I am not a fan of programs. Based on my limited experience, a program is when people sit down to structure how other people are supposed to solve a problem. I’m more a fan of people taking personal initiative.
Worse than a program is a program of buzzwords. Giving a benefit of a doubt, maybe the founder knew what he was talking about and had a passionate desire to do good. But maybe he wasn’t skilled in English, so he used a few popular phrases that he thought would make him sound authoritative. A few close friends might have understood what he was trying to say. The rest of the world heard catenated jibberish, but not wanting to appear insensitive to the plight of children or the poor, they seconded the emotions of the program’s founder.
It’s sort of like Led Zeppelin. Led Zep actually sounds killer on maybe 1% of stereo systems. The band sounds rather bland on the rest. People making recording industry decisions have the good systems. Normal people listen to the bland sounds and see the experts going bonkers and conclude they had best do the same if they want to appear to know anything about music.
And so today there is the prevalent notion that people sitting around a table speaking jabberwocky are the key to the future for the oppressed and defenseless. This rant was instigated by an article about a program for which three Watauga County schools have just received awards. From the article, it is unclear exactly what the emperor is wearing. It is as if a large segment of the population does not know children are supposed to learn courtesy or that intimidating and demeaning behavior does not build character in its targets.
