Loss of America’s Beautiful Mind

Tatiana Von Tauber

By Tatiana von Tauber

My philosophy instructor’s teaching method was very unconventional for an otherwise conservative Brit. He didn’t make students write papers but instead creatively elicited outside the box thinking. Assignments were fun, as we were given total freedom in how to express our thoughts and ideas. The focus wasn’t on proper academics but on the enjoyment of internalizing the philosophical concepts themselves, which could be mind-stretching. He allowed imaginations to fertilize the garden of so ideas. I had a great time and aced my assignments because that kind of learning optimizes my interest, desire and retention.

The Absurdity

When I compare European and the American schools of thought, I slam into the baseline of why I fear for America’s future: there is a loss of common sense about living, loving, and learning  here. Never mind that my son has to sing God Bless America after reciting the Pledge of Allegiance every morning in 3rd grade or that girls have to get creative with their moms to figure out how to sneak maxi pads to school without them being seen through their required clear plastic backpacks. There’s lots of absurdity sense there: song for religious patriotism and clear backpacks for safety.

What about the sense of the rules forbidding the exposure of shoulders, backs, chest, and other personal areas? When did shoulders become a hot erogenous zone? Since when are they such a threat that they must be placed in the same category as personal areas to cover up in an effort to eliminate student distraction?  Did I miss the “Armpits Become Sexy” brief?

In the Georgia school system, where my children attend, there is a prohibition on “displays of affection”. What kind of display of affection are children disallowed, I wonder. A hug? Holding hands? A peck on the cheek by youth learning the power and joy of puppy love? Heaven forbid teens steal a kiss before class; the exchange of saliva might pose a health threat.

I’m seeing a total breakdown in the beauty of the American mind – one that was once free and enjoyed life – and the pollution from the runoff as the American mind decomposes is filtering into the schools and coming to rest in my little ones’ psyches.

More Absurdity and the Creation of Fear by Moguls

The American consciousness is no longer one of the pioneers, nor of “give me liberty, or give me death.” The American unquenchable thirst for freedom has turned into a parched landscape of fear. Enough of a majority buy into it and sell that which we once held as the core of our existence. Like a spoiled child, the government tests how much freedom it can take away — selling its confiscation as being for our own safety, but isn’t this jingoism overplayed? Perhaps it is time for a new PR company to capitalize on ignorance and stupidity as they hush the intelligent and creative. Americans put up with it. They want to be safe, pampered, taken care of, reassured that they will continue to have access to American Idol. For that, they would sell everything that it means to be American.

We ask our leaders to, well, “lead,” yet those very same people demand strict enforcement of absurd rules such as all children must have their shirt tucked in at all times and must wear a belt if pants have belt loops in school and during any school-related activities off campus. The penalty for breaking the dress code can result in a possible one day in-school suspension between the second and fifth offense; off-school suspension for offenses thereafter. My public school system demands Sunday school obedience and behavior while precious tax dollars fund teacher police.

My daughter faces odd anxiety, sometimes panic attacks every night when planning her outfit. She’s already dealing with culture shock and an international move. Last night we ruled out 5 of her 13 outfits she hasn’t grown out of yet as possibly inappropriate for school here but acceptable in Germany. This morning I had to measure that her skirt was no more than 4 inches above the knee even though she had on leggings, which must be worn with a regular length dress according to the dress code. She said she worried all day about getting a warning because her skirt rode up an inch or two on the leggings she must wear to hide the horrible eczema and open sores she justifiably wants no one to see on her bare skin.

I’m wondering if I missed the part in the handbook where she has to hide her face. Kids are already forbidden to bring sunglasses to school, their clothing must be hemmed, pants cannot touch the floor, tank tops are off limits and 4th and 5th graders have been forced to stand facing a wall with their hands up on it as though about to be frisked for up to 60 minutes when they disobeyed the no talking rule in the bus room.

Sex, Drugs and Rock-n-Roll No More

I’m sorry. Have I landed on another planet or is this really America, the land of the free, home of the brave? Where have all the cowboys gone? I’m surrounded by bad guys and their philosophies reflect illusions of freedom in their shiny guns. How is it even possible that common sense freedoms have slipped through American fingers? I’m in dismay after only a short time back in the United States.

America’s war on terror is the least of our problems. We’re facing a war on youth that lacks all reason, but comes with a heaping helping of absurdity. I’m stunned that Georgia considers these punishments to have any semblance of proportionality. Talking is a severe offense here it seems and teachers – to abide by school rules and to keep their jobs – are treating children like potential criminals. There is no presumption of goodness in our children. Children are being indoctrinated to shut up, put up, do what you’re told, all in the name of order.

What’s necessary is teaching children creatively and nurturing their developing social skills, encouraging their potential and respecting their voice, thoughts and new blood ideas. In the age of the Internet facts are at our fingertips. Creativity will shrivel on the vine are unless we trust our children to find their place in the world that we adults have messed up for them. One day they’ll realize just how screwed up their parents really were.  Revenge is the nursing home. Beware!

Albert Einstein said “it is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge” and “the true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination”. My philosophy teacher taught creatively and made learning fun. Granted we were adults but kids are better, smarter and more capable than most adults give credit for. The ability to have fun in school sparks a desire for learning and that always creates a positive impact.

Censorship of Fun

It boggles the mind that fun has become so threatening to America. What happened? Did the Baby Boomers and Gen-Xers forget the beauty of youth? Do they consider the irony of their current war on joy as they sit in the misery of their own creation and then dictate limitations on freedom because they want to “protect” their children and grandchildren from the very experiences they had in their youth? Are they tempted by youthful freedom and vivaciousness as the religious are tempted by sex? Must they, like the religious, outlaw any temptations that might be too difficult to resist? The young don’t need Viagra and let’s face it my generation is getting old and I hate to say it, bitter to youth.

Exactly why does adult authority feel the need to “protect” the young quite so much? Didn’t they (we) have the freedom to enjoy their (our) youth? Were times really safer then or is it simply that we weren’t constantly bombarded by the fear-mongerers?  I really don’t know but I take an educated guess the latter is a stronger force than the former. Lets face it, programs get funded when you can whip parents into a frenzy.

Like life always finds a way to grow in a niche, youth will always find a way to rebel. When we tighten the grip, we merely force them to find a new way to slip through our fingers. If we should fear anything, it should be the creativity of youth when forced to find new, secretive outlets for the natural capacity for a teenager to test boundaries. Unfortunately, in encouraging them to do so, we also teach them that they courage, bravery, and having a voice are all negatives — and as American youth loses those traits, we lose more than the mess we may need to clean up on a Monday morning. Schools – specifically my kids’ school in Georgia – is nurturing obedience as though children were dogs to train, God’s children to scare into moral and appropriate behavior or robots to program. I keep looking for the Stepford wives.  I hear their hair is perfectly hair-sprayed.  I let mine flow wild in the wind.  That’s how you’ll know I’m real if you see me on the street.

Nobody sane should be against reasonable boundaries, but boxing in our youth’s minds and clipping their wings too early is not a reasonable boundary. Social control has become complete control. Reason forces questions and self-responsibility and one cannot control others when others question authority’s justifications for mandated rules. Our young generation and freedom  itself  is in danger if fear as we morph into a society that values obedience over creativity and reason.