Pimp My Ride . . . and education
I love "Pimp My Ride." I have to admit it is the only use of the term "pimp" I have found acceptable, but that is another story. I love the idea that these guys take a total POS and turn it into a work of art. The guys have turned the ugliest vehicles into way cool rides. My hat’s off to those guys and their work.But I want to compare the work the guys in "Pimp My Ride" do to what educators are expected to do with students. I do think it is possible with enough time and effort to turn any students around.
But how about a short story first to illustrate at least part of the idea:
This guy walks into a garage and asks to see the head guy in charge. He is introduced to Mike, the head guy in charge of the garage.
"Mike, nice to meet you," the guy says. "I have a 1974 Gremlin and it’s stopped running."
"And you would like us to fix it?"
"Something like that."
Mike looks a bit perplexed. "Can you elaborate on ‘something like that?’"
The guy says, "You’ve seen ‘Pimp My Ride?’’
"Of course. What a great show."
"And I want my Gremlin to look like a piece of art when you get done."
"Then you have come to the right place. We can turn almost any car into a work of art."
"GREAT! When can you start?"
"As soon as you’d like, but first we need to see the car and figure out how much you would like to spend making your car a work of art."
"Right. I have $100.00 to spend on my car."
"Wait a minute . . . . "
Mike can take almost any car and turn it into a work of art. But there is a price. And on a limited budget, there is a limit to what can be done.
As far as public education goes, I believe educators are being asked to create works of art out of every student who walks through the door, but there is not an ounce of thought given to the true cost. Some students walk in as a work of art, and with a little bit of direction from a teacher (or teachers) the student walks out a work of art. And there are students who are inspired by teachers (thank you, Duane Clark and Lillian Lang) and become much more than if they had been left to their own devices.
But the problem with the public view of public education, particularly that of legislators, is that because they went to school, they THINK they are experts in education. That is like me saying because I have been to the doctor several times in my life, I am an expert in medicine. Too many people, from the public at large, to the legislators know that education can make a tremendous impact, but they want a "Pimp My Ride" result for the cost of an oil change.
And then there is the whole notion of education being a service industry, but I will save that topic for a later rip, rant, or rave.
posted by Sean Black @ 6:50 PM
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