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The movie Dead Poet's Society raises an interesting question:
When educating teen-agers, is it better to use the school's policy of
Tradition, Honor, Discipline, and Excellence or Mr. Keating's philosophy
of carpe diam (seize the day)? Mr. Keating believed that people should
"suck the marrow out of life" and live like a free thinking person even at
the young age of seventeen. Centuries of teaching experience prove Mr.
Keating is wrong and that tradition and discipline are the correct methods
of educating. Our fledgling nation of only 200 years is a mental midget in
this world. Why is it that we are 17th in the world in education. Is it that
we are stupid? No, it is that we have diverged from the old world teaching
methods of Europe and Asia. Japan is third is the world in education. The
reason is simple. Although they manufacture most of the world's
calculators, not one is used in the classroom. One really begins to
understand math when taught by route memorization and physical
punishment for incorrect answers. Anyone who has been "rapped on the
knuckles" by a nun with a ruler can attest to this fact. The one thing that
a student needs in life is structure. Without this, he or she cannot function
in a school environment. When a bell rings, you must go to class. When a
teacher assigns homework, you do it. No questions asked. No individual
thought. The only marrow that should be sucked out of a students life is
that of education. That, after all, is why they are in school. To learn and
no other reason. In the end, it should be noted that although Mr.
Keating's teaching philosophy was debunked, he made one good point.
Neil should have spoken to his parents. Neil's case is a perfect example
of a mind not ready for independent thought. A mind without discipline.
His parents tried to give him direction and a better life than they had. Neil
rewarded them by killing himself. The author of this essay has no
sympathy for Mr. Keating, the man whose teaching inspired a cowardly
act of suicide.