Saturday, February 28, 2009

Edjamakashun

Elkhart, Indiana, and a vague clue as to why the unemployment rate there is so high...

Generations of people who could simply walk out of school and get a job at 'The Plant'. $19.00 an hour with likely full benefits for installing decals on RVs? $19.00 an hour for a high-school dropout? I do not believe that 'formal schooling' necessarily makes anyone smart or educated, but I'd hate to try to have anything resembling a decent conversation in Elkhart. A lot of people where I live respect knowledge and education, and make efforts to educate themselves and learn new things; but far, far too many have no interest whatsoever in knowing anything outside of what they already know. "Why I gotta learn that? I ain't never gonna need to know nothin bout that!" is a common refrain.

People walk around with blinders on.

I had a nine-year-old girl say this yesterday:

Staff: That's a pretty necklace! Is it new?

Girl; I be have it.

Staff: I'm sorry?

Girl (louder): I be havin it!

Staff: I don't understand, sweetie, you're being... what?

Me: She's had the necklace for a while. Hey, let's keep playing Alphabet Bingo!
The next letter is... A!

Boy: Me gots it!

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