switch on, tune in, drop out
(synopsis - old days, music, students to day, lessons and entertainment)
I'm promted by a recent comment to wax lyrical on the old days in school. the commentor mentioned that she was of the walkmen generation. I to recall those heady days of ankle warmers, leotards, jogging, the chopper, quality tv programs and a Doctor Who, who was believable, although I think he was perhaps a bit before the walkman.
It's funny but original research in the 70's suggested that people thought the idea of walking around with headphones on was daft, and although possibly an apophrycal tale (please excuse spelling - another product of 70's experimentation)sony actually paid actors and models to wear non working prototypes with headphones while doing cool activities so as to encourage people to see it as normal.
And thats the rub, it's normal now, students wear the wire under there clothes, usually coming out through the collar and small earphones with no head band nestle snuggly into their ears, blocking out any noise from the outside world and drowning out any noise from thoughts they may have on the inside world.
and thats the one that worries me, lack of quiet. They wake up to a radio alarm playing music or a chosen cd , they plug in and walk ride, drive to school, college, not looking listening or thinking where they are going. They stand in the corridors sharing earphones - 'you've gotta listen to this they're soooo ace' - They sit through the lesson, one earphone in - 'I am listening honest' - and what are they thinking?....they aren't, they can't, their heads are full of vacuous lyrics written by people who under any other circumstances would never be allowed to influence children - 'This is Mr Eminem you're new course tutor - any problem's he'll be able to advise you, any other problems check with the gun toting rapper at reception and he'll point you in the direction of the neurotic suicidal rocker in the counceling room'.
So here I stand, with my hours of lesson planning, my interactive touch sensitive multimedia smart board, video and DVD feed, internet access, and pyrotechnic work shop examples to dazzle and amaze, and I look into those sparkling eyes and say, 'right - unplug, tune in and switch on' - the sparkle fades as the music dies and they wait to Switch On, Tune In and Drop Out.
I'm promted by a recent comment to wax lyrical on the old days in school. the commentor mentioned that she was of the walkmen generation. I to recall those heady days of ankle warmers, leotards, jogging, the chopper, quality tv programs and a Doctor Who, who was believable, although I think he was perhaps a bit before the walkman.
It's funny but original research in the 70's suggested that people thought the idea of walking around with headphones on was daft, and although possibly an apophrycal tale (please excuse spelling - another product of 70's experimentation)sony actually paid actors and models to wear non working prototypes with headphones while doing cool activities so as to encourage people to see it as normal.
And thats the rub, it's normal now, students wear the wire under there clothes, usually coming out through the collar and small earphones with no head band nestle snuggly into their ears, blocking out any noise from the outside world and drowning out any noise from thoughts they may have on the inside world.
and thats the one that worries me, lack of quiet. They wake up to a radio alarm playing music or a chosen cd , they plug in and walk ride, drive to school, college, not looking listening or thinking where they are going. They stand in the corridors sharing earphones - 'you've gotta listen to this they're soooo ace' - They sit through the lesson, one earphone in - 'I am listening honest' - and what are they thinking?....they aren't, they can't, their heads are full of vacuous lyrics written by people who under any other circumstances would never be allowed to influence children - 'This is Mr Eminem you're new course tutor - any problem's he'll be able to advise you, any other problems check with the gun toting rapper at reception and he'll point you in the direction of the neurotic suicidal rocker in the counceling room'.
So here I stand, with my hours of lesson planning, my interactive touch sensitive multimedia smart board, video and DVD feed, internet access, and pyrotechnic work shop examples to dazzle and amaze, and I look into those sparkling eyes and say, 'right - unplug, tune in and switch on' - the sparkle fades as the music dies and they wait to Switch On, Tune In and Drop Out.
posted by ian at Tuesday, January 10, 2006
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