Yesterday I watched Obama’s press conference. I began to think of leaders in general, politicians, ect.
If one broadens the definition of “teacher” to one who relays knowledge to someone else, one could consider Obama (or any other leader) as a type of teacher. Also, one could think of Obama as a “teacher” in terms of him as a role model and thus, teaching qualities we should value.
If this is the case, I wonder what our children and even the American people are being “taught”. I am nearly always disheartened when I listen to politicians answer people’s/reporter’s questions. I am sure I am not alone when I say, “Will you just answer the question, already!?” Politicians have become all too adept at “beating around the bush”. A politician will begin to answer a question by reframing it and then by the time he gets finished answering it, the person who asked the question doesn’t even remember what he asked and by that time has gotten lost in the words of the politician. So, is this teaching our children that being clever and avoiding a question is better than telling people the truth? Is it teaching our children that being popular through spinning the truth is better than being unpopular by telling the truth? We expect teachers and leaders in authority to tell the truth. In the words of Jack Nicholson, “Truth!? You can’t handle the truth! I think we should be given the truth and then we can decide how to handle it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5j2F4VcBmeo&feature=player_embedded
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You make some great points and many of the politicians are aware of what they are doing by trying to avoid giving direct answers. Maybe that's where the students get the idea to write and write and write and never answer the essay questions? Just keep talking and writing and hopefully someone will get what they are looking for.
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