition to objective truth, mass culture extols subjective, design-it-yourself reality—“If I believe it, then it is true for me.”
In opposition to achievement through effort, mass culture promotes achievement through proclamation—“I am good, I am talented, I am wonderful.”
In opposition to informed opinion, mass culture suggests that all opinions are equally meritorious.
In opposition to a demanding moral standard, mass culture extols doing whatever feels good.
In opposition to intellectual activities, mass culture teaches that the only satisfying activities are those that dazzle the senses.
In opposition to improvement through constructive change, mass culture promotes accepting and asserting one’s self and inflicting self on others.
In opposition to thinking, mass culture (particularly the advertising industry) plays on the public’s needs and desires and prompts people to suspend critical judgment and accept biased testimony as fact.
In opposition to self-discipline, mass culture lauds immoderation and lack of restraint.
http://www.aft.org/pdfs/americaneducator/summer2000/BadSummer2000.pdf
SELFISM AND STUDENTS, BY RUGGERIO
The negative attitudes we see in our students can be traced to ideas of “selfism” advanced by modern philosophers and/or psychologists throughout this century and,
in some cases, in previous centuries.
Of course, very few students are familiar with the original expression of these
ideas, but many are familiar with popularized (and sometimes distorted) versions of the original ideas. And virtually all students have been exposed to the advertising industry’s and the entertainment and communications media’s glamorization of the self-help message.This glamorization may have a more powerful effect than reading
because it occurs when the mind is essentially at rest.
The concept of self-improvement has undergone dramatic change since 1911, when Ambrose Bierce mockingly defined self-esteem as “an erroneous appraisement.”
Good and bad character are now known as “personality
differences.” Rights have replaced responsibilities. The research on egocentrism and ethnocentrism that informed discussion of human growth and development in the mid-
20th century is ignored; indeed, the terms themselves are considered politically incorrect.
A revolution has taken place in the vocabulary of self.Words that imply responsibility or accountability—
self-criticism,
self-denial,
self-discipline,
self-control,
self-effacement,
self-mastery,
self-reproach, and
self-sacrifice—are no longer in fashion.
The language most in favor is that which exalts the self—
self-expression,
self-assertion,
self-indulgence,
self-realization,
self-approval,
self-acceptance,
self-love, and the ubiquitous self-esteem.
Not content with self-adulation, many psyche-strokers
have escalated their message.They now urge self-worship!...
In opposition to active living, mass culture promotes a spectator mentality and a desire to be entertained.
In opposition to objective truth, mass culture extols subjective, design-it-yourself reality—“If I believe it, then it is true for me.”
In opposition to achievement through effort, mass culture promotes achievement through proclamation—“I am good, I am talented, I am wonderful.”
In opposition to informed opinion, mass culture suggests that all opinions are equally meritorious.
In opposition to a demanding moral standard, mass culture extols doing whatever feels good.
In opposition to intellectual activities, mass culture teaches that the only satisfying activities are those that dazzle the senses.
In opposition to improvement through constructive change, mass culture promotes accepting and asserting one’s self and inflicting self on others.
In opposition to thinking, mass culture (particularly the advertising industry) plays on the public’s needs and desires and prompts people to suspend critical judgment and accept biased testimony as fact.
In opposition to self-discipline, mass culture lauds immoderation and lack of restraint.
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