Date:      Sunday, December 26, 2010

Subject: Empower XX - Reports

On my previous post, Empower XIX - Watchdog I wrote:

So, what is the missing link?? It's that "stories" bit -- to be a watchdog you need to write "reports" -- stories deal with events -- reports deal with events and causes. Stories can be broadcast one to many, reports may need to be explained requiring one to one cooperation -- something the Web can provide, Providing the journalist is willing to get involved with the reader.

That paragraph needs amplification -- the purpose of stories is  entertainment, while reports are written for specific purposes which are generally spelled out. But stories or reports -- the important ingredient is a defined purpose.

I have no objection to entertainment and the use of stories for that purpose; however, the purpose of a report defines the additional material required. For example: the identification of a problem requires some information about cause, while an educational report requires some kind of statement on objective.

David Brooks posted an essay entitled, "The Arduous Community" is which he was writing about Erica Brown -- here are three isolated paragraphs from  that post: (emphasis mine)

Then I invited her to coffee, and it all became clear. Brown has what many people are looking for these days. In the first place, she has conviction. For her, Judaism isn't a punch line or a source of neuroticism; it's a path to self-confident and superior living. She didn't seem hostile to the things that make up most coffee-table chatter -- status, celebrity, policy, pop culture -- she just didn't show much interest. As one of her students e-mailed me: "Erica embodies Judaism's stand against idol worship. It is actually true that she worships nothing other than God, which is particularly unusual in Washington."

Her classes are dialogues structured by ancient texts. She may begin with a topic: "When Jews Do Bad Things" or "Boredom Is So Interesting." She will present a biblical text or a Talmudic teaching, and mix it with modern quotations. She may ask students to write down some initial reflections, then try to foment a fierce discussion. 

This nation is probably full of people who'd be great adult educators, but there are few avenues to bring those teachers into contact with mature and hungry minds. Now you hear about such people by word of mouth. 

I have no idea what Dave's purpose was in writing this essay, other than to fulfill an obligation to the New York Times -- he seems to be emphasizing the Jewish aspect.

I assume that an underlying purpose behind stories is to allow the reader to extract whatever he/she wants -- and I do just that. This woman has  developed an adult education process -- a process applicable to all kinds of situations. The essay falls flat with the net effect being a simple waste of time.

Hey Dave -

- but there are few avenues to bring those teachers into contact with mature and hungry minds. -

- that's what comments are all about

To be continued (I hope)

BTW, in hopes of exciting some discussion I am posting this page on the following web sites.
http://ifihadmyway.com
http://nationalcomputerassociation.com
I don't provide for comments -- I do provide an e-mail address!! (Please put a [MYWAY] in your title to get my attention)

Thanks for your time,

Doug Skoglund - skoglund@pdmsb.com

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