The decline of American Education
Current mood: thoughtful
Category: Life

Joe sent in the following question:

Don't you think that government can nix spending money on the whole "one-on-one" laptop type programs and pointless education programs (i.e. ANY fad) and have students learn primarily through direct instruction? I'm not for vouchers, but money on education shouldn't matter: its all these fads and the fear of disrupting a child's "schema" that has brought the education system into a downward spiral. Would you agree or disagree mr. b? I would LOVE to know your take on this!

My reply:

Well, yes, any government-run enterprise is going to be constantly hampered by systemic inefficiencies and wasteful boondoggles. (Remember: that's why I oppose nationalized healthcare, and support privitized anything--including social security!)

But what often drives much of the waste is a faulty philosophical foundation. For more than a hundred years, publicly-funded education has slowly but surely slid further into secularism, humanistic relativism, existentialism, a dangerously deficient understanding of multiculturalism, and now it seems that each year I detect more influence of post-modernism on the students entering ninth grade. They are convinced that there is no such thing as objective truth. This means that they cannot think clearly about nearly every important issue. They cannot think meaningfully about moral issues. In fact, in a relativistic context, you cannot speak meaningfully about moral improvement either of society or of an individual, since no one can say that one moral decision is superior to any other. Every choice is relative to every individual, so no one can judge another's choices by his own standards. You can never say that one choice is good and another bad, because in relativism, the terms good and bad have no meaning.

People say that our public schools must remain neutral on moral issues, but that's nonsense. There is no such thing as moral neutrality. If any discussion about legal or ethical issues is raised and students are told that no answer is right or wrong, it's completely up to each individual to decide, that isn't neutral. That's teaching moral relativism. But even the phrase "moral relativism" is an oxymoron, because relativism is in fact a rejection of any moral standard at all. Moral choices are reduced to personal preferences.

This is not what this country was founded on. Read the Declaration of Independence and you will find in the first paragraph the justification for the act of congress: they have the right to sever their ties with Britain because of "the laws of nature and of nature's God." They are referring to a long philosophical tradition of Natural Law, which modern America has totally lost. Have you been given a clear picture of what that phrase, "Natural Law" means by a public school teacher?

Later in the Declaration come the famous words, "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal and are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, and that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." They are consciously and specifically rejecting the idea that human rights are granted by kings, monarchs, or even democratically elected parliaments. They are granted by God, which ensures that no government has the right to abridge them.

So you want to know my solution to the current education decline? Teach the Declaration of Independence and what it really means. Make it a cornerstone of every course. That would drive all the post-modern nonsense far far away. If we can't do that in public schools, get rid of public education and let private schools handle education. Yes, I know that would put my current job and pension in jeopardy, but I'll accept that risk.

Currently listening : Mozart: The Great Piano Concertos, Vol. 1 Release date: 1994-04-12

3:12 AM - 23 Comments - 21 Kudos - Add Comment

Graphic design vs. Illustration

I received the following question this afternoon:

Mr.Blocher,
This is casey, how are you doing?

Mr.
B what would you say is the difference between a Graphic Designer and an Illustrator?

Here is my reply:
The work of an illustrator is to translate words into images. Take a verbal description of an event, a trend, a storyline, a biography, etc., and make the meaning clear through an arrangement of art elements (the stuff you learned in Sciarra's class: line, color, shape, volume, texture, pattern, value, and space).

A graphic designer may do some of that, but not always. The graphic designer's job is to present the words themselves in the most effective way possible (using the principles of composition you also learned in Sciarra's class: positive/negative space; balance, contrast, scale, proportion, movement, dominance, etc.). This involves choosing the typefaces that will best convey the meaning that the author intended, and arranging the words and other graphic elements in such a way that the reader's attention is riveted to the page, and focused on the message. The graphic designer may often use imagery created by an illustrator, and integrate it with the typography.

In both disciplines the goal of the designer is NOT self-expression. The goal is to solve communication problems. The client needs to convey a message to a target audience. The designer finds the most powerful way to get the message across. This requires some humility, since the work is not all about you. It's about bridging the gap between the client and his audience.

Those who can't resist the urge to maximize their own self-expression in every piece they create will not find many paying clients. They might consider a career as a "fine artist" although only a tiny percentage of those who pursue this path actually make a decent living at it. But a really good designer with enough modesty to serve his clients well will find plenty of work.

11:51 PM - 9 Comments - 6 Kudos - Add Comment

Do beliefs matter?
Current mood: thoughtful

Stephanie wrote the following question:

Does it really matter what you believe? As long as you believe something that will (hopefully) impact your life for the better? what if all the religions in the world, were set up by one 'person' in order for 'you' to find that religion? What if that 'person' doesn't care if it's right or wrong, as long as it gets you were you need to go, and gives you what you need at that point in your life??
Just thinking.

♥Stephi {{Hyper Stapler}} ♥

Here is the reply I sent to her:

Now let me ask you a question: Suppose you had a mixture of symptoms that caused you to seek medical treatment. Let's further suppose that your doctor says, "I believe all the symptoms are caused by a problem with your gall bladder. If we remove it, your problems will resolve." So you have the surgery, but your symptoms continue as before. Your doctor says, "I believe that you have an inflammation in part of your small intestine. That section will have to be removed." So you have another surgery, but the symptoms are as strong as before. Your doctor says, "I believe you have a tumor in your pancreas. It will have to be removed, but that means you will have to take insulin injections for the rest of your life." By this time if you are not looking for another doctor, you ought to have your head examined (as the saying goes). It would be crazy to entrust your life to a man who has so many false beliefs.

We take beliefs very seriously when dealing with matters that deeply impact our physical and material lives. Why shouldn't we take them seriously when they concern our spiritual life, and which may have consequences in an everlasting afterlife?

Here is a simple definition of truth: That which corresponds with reality. It is always important to have beliefs that correspond with reality as nearly as we can manage, as in my medical illustration above. Your life may depend on it, and often does! Similarly, it is important to have beliefs about spiritual matters that correspond to reality as nearly as we can manage. Your eternal soul may depend on it.

You may never acquire the whole truth about anything, but you can always increase your grasp on some truth. You can examine your current beliefs to see if you have evidence and logic to back them up, and look for better beliefs if they don't. You can test all the alternative belief systems on offer in the same way, to see which ones have the greatest internal consistency, historical veracity, explanatory powers, the most desirable outcomes, etc.

So, Stephanie, the answer is that it is very important what you believe. Your beliefs shape your whole life, both in this world and the next.

Currently listening : Sounds Of Summer - The Very Best Of The Beach Boys By The Beach Boys Release date: 2003-06-10

4:05 AM - 47 Comments - 19 Kudos - Add Comment

Imagine... a question!
Current mood: quixotic

In her comment on my last blog, Alyssa made several references to this song, and it got me thinking:

Imagine, words and music by John Lennon:

Imagine there's no heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today...

Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace...

You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will be as one

Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world...

You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will live as one

Lennon's vision for peace involves the elimination of all religions (verse one), national governments (verse two), and private ownership of any possessions (verse three). This is the Marxist ideal. We all know that in actual practice, Marxism has been the most spectacular failure in the history of the world. What went wrong? And why are Lennon and at least one teacher at ITA (you know who I mean) still convinced that it could work?

Now I'm going to have that tune running through my head all day! Well, at least it's better than the Door's song that's been playing through my dreams all last night. "Show me the way to the next whiskey bar, oh, don't ask why, oh don't ask why..."

Currently listening : Imagine By John Lennon Release date: 2000-04-11

6:40 AM - 8 Comments - 6 Kudos - Add Comment

How can we achieve peace on this planet?
Current mood: contemplative
Category: Religion and Philosophy

A MySpace friend named Ryan (the one from Florida, not Kenosha) became an atheist last year. He just wrote me the following question:

"Are you a christian univeralist?...the only version of christianity that seem to make God a loving god...I respect them for trying I guess...PEACE"

Here is my reply:

Yes. The universe makes no sense without a creator; the most brilliant minds throughout history have been, and continue to be driven to that conclusion by evidence and logic. Furthermore, a creator makes no sense without a redeemer; we all know the universe is broken, and needs to be fixed. And a redeemer doesn't really make sense unless he is a universal redeemer; anything less would reveal weakness in the creator.

And yet, I have a lot of problems with organized religion; it gets hijacked for wrong purposes too often. I have problems with the way people understand and use their sacred books. But that doesn't disprove the underlying truth. It only proves how twisted human nature has become.

Strangely, religion has been a restraint on human evil, as well--when it isn't being hijacked, that is. When that restraint is removed, the dark side of human nature takes over, as in Nazi Germany, Stalinist Russia, Maoist China, Pol Pot's Cambodia, Kim Jong-il's Korea, etc. More people have been murdered (well over 100 million) for the cause of atheist ideology than for any other reason.

So the best course for bringing peace to our planet is in encouraging TRUE religion. That is a tricky proposition. But it is a program I happily devote my life to pursuing.

So I ask you, my friends: Is this a cause worth living and dying for? How may we best pursue it?

5:23 AM - 6 Comments - 4 Kudos - Add Comment

Is there such a thing as profound rock music?
Current mood: contemplative

Ryan wrote:
What is your favorite rock song of all time? When I say "rock" it can include folk rock, alternative rock, heavy rock, etc...

This is my current favorite. I was totally blown away the first time I heard it. Bob Dylan (who recorded this song 2 years before The Animals) said that he was listening to the radio in his car when The Animal's version came on. Apparently Dylan "jumped out of his car seat" he liked it so much.

http://www. youtube. com/​watch?​v=​tBGXwX-​TdTY


Well, Ryan, There was so much great rock when I was a teen (the late sixties), it's hard to pick one. Which to choose... Hmmm....
"Ruby Tuesday" by The Rolling Stones?
"Whole Lotta Love" by Led Zeppelin?
"Somebody to Love" by Jefferson Airplane?
"Daydream" by The Lovin' Spoonful?
"Little Old Lady from Pasadena" by Jan & Dean?
"Fixing a Hole" by the Beatles?
"Blackbird" also by the Beatles?
"Wendy" by The Association?
"Does Anyone Know What Time It Is?" by Chicago?
"Bird on a Wire" by Leonard Cohen?
"Sunshine of Your Love" by Cream?
"Suite: Judy Blue Eyes" by Crosby, Stills and Nash?
"Spinning Wheel" by Blood, Sweat, & Tears?

Those are all great, and were frequent visitors to my turntable. But the track that was most familiar of all was "Inna Gadda Da Vida" by Iron Butterfly. Seventeen minutes of driving rhythm, but the lyrics are remarkably insipid. So I can't say it was may favorite.

Actually most of the lyrics of popular music then (and now!) are awfully shallow. If you just read the lyrics without the music playing, there is almost nothing there to engage the mind. Even the Beatles often achieved the illusion of profundity by merely being obscure. They are a lot of fun to listen to, but they fail to "feed your head," as Grace Slick put it in "White Rabbit."

So which rock performance combined great music with deep thoughts? After some reflection, I still have to go back to the very first vinyl album I ever purchased--for three dollars and twenty-seven cents. "The Sounds of Silence" by Simon & Garfunkel. Their next album, "Parsley, Sage, Rosemary, and Thyme" was even better in some respects. The music was a bit more polished without being over-produced, and every song gave you something to think about.

Can anyone point to some other popular music that combines great music with deep thought?

Currently listening : Sounds of Silence By Simon & Garfunkel Release date: 2001-08-21

7:08 PM - 11 Comments - 10 Kudos - Add Comment

I need your advice...
Current mood: contemplative
Category: School, College, Greek

Some of you know that I have been working for KUSD this summer writing new standards for our graphic design curriculum. An old friend from my high school made a comment about it that got me thinking:

Generally I oppose excessive uniformity in curriculum and especially state or federal interference in what should properly be local affairs. However, the Wisconsin art standards are completely optional and I find them to be very well thought-out. They provide a framework for art teachers to think about how they will convey art skills without putting anyone in a straightjacket. They allow each teacher to play to their strengths, and respond well to the needs of each cohort of students entering our classrooms.

At ITA we have been teaching graphic design without any written guidelines. We have four design teachers with different ideas, priorities, strengths, and personalities, but the program that has naturally evolved seems to be remarkably sequential and builds well from year to year. But there is room for improvement. Working on this set of "standards and benchmarks" has given me a chance to think more deeply about what a graduate from ITA should be able to do, and how we can ensure their success.

So now I want to hear from all of you what you think. What did we do right? What did we do wrong? What should be added to our curriculum? What should be left out? What could we do to make it easier to understand? What did you learn as ITA that has been valuable to you?

If you want to make comments about personalities, well, OK. I don't really want to hear negative stuff about the other teachers, but if you have criticism about me, I really do want to hear it. Really. Don't worry about hurting my feelings. If I am hurt, it will be a good and useful hurt, so go ahead. I need to know how to help students more effectively, whatever it takes.

You can also rate your teachers at:

Rate My Teachers

Currently reading : Watership Down (Puffin Books) By Richard Adams

10:23 AM - 17 Comments - 10 Kudos - Add Comment

My top ten fiction books.
Current mood: thoughtful
Category: Writing and Poetry

Katie asked what other books made my top ten, so...

Well, besides Watership Down by Richard Adams, my top ten works of fiction would have to include (though perhaps not in this order):

The Chronicles of Narnia (I'm counting that series of seven volumes as one book--am I cheating?) Re-reading these books helped me get through the darkest time of my life.

The Space Trilogy of C.S. Lewis (more cheating) Composed of three books: (1) Out of the Silent Planet; (2) Perelandra; and (3) That Hideous Strength). Although science fiction, you will get much insight into human nature by seeing ourselves through alien eyes. Lewis was a modern prophet, and he accurately foresaw the world we live in now, and understood it better than those of us living here.

The Foundation Trilogy by Isaac Asimov (even more cheating) This series will enlarge your view of history and human nature.

I, Robot by Isaac Asimov. It is nothing like the movie; it's a collection of short stories that will alter your perception of human nature.

Hot Water by P.G. Wodehouse. Anything by Wodehouse (pronounced "wood-house") is going to be hilarious, but this made me lol the most frequently.

Ender's Game & Ender's Shadow, two books by Orson Scott Card. There are more books in Ender's universe, but these are the two best, and will move you in ways you didn't know you could be moved.

The Fuzzy Papers by H. Beam Piper. This isn't particularly deep, but it's the best escape literature I know of. You will fall in love with the Fuzzies.

Dream Thief by Stephen R. Lawhead. I can't describe it--just read it. It will take you places you've never been, and will never forget. But it will be hard to find.

Dragon's Egg by Robert Forward. The most interesting aliens anyone has ever conceived of.

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams. The first volume of a trilogy that eventually encompassed five books and a short story, but it's still called a trilogy. Although Adams is unintentionally promoting Existentialism throughout, it's still the funniest science fiction ever. It's MUCH better than the movie.

Just as Adams has five books in a trilogy, I have more than ten books in my top ten list. I don't interpret numbers very literally. Sosumi!

Maybe I'll make a list of non-fiction books that have changed my life, too.

3:17 PM - 3 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

A book I’m reading (for the third time)
Current mood: blessed
Category: Writing and Poetry

Katie asked about one of the books I'm reading: Watership Down by Richard Adams. Well..

"Watership Down" is hard to describe without making it sound silly or boring. It's neither. It combines all the elements of great drama and good storytelling. The protagonist must lead a diverse band of individuals from a disaster area to find a suitable location to form a new community. Each of the characters must learn to trust and depend on the specific talents and abilities of the other members of the group in order for the entire band to survive. As you would expect, they must overcome a variety of challenges, both internal and external, each of which would be enough to destroy them. The way in which they solve each problem makes for interesting reading. It reveals a great deal about our nature and nature of the groups we form.

OK, so it sounds like a pretty standard adventure story, right? Well, the thing is, all the main characters are...um...rabbits. Yup. Ordinary wild rabbits. Rabbits with a unique perspective on the world and the humans in their environment, and a rich culture and mythology that animates all they think and do.

And it's in my list of ten best fiction books of all time.

Am I crazy?

6:51 AM - 3 Comments - 3 Kudos - Add Comment

My summer summary so far (kinda long & boring)
Current mood: exhausted

I have had quite a few friends ask how my summer is going, so here is the summary so far.

I finished my end-of-the-year stuff at ITA on Thursday. Since then I have composed a "sermon" to deliver in church this past Sunday (I put sermon in quotation marks because I'm a teacher not a preacher).

I attended two graduation parties (Sophie's and Bridget's) taking lots of pictures. I participated in two gatherings involving Mr. Azmus (one was a fond-farewell party at Ms. David's house; the other was a Father's Day thing at our house--I grilled some Salmon (with a teriyaki marinade) that Ms. Abt's husband Bill caught in Alaska; yum!).

I finished reading "There is A God: how the world's most notorious atheist changed his mind" by Antony Flew. I intend to read another book from the opposite viewpoint as soon as it arrives from Amazon: "Why I Became an Atheist: A Former Preacher Rejects Christianity" by John Loftus. I've read other books by atheists and have been shocked at how poor their arguments are. Some are just plain dishonest in their presentation of "facts." But the Loftus book has some good recommendations, so I will give it a try.

Then I read a classic science fiction book Mr. Azmus gave me: "Rogue Moon" by Algis Budrys. Finished that last night. Now I'm reading "Watership Down" by Richard Adams--I read it thirty-three years ago and loved it, so I'm revisting that one. I'm also going to finish reading Phaedrus by Plato. Oh, and a book entitled: "The Chronicles of Narnia and Philosophy" and maybe "The Simpsons and Philosophy." They are part of the series "Popular Culture and Philosophy". I use "The Matrix and Philosophy" in the Humanities Class.

I am also spending five half-days working for KUSD aligning our district art standards with the Wisconsin art standards. We're about half way through that.

I will be taking three classes on the latest versions of Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign, since I will be teaching the new versions this fall.

I did some landscape work around my mother-in-law's house. I'm installing another air conditioner in our house (last year the high humidity destroyed our dining room floor--It bulged up in several places. This unit should prevent that from happening again).

I am planning to create a new piece of art to include in our Manuscriptures(tm) product line. You can see the existing designs I have created at www.beautifulverses.com

The Humanities curriculum needs some work this summer, and I need to tidy up the procedures we use in the senior graphic design class, too. I'm thinking of switching most of the class projects to the metric system. We waste too much costly material because students can't read rulers or deal with fractions. The metric system eliminates most of that, but it will require me to edit all my handouts. Yikes!

This is now the third blog I've posted since the end of school, and I've only been on "vacation" for six days!

Oh, and I took my wife to Coldstone Creamery today. She deserves more of my attention than she gets.

OK, this was probably far more than any of you really wanted to know. If anyone read this far, leave a comment just so I know you were here. A one-word response is sufficient.

Thank you. I miss you all.

Currently listening : Firefly (Original Television Soundtrack) By Greg Edmonson (Composer) Release date: 2005-11-08

8:08 PM - 14 Comments - 12 Kudos - Add Comment