Memo: Legos Banned From School
Legos are harmful to the development of a young child's mind. At least, that is the argument of several astute teachers in Seattle who have banned the use of the popular children's toy from their school. Here's why:
Before coming to this realization however, while I was still languishing in my state of denial, I thought that this whole thing was yet another example of liberal hysteria and I was more than happy with merely laughing at it and moving on... that was, until I discovered this highly classified, internal schematic leaked from "The Lego Group":
(click picture to enlarge)
I see my worldview crumbling before my eyes... brick by brick by brick.
According to the article, the students had been building an elaborate "Legotown," but it was accidentally demolished. The teachers decided its destruction was an opportunity to explore "the inequities of private ownership." According to the teachers, "Our intention was to promote a contrasting set of values: collectivity, collaboration, resource-sharing, and full democratic participation."Life has come into such sharp focus now. All along the line, I thought I was merely assembling things like Batmo-pirateship-planes when I was really mastering the art of entrepreneurship, income disparity, and class-based oppression (sweet!). I guess it is a good thing that I have not gotten around to donating my Legos to Goodwill - the poor people who shop there would be so insulted! Come to think of it, I wonder what a poor kid learns when he plays with Legos... "this must be where I belong" he-she-it muses.
The children were allegedly incorporating into Legotown "their assumptions about ownership and the social power it conveys." These assumptions "mirrored those of a class-based, capitalist society -- a society that we teachers believe to be unjust and oppressive."
They claimed as their role shaping the children's "social and political understandings of ownership and economic equity ... from a perspective of social justice." (Story)
Before coming to this realization however, while I was still languishing in my state of denial, I thought that this whole thing was yet another example of liberal hysteria and I was more than happy with merely laughing at it and moving on... that was, until I discovered this highly classified, internal schematic leaked from "The Lego Group":
(click picture to enlarge)I see my worldview crumbling before my eyes... brick by brick by brick.
Labels: Satire
5 Comments:
Their concern is interesting, and their final conclusion is definitely worthy of discussion, but the method definitely leaves something to be desired. It reminds me vaguely of other instructional moments made possible by legos without the consent of Lego. Except, of course, that this more recent incident had a much younger audience, who more than likely did not actually engage in any sort of capitalist interactive framework, but rather operated within a selfish socialism: they didn't buy the bricks, but claimed ownership nonetheless. Perhaps the teachers should have focused their attention on clarifying business ethics, property ownership laws, and proper use of public resources, which are real struggles in our society. ;-)
Well this seemed really interesting to me so I went got a copy of the article this was based on. It actually seemed pretty cool, it almost seemed like an interactive project done in an "torrey" manner. I dont think they were bad in anything the did except in imposing thier own view upon the kids. They needed to show some varying opinion for this kind of project.
As a side note, am I a bad person for laughing at the "other instructional moments"? I feel like they should have added a shower room...
I don't know you drew, but I'm a bad person, and I laughed out loud in a quiet library when I saw the 'Lego Auschwitz' thing...if only I'd thought of that while I still played with them.
Oh, and Dustin, thanks for labeling this article a satire...I was a little confused as to why I liked it so darn much :)
Unfortunately, the children's assumptions "mirrored those of a class-based, capitalist society -- a society that we teachers believe to be unjust and oppressive." Those kids probably got those bad ideas from their evil parents, not from the teachers, who are the ones who really have the role of "shaping the children's 'social and political understandings'." However, in a free market capitalist society everyone is paid by consumers what their output is worth to those consumers. Do the teachers feel that everyone should be paid an equal income? (This was actually proposed and seriously considered by some Congress committees in the early 1970's) Then some people would be paid less than the worth of their work to society, while other people would be paid more than their worth. This seems unjust to me. As you said in "The Injustice of the Broken American Family," "natural inequality makes us unique and creates a beautiful kind of diversity and co-dependence within human communities." Humans are unique and shouldn't be treated as if we are all the same. I do not find beauty in "standard size houses," I find beauty in diversity and individual expression.
If we lived in a class-based society in which one could not transcend his class and was born into his destiny and trapped there, the teachers would be right in their opposition to it. But in our capitalist society I see opportunity to better your standard of living and to be rewarded for hard work, diligence, and ingenuity. Capitulation to your circumstances will keep you where you are, and you will be punished for your lack of effort, but those who are industrious have the opportunity to improve their situation. If everyone is treated equally and "justly," then there is no reward or incentive for excellence. You might as well be a lazy bum, its easy and you'll still get treated just as well as everyone else.
Couldn't we just let kids enjoy the unspoiled delights of childhood ? Don't they grow up all too soon ?
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