It seems that my "Boy Scout" article has created quite a stir, and although I will continue to bring up serious matters, I think it is time that I reminded all of us why this is called "Absurdity in Action."
On Tuesday of last week, I awoke at nine in the morning, got on the el and set off for another productive day at school. Except that the class I have at ten in the morning on Tuesdays is Earth Sciences. I understand that, at this point, there is nothing uncharacteristicly strange about this. BUT I AM ENGLISH MAJOR!
I understand the value of a well-rounded education, but I believe that is what high school is for. College is not federally mandated. Supposedly, I attend college because I want to learn and develop a foundation for a career. The foundation that I want to develop has nothing to do with geology!
Last week on Tuesday, I went to my Earth Science course, where they made me...and here's where I lose it...CUT OPEN A ROCK!
Does anyone out there have any idea what is inside a rock? MORE ROCK!
I could have just looked at the outside of the rock and figured out what was in it. Instead, I am stuck for 2 hours with a tiny little hammer. They couldn't even give me one of those cool diamond blade saws!
I wouldn't even be this upset if they had made me cut open a frog. With animals, there is a clear difference between in and outside. You cut open a frog, you are faced with a plethora of interesting and unknown shapes, colors, and odors. That is, at least, new and exciting. The rock, however, is about as exciting as watching something cook on a George Foreman grill. (actually, that is pretty exciting...)
I understand why this is important for a geology or environmental science major. However, I am quite happy simply knowing that the Earth is here, I am on it, and that is that. I don't need to know what is inside a rock, especially when I can see what is inside on the outside.