Today's topic was population growth. I have a like-humored colleague whom I discussed a new teaching strategy with today. I call the strategy "Population Growth!" It's very simple. I wanted my students to learn about population growth? So I taught them population growth. Population growth? Like umm you mean when a bunch of babies are born. No, no, no, I mean population growth. That's what I was talking about. No, you weren't, you were jabbering about babies. I said population growth. Oh, like when you have a bunch of immigration. No, not in the least. I'm talking about population growth. I don't get it. It truly is quite simple: population growth. Population growth? Yes, population growth. Ok, so you want us to learn population growth? Exactly! Population growth....? You've got it, population growth!
It is sorrowfully amusing how quickly a lemming will follow. After a few short moments of what seemed to be mindless babble I had the entire class parroting "population growth." They were entirely clueless. They had figured it all out: just say the words. Then they wouldn't desist from chanting "population growth."
I think it a lamentable fact that many of us live out significant portions of our lives, and sometimes the whole, chanting "population growth" all the while remaining ignorant of what we are saying or doing. We are mockingbirds entirely, not knowing what we say.
And what's worse is that sometimes we parrot "population growth" and don't even realize it's actually a real message. In at least one case I know of, "population growth" is actually a real teaching. It's not the lunacy of a young teacher experimenting with behavior and learning in his classroom, but it is a real lesson. There is at least one case where the "population growth" message is taught, the students wrestle with it a bit and believe they have it, and then go out chanting "population growth." But they miss it. They're just parrots.
Many students guess that it's all just a game. Learn the rules. Play the game. Score a point or two. Come out the other side a winner. But what if, in the midst of the game, there is a real lesson? What if there are actually factors that affect population growth? Carrying capacity. Resources. Birth. Death. Emigration. Immigration. Predation. Competition. Disease. Natural disaster. Crowding. What if there really is immense profundity within "Population Growth" and you miss it because to you it's just a game that you've figured out already?
There was a time that I had figured out "Population Growth." I had figured the game out. And maybe even a game within the game. Was convinced I'd scored a point or two; I hadn't.
So what's the point of all this? And what is the motivation behind it? Well, to steal a bit from a confession I recently heard, part of it is vanity. Mankind is vain; I am no exception. We are wholly unlike other creatures in so many regards, but vanity is the current case in point. We believe we are the center. We are vain enough, proud enough to believe we have it figured out. Have you figured it out? Have you figured out the point of all this? What is it? Tell me what I want. None of my students today could tell me the point of the exercise. I am vain enough to consider myself a teacher, here, now. Please forgive my vanity and accept the lesson as one I am myself learning.
Think hard. What's the point? Why did I do that little experiment? And why do I relate it now with so much garble? Think now, think. Why am I gabbing about parrots and games and whatnot? Think, it'll come to you. Why must I extend such an air of intellectual superiority in these lines? Think about it. What did I want from my students, from you, and from me? Think just a little bit more and you'll be there. Ok, have you got it now.
Population Growth?
Yes, population growth!
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