Induction

Movement 1:
Heaven's Gates

Movement 2:
You are Here!

Movement 3:
I Don't Want to be a Computer!

Movement 4:
A Cyborg Humanist's Vision

Cyborgs Can't Be Educated: 1/5

Education and learning depend upon an authoritative and paternalistic world sense and a conduit metaphor connecting educators with learners. The educational system depends on these premises from beginning to end. After a lifetime in this system, I’m prepared to declare it unhealthy at best. It regularly exercises its potential to destroy the zeal to study, the majesty of inquiry, the vitality of the human minded-body.

Education places us from infancy throughout life in situations where those who have knowledge present it to those who do not. Those who have knowledge are invariably recognized as authorities and hold the majority of knowledge. This authority is exercised by the educational system’s control of the body. Education requires that learning bodies be seated and quiet while educator bodies are permitted room to stand and to move. It is nearly impossible to find a space in the University of Colorado that does not have chairs attached to the floor, which further restricts the movement of bodies and artificially ensures the semblance of order. Learning bodies are disabled bodies. We have had ingrained in our deepest body habits the command of educators, "Sit still, be silent, and listen." Those who have mastered the educational system receiving the highest degrees proudly refer to their education as their "training." Training is compliance with authority demonstrating the power of the system to destroy self-motivation, vitality, and individuality and any connection with ourselves as minded-bodies. Training at the doctoral level is the final stage of toilet training. Being toilet trained, it is not that we cease to eliminate, it is simply that we don’t do it whenever or wherever we feel like it. Training is a learning about things being in their proper times and places. Doctoral training is no different.

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