Horses, reading, tools, and other old paradigms
by: Sherwin Ragos
We have been persuaded by the belief that “new paradigms” are better than “old paradigms.” Paradigms are mental models how we see the world. They affect our minds and in turn the way we behave. Do old or traditional ways really lost their charm? That conventional things no longer fit the modern world?
Reading. When “Sesame Street” was introduced in television, it is believed that it could revolutionized learning of children. Reading would become a secondary method of acquiring knowledge. When computers become ubiquitous, many had predicted that time would come when we’ll no longer read on paper. That when paperless society ushers in, bookstores will decline and that industry will come into a denouement. Did we forsake the old way? As we get more IT savvy the more we use papers. There may be proliferation of e-books but sales of bookstores inexorably increasing. We still love our novels on paperback and reading is still one of the most enjoyable intellectual activities for young and old alike.
English language. I remember my English teachers painstakingly let me and my classmates read orally paragraphs of an article or short story in a book. It was not only during elementary or high school days, it went on until college. There has been an observable decline of English proficiency among Filipino students. The culprit could be the new paradigm of technology. Most college instructors provide hand-outs, annotated or slide-format, or simply photocopied books. After that, help yourself!
Horse. Horses had their days. They were once major transporters. Carriages are pulled by horses for many centuries. Cars, motorcycles, buses, and other land transports gradually replaced the horses. Did we completely discard the horses? Not at all. Didn’t you know that horses were used to reach some terrorists or the taliban in the middle east? At mines’ view Baguio City, you can have nice pictures with what? Horses. See? Horses are indispensable.
Tools. The ax was outdone by more advanced tools like chainsaw and other cutting tools. But, what did the SWAT team use in a hostage drama at Quirino grandstand to contain the crisis? Ax!
We can utilize both paradigms, old and new, in juxtapose with each other. We can shift from one model to another and back. Do not forget the basics. Embrace the new yet stick firmly to the old.
rigth! we should also not forget the traditional way, pero ok din po na gumamit tyo ng technology like ebook for reading pra mabawasan na ang pagpuputol ng mga puno as a source of making books (n_n)
nice post..by d way i already add u in my blog list….
pLZz add me too to your blog list.. thanks.
God Blez=)
of course… it should be side-by-side. e-book and book. thanks for the comment!
embrace the most applicable,, guess so….
kung alin ung comfortable k… go!!!!!!!!!!
sir ung sa Quirino Granstand, d po yta ax ung ginamit nila ang alam ko po kc sa news maso dw po ung ginamit nila hindi ax ska napancin ko rin po sa video sa youtube na maso talaga ung ginamit nila
to be exact, they used sledgehammer (maso) and axe or ax (palakol)… thanks for the comment. hehehe.