Met my first Trump voter the other night.

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

58. I know just what you mean. I got to where I wanted to ask those parents why they sent their kids

to school at all. Apparently they already know everything you want them to know. Of course, they would call it brainwashing. Must demonize critical examination of beliefs that deep down you know are on shaky ground if you think questioning can destroy them.

But, I have to say, it wasn't just the so-called Christians who were rejecting critical thinking & reasoning. At least where I taught for nearly 20 years, there were some who just found it too difficult. Not that I believe it was in fact beyond their ability. It was just an lousy attitude.

Two stories to illustrate:

1. At a parent teacher conference I was saying how little Johnny Doe seemed reluctant to participate in class , though he was improving. The father said, "Look, I hated school, my father before me hated school, and his father before him hated it, and so on down the line. So, you can be damn sure my son is going to hate school!" He wouldn't have it any other way.

2. For over the Thanksgiving break one year I gave a homework assignment (I know, tyrant!) and suggested the kids get a relative to work the word problem with them. When the kid came back to class after the long weekend he handed me a note that said something to the effect of, "How dare you give little Jane such a hard problem. We had everyone in the family working on it and nobody could figure it out! You expect too much of these kids!"

I can't remember if it was close enough to my burning out entirely for me to have sent a note back saying this, but I had given that same problem in class the previous year and a majority of my 3rd grade students, working in small groups, figured out the answer within the 45 minute class.