sideways - home is where the wine is

talking about relationships is a funny one, more so that of social studies education and society. here i am, ruminating about what to say when the oscar peterson's an utter temptation let alone the excellent te mata (2002)cabernet merlot...

i honestly don't know what to say or start because social studies? i do geography and english. its a bad copout but then again, i am not nick naylor from the academy of tobacco studies (i.e., thank you for smoking. btw, its a great movie!) so its hard for me to clearly elucidate the relationships between social studies education and society. is it like varietals? like a cabernet merlot? particularly famous down under as well as across the tasman straits as the good people of te mata would say. or maybe australia's famous blend and gift to the vinos of the world: the cabernet shiraz? or perhaps, newer ones such as a shiraz viognier? tatachilla and pepper jack make some awesome ones. whatabout a 2004 hanging rock cabernet merlot mourvedre or a campbell shiraz durif? those new blends are simply awesome... really GREAT wines

much like the different blends of reds, the relationship between society and social studies education is complicated one because much like blending different grapes together, the relationship between such education and society is constantly evolving. hence, the relationship between social studies education and society is bound to evolve across time, mirroring at times the tensions and/or concerns that belie society at large or perhaps, the educational and moral lessons that society wants to pass on to its young. but is there a more virtuous relationship? no. i don't think so... ...

anyways, here's something to tunnel into. thot that the embedded literary devices could shed some light about 'em relationships between social studies education and society, academically or otherwise. enjoy... ...

Depeche Mode - Somebody
I want somebody to share
Share the rest of my life
Share my innermost thoughts
Know my intimate details
Someone wholl stand by my side
And give me support
And in return
Shell get my support
She will listen to me
When I want to speak
About the world we live in
And life in general
Though my views may be wrong
They may even be perverted
Shell hear me out
And wont easily be converted
To my way of thinking
In fact shell often disagree
But at the end of it all
She will understand me

I want somebody who cares
For me passionately
With every thought and
With every breath
Someone wholl help me see things
In a different light
All the things I detest
I will almost like
I dont want to be tied
To anyones strings
Im carefully trying to steer clear of
Those things
But when Im asleep
I want somebody
Who will put their arms around me
And kiss me tenderly
Though things like this
Make me sick
In a case like this
Ill get away with it

what makes a good social studies teacher? think that question begets a more fundamental question: what makes a good teacher? as a beginning teacher, the more pertinent issue is what kind of teacher do i wanna be regardless of the subjects i have to teach...

somehow i don't think that any answer i have will suffice because i believe that teachers are like fine wine, they ought to get better as they age! and well, in oenological terms, it sure ain't harvesting time so we can't talk about how the wonderful flavours of the french and american oak barriques will have upon the wine let alone the alcohol content or the pH level but at least we know what influences the terroir has had...

anyways, moving forward, a quote that might help shed light on my personal vision about the kind of teacher i wanna be would be the one listed below:

"the best wines are those that take you through themselves and out into another world that you could not have gotten to on your own. great wine has a strange subterranean current of beauty. it is not something you can summon from a wine; but a great wine can take you there" - wine spectator

well, enough said. and yes, a glass of mt langi ghiran (2003)cliff edge shiraz would be an excellent way to round up the discussion

a favourite author of mine (bill bryson) once said that 'for all intents and purposes' is rather tautological and he couldn't be further away from the truth... but when ya're asked whats the value and purpose of social studies education here, it makes ya feel like the be all and end all, begins verily with 'for all intents and purposes' followed by some hallowed motherhood statements that would bring a cheshire grin to the powers that be.

but truth be told, its more than that if i may ramble/elucidate. perhaps, a quote from Gregory House (M.D) might help us out although its rather cynical and sarcastic. then again, would Hugh Laurie win the Best Actor at the Golden Globe w/o the witticism of House?

anyways, back to the point:
"People like talking about people. Makes us feel superior. Makes us feel in control. And sometimes, for some people, knowing some things makes them care." [Dr Gregory House, Season 1, Episode 13]

perhaps, if we dig deep enough, to the subterranean level at least, we might realise the value and purpose of social studies (SS) education here is to create a robust, positive self-concept about ourselves. afterall, we are but a tiny little red dot? nyet? but then again, doesn't a positive self-concept begin from the inside out? how are we to punch above our weight at regional and global forums if we don't have a clear concept of what we are and what we can do?

but more importantly, SS education is to inculcate a sense of graciousness that we need if we are to be conscious, caring global citizens. not just at the local level, i.e., about staying rooted and being compassionate towards the less fortunate too but also across international borders. its about knowing yourself, how to care for yourself that you might care for others in return as the biblical proverb says: 'do unto others as you would have them do unto you'.

in some ways, the gems of truth hidden under House's cynicism underlines the value and purposes of SS education here. airy fairy as it may sounds, its the bigger picture that we educators have to keep in mind as we simplify it for our students to apply it in their daily lives with the hope that one day, they will understand the meaningingful relationships behind their actions... ...