Apparently, “hip hop” artists Nicki Minaj and Lil Wayne recently received “Teacher of the Year” awards for their role in educating—yes I said educating the young people of today. The awards were presented by a South Florida corporation called "The Better Education Place". Find more details here: http://thisbeatgoes.com/hip-hop-news/florida-literacy-company-names-nicki-minaj-and-lil-wayne-teachers-of-the-year/
Perhaps I’m just a little conservative, but I happen to find this particularly disturbing, especially considering that they beat out teachers who most likely have degrees in education and interact with these kids on a daily basis. Not to say that the degree makes them a great teacher, but if you are familiar with their music, you would understand my confusion. I understand the logic of using music to help kids grasp certain concepts, but I also feel the content of the music is just as if not more important than the method being used.
I’ve decided to refrain from speaking directly about why I think Lil Wayne and Nicki Minaj do NOT deserve these awards (although there is much to be said on this issue). However, I think what is more important is what this means for the education of our young people and what this says about the value of education. Should we really be telling teachers that it is more important that they have the “swagger” necessary to gain the kid’s attention, and less important they have the skills necessary to teach the kids once that attention is present? Does this further encourage students to prioritize values that are far less important in applying for the jobs they want? What do you think? Did Nicki Minaj and Lil Wayne deserve to be named the teachers of the year? Does this event expose some of the ugly truths of our educational system or is it a good sign?
You are absolutely right. It’s a crime and If this isn’t the greatest testament to the fall of America I don’t know what is. We had always, the hope of using scientist and doctors as example for our children. Even astronauts would do. All we could dredge up was basketball and football “players” and maybe a boxer her and there. Today we as our kids to look toward lil Wayne (with all of many babies’ mama’s) and Nicki Minigi, the “freak of the year and two people who use some of the most foul and sexually explicit language that comes over the air wave or sold off the cd shelves. That they are being honored with degrees for the ability to get the attention of our children and teach them should make parents murdering angry and cause teachers to weep. Yet everyone seems to sleep on it all. We are in deep trouble
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