It's Not About the Prodigy
Jon and Shaun reflect on the previous episode where they interviewed the prodigious student from episode 8, Dev Ojha. The two worry about the listeners drawing the wrong conclusions from that episode, so episode 9 is all about helping the listeners think the right way about things.
Jon and Shaun tell us that they are going to reflect on the interview with Dev Ojha. Shaun, as always, starts things off by thinking more highly of himself than is warranted. Shaun places himself in the center of the conversation by issuing a public apology. Within his apology, he asks for forgiveness...centralizing himself as the sacrificial teacher necessary for all student successes. He apparently even takes Dev's critiques as honor! Jon doesn't help anything by pointing out that he doesn't want to talk about Shaun's "plight" and then proceeds to talk about Shaun's "plight" for five minutes. Finally, after about 18 minutes, the two decide that they should probably talk about the topic at hand.
Jon points out that a completely legitimate interpretation of the Dev interview is wrongheaded, and he suspects the listeners have unfortunately come to that legitimate interpretation. He points out that Dev is totally unique and deserves a unique curriculum. Then he points out that his uniqueness should not be a reason for treating only Dev uniquely...good luck with untangling all that, dear listener.
Then we get to the "interest" section of the podcast. This section has the two interlocutors saying the word "interest" over and over again. I started counting, but I apparently share Shaun's counting defect as I lost count somewhere in the high teens. Shaun tries to take the stance that interest should be disconnected from occupation as if our professions are not perfectly aligned with interest. Jon then suggests that the educational system is "abusive" and explains his position. Then Shaun agrees with everything that Jon just said, spending several minutes repeating his exact argument...I mean his exact argument, but Shaun says it's not "abuse." Look, obviously the educational system is not abusive. Right? I mean Shaun is right? I know that's strange to say, but I feel like I got tricked into saying that. Wait...now Jon has convinced Shaun that it is abuse. And now, Jon, clever guy, is arguing that it is not abuse. So the educational system is not abusive. Shaun agrees again, and now Shaun agrees with himself again.
The two end the show by thought policing the listeners, suggesting that strict adherence to the standard school model is "morally dubious." Everyone deserves an individual educational approach! Totally practical! Good job guys! [sarcasm]
Jon points out that a completely legitimate interpretation of the Dev interview is wrongheaded, and he suspects the listeners have unfortunately come to that legitimate interpretation. He points out that Dev is totally unique and deserves a unique curriculum. Then he points out that his uniqueness should not be a reason for treating only Dev uniquely...good luck with untangling all that, dear listener.
Then we get to the "interest" section of the podcast. This section has the two interlocutors saying the word "interest" over and over again. I started counting, but I apparently share Shaun's counting defect as I lost count somewhere in the high teens. Shaun tries to take the stance that interest should be disconnected from occupation as if our professions are not perfectly aligned with interest. Jon then suggests that the educational system is "abusive" and explains his position. Then Shaun agrees with everything that Jon just said, spending several minutes repeating his exact argument...I mean his exact argument, but Shaun says it's not "abuse." Look, obviously the educational system is not abusive. Right? I mean Shaun is right? I know that's strange to say, but I feel like I got tricked into saying that. Wait...now Jon has convinced Shaun that it is abuse. And now, Jon, clever guy, is arguing that it is not abuse. So the educational system is not abusive. Shaun agrees again, and now Shaun agrees with himself again.
The two end the show by thought policing the listeners, suggesting that strict adherence to the standard school model is "morally dubious." Everyone deserves an individual educational approach! Totally practical! Good job guys! [sarcasm]