Viatouch Teacher Articles
Psychology

Let's Mess-Up Mass Media
by Lois Greene Stone

Remember when we were taking Education courses and learned about other-directed, inner-directed, and tradition-directed people? Other-directed ones look to mass media for guidance in making a life plan and are filled with anxieties as they judge people by their attitudes rather than how they excel in their craft. They seek to have the character that is expected. The inner-directed attempt to live up to certain ideals, not waste time, or stand out. They try to improve institutions and others, but fear feeling guilty. Tradition-directed children are reared to succeed their parents rather than to succeed in the social system.

Do we, as teachers, recognize the need for a child's psychological and social adjustment as well as academic progress? Since many parents turn to books and magazines and television to guide them in how-to-raise-children, are they producing other-directed young adults? You and I, as educators, already know that mass media impersonalizes individual styles.

Masses react as a group without knowing facts. If we can help our students actually think, estimate, and evaluate, it is possible that propaganda won't have the power it has over the masses. With that, isn't it more important for our pupils to develop intelligence and character than the ability to memorize that Columbus sailed the ocean blue in 1492?

Teachers, of course, need to know what they are saying and what type objections will be raised from their words. The media says love conquers all, marriage is a state of bliss, and physical closeness is thrilling. Can an educator present more of a true picture, or are these subjects taboo in our communities? Since many children come from households where both parents work, who is preparing the young for 'real life' understanding?

We need to help our students become well-rounded and free from fear, ignorance, and prejudice. Our job might be to de-classify the 'inner/outer/tradition directed' and get the community involved so that our children might be free to learn what is just as important as A-B-C.

Lois Greene Stone, writer and poet, has been syndicated worldwide. Poetry and personal essays have been included in hard & softcover book anthologies. Collections of her personal items/ photos/ memorabilia are in major museums including twelve different divisions of The Smithsonian.

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