These are simply candid street photographs taken along Collins Street. As some signs appeared incidentally within the frames, I have chosen to feature them as part of this week’s theme.
Earlier this week, I received a call from Joel, who shared with me a rather troubling incident involving his son. The boy, during a philosophy class at school, had quoted the words of the philosopher Nietzsche, saying, “We have killed God. Humans have killed God...”—a reference, of course, to Nietzsche’s profound critique of modernity and the decline of religious faith in Western society.
Regrettably, the teacher, evidently young and unfamiliar with Nietzsche’s work, misconstrued the remark as an act of blasphemy. Rather than recognising the statement as a pivotal moment in philosophical discourse, she responded by issuing the boy a detention.
It is both disheartening and perplexing that one entrusted with the instruction of philosophy should possess so little acquaintance with its foundational thinkers. How is one to teach the great questions of existence, morality, and belief without a proper understanding of those who have shaped the discipline through the ages?
Sony A7RV
FE 35mm f1.4 GM
I am enjoying Micky 17 on Max. What a good story!
Sad to hear 😢 the boy was misunderstood and got detention. This is an interesting mural. Thank you so much for sharing 😊 ❤️
ReplyDeleteIt is life
DeleteToo bad. Really!
ReplyDeleteWestern culture is suppressed in schools these days
DeleteI didn't even know that some schools offer Philosophy as a subject.
ReplyDeleteIt does not add bonus to VCE scores altogether
DeleteThose who can, do. Those who can't, teach. Sadly, this is all too often true. I hope Joel is able to teach the school a little about philosophy and also about appointing teachers responsibly.
ReplyDeleteHe is drafting complaints to the school
DeleteNice click...
ReplyDeleteAgree with you on the quality of teachers now adays.. they are not well read.. and hence lack depth
It is very sad
DeleteG'day mate
ReplyDeleteThis candid slice of Collins Street, with incidental signage, cleverly ties the everyday to deeper reflections. The anecdote about Nietzsche in the classroom is both thought-provoking and troubling. It highlights the urgent need for educators—especially in philosophy—to approach complex ideas with nuance and context.
Philosophy is meant to challenge, not punish, critical thought. The juxtaposition of a simple street scene with such a profound narrative creates a powerful dialogue between the visible signs around us and the unseen signs of misunderstanding in education. A quietly compelling and important post.
Pretty crowded area for those scooters, I would think.
ReplyDeleteLawless around there.
DeleteGood grief! How on earth can someone who teaches philosophy not know anything about Nietzsche? This is beyond comprehension! whether he was right or wrong, he is one of the most famous philosophers ever. As far as the quote about us killing God, I thought he believed there never was a God. I was only recently brushing up on his life.
ReplyDeleteI cannot read on him for that long
DeleteA detention? What happened next?
ReplyDeleteSome sort of permanent marks on the boy file.
DeleteLovely street photos of young people on the street. I agree with you about the lack of knowledge shown by the teacher, but Nietzsche's philosophy was the underpinning ideas behind the rise of the Third Reich that lead to the deaths of many millions of people in the WW II. Some people now react negatively to Nietzsche's ideas as a consequence.
ReplyDeleteAt least, stay impartial and acknowledge the implications of the idea
DeleteGreat images! I am so sorry about Joel's son and the unfortunate situation at school. I daresay that he will remember that for the rest of his life. I totally agree with your last paragraph.
ReplyDeleteI am learning the world through others' conversations in their lives
DeleteI hope Joel acted. I would be very unhappy. I would expect a personal apology from the teacher to his son.
ReplyDeleteHe is raising an army against the schoolteacher now.
DeleteWell there is no God so.
ReplyDeleteNice photos. I do hope Joel get into that teacher.
ReplyDeleteReligion has killed and tortured more people than most anything else. I don't know old the boy is or what kind of school he attends, but the teacher's ignorance is cause for alarm.
ReplyDeleteBoss Coffee?? I thought it was for Fosters at first!
ReplyDeleteThat's a bit crap about the teacher. It would seem the standards have been dropping all over the world. I remember being at school in the 90s and my dad saying standards had dropped from his day in the 60s. I think I will be saying the same to my daughter soon!
Bonitas tomas urbanas.
ReplyDeleteSaludos.
Here in Sweden, nowadays, I suspect it would be the teacher getting in serious trouble for giving anyone a detention for "blasphemy", whether quoting Nietzsche or not! - But as you say, in a philosophy class it makes even less sense, as philosophy is really all about twisting and turning arguments and ideas around, and discussing (and learning about) different points of view. (One definition picked from a quick Google search: "the study of the basic ideas about knowledge, truth, right and wrong, religion, and the nature and meaning of life.")
ReplyDeleteGreat photos and collection of signs. Good teachers are so important, sounds like this teacher is quick to punish. Take care, have a great day!
ReplyDelete...this seems like a busy place with lots of foot traffic.
ReplyDeleteNice street photography again and where does it go when the student knows more than the teacher.
ReplyDeleteGoodness, that is pretty harsh treatment. I can't imagine using "blasphemy" as an excuse to punish anyone.
ReplyDeleteThat's really sad about Joel's son. I hope that some intervention could be made to have that removed from his records. Or at least have a discussion (which sort of seems like what philosophy encourages) and perhaps she'd see how she's wrong. Melbourne looks busy!
ReplyDeleteLike the signs but feel bad for Joel's son.
ReplyDeleteGreat street photographs.
ReplyDeleteSo sad about Joel's son, I hope he gets a satisfactory outcome from the school.
All the best Jan
The photos are a beautiful series of street moods.
ReplyDeleteSad to read about Joel's son.
Your street photos are wonderful!
ReplyDeletePhilosophy is not just a subject, at the University (for Pedagogy) we had enlightened professors to teach it and again I was struggling only with a lot of study and many hours in the auditoriums you could pass the course...
The word "blasphemy" reminds me of the Middle Ages...
Too bad!
you know I love your photos. This is quite a busy street. I hope Joel, had a meeting with the teacher and principle of the school and showed how his son is smarter than the teacher. The same goes on here in the US. Some kids excel beyond the teachers and it always ends with the teacher getting defensive. In stead of saying, "Well, I learned something today. Thank you." Also, thank you for joining FFO and have a nice weekend.
ReplyDeleteThat's too bad. -Christine cmlk79. blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteMan, I hate those scooters on city streets. They are a menace.
ReplyDeleteIt is very sad that a teacher who teaches philosophy in school a) doesn't know about Nietzsche and b) doesn't use this opportunity for a lively philosophical discussion.
ReplyDelete