Thread by @PhilipMott1

Successful company to customer: “what problem are you having and can our product or service help solve it?”

Successful educator to student: “what problem are you having and can any of my instruction or advice help solve it?”

Close friend to another friend: “what problem are you having and is there any way I can help?”

Caring parent to child: “what problem are you having and is there anything I can do to help?”

Enemy to anyone: “that’s not your problem; THIS is your problem and you better fix it or you’re a failure.”

We all hate the enemy, the know-it-all, the “evangelist” for a cause we don’t believe in or aren’t ready for.

They’re like a person who sells fast food door to door. Yeah, maybe you’ll feed some people but you’re going to piss off a lot more, soiling your reputation.

You want to understand the resentment that young people feel?

Imagine that you had to do everything that showed up in your spam folder or you would get a bad grade or get criticized and punished by the people who take care of you.

It doesn’t matter if the content is “for their own good.” New gutters are for my own good too but I’d be filing harassment suits if someone tried to make me get new gutters when I don’t feel I need them.

It’s no different for a young person.

Seeing kids as people, just like adults, makes the question of school disengagement so much clearer.

All we have to ask is, “how do I normally feel in similar situations? Would I be inclined to participate willfully?”

If the answer is no then the lesson isn’t done.