Reading Response 4

A good student, according to the common sense, must ‘check off’ certain boxes in a predetermined list of characteristics. A creative way that I have come to think about the idea of a good student is in the form of a recipe, and I feel as though a recipe is the best way for me to articulate my thoughts.

For one ‘Good Student’:

• 3 Cup Retention of Knowledge, concentrated
• 2 Cups Ability to Sit for Long Periods of Time
• 1 Cup Ability to Listen
• 1/2 Cup Ability to Follow Instructions
• 1 Tbsp Attention to Detail, strained (the strained of this ingredient is important, as lumps will cause the finished student to be attentive of details not prescribed by the teacher)
• Optional: Creative Thinking, watered down (but only use sparingly, otherwise the recipe will not turn out, more on this below)

Mix concentrated Retention of Knowledge and Ability to Sit for Long Periods of Time together in a large bowl. Add in Ability to Listen a 1/4 cup at a time and mix thoroughly after each addition (so as to not dull the focus of the finished student), set bowl aside. In a smaller bowl, beat together the Ability to Follow Instructions and the Attention to Detail for 2 minutes (or until smooth). Fold this mixture into the mixture in the larger bowl, do so until combined. If desired, mix in the watered down Creative Thinking (again, only use sparingly, otherwise the dough will be impossible to press into a desirable mold). A thick dough should now be formed.

Remove the dough from the bowl onto a floured surface. Knead for 3 minutes to ensure all ingredients have been incorporated. Once you are done kneading, press the dough into a desirable mold.* Once pressed into the mold, place into an oven preheated for 200 degrees Celsius and bake for 3 hours. The Good Student is ready once it has cooled down and is easy to work with.

*NOTE: There are an infinite amount of desirable molds choose from. Though the finished student may look different than that of another mold, they are all the same on the inside, providing the above recipe is followed. Desirable molds are characterized by their clean, non-abrasive appearance, and are generally made of finer material. Molds characterized as non-desirable per the ‘common sense’ tend to be a little rough around the edges, and are not made from as fine of materials (though to someone who does not seek to follow the ‘common sense’ model, all molds are considered desirable).

I would just like to point out that this recipe can be attempted with any ingredients, though the results may be far from desired as per the ‘common sense’. For example, more Creative Thinking can be used, but as described already, the dough becomes impossible to press into a desirable mold (as per common sense). The solution is to not be so picky with molds, and to use every mold as though it is equal in quality, for all molds are of high quality if treated properly. Curiosity and Inquisitive Nature are examples of other ingredients that can be added or substituted to this recipe if one departs from the ‘common sense’ model.

It is easy to see that students of a desirable mold as per the ‘common sense’ have an advantage over students of other molds when this recipe is strictly adhered to. Also, strict adherence to this recipe makes it impossible for students to showcase qualities that could be brought out with the addition of unique ingredients. As one can see, the point of this recipe isn’t to make a large variety of unique students, but rather many of one type of student, the Good Student. I don’t believe that ‘Good’ should be classified by the ingredients that go into the student, as this makes it impossible to classify any student that did not come out of this specific recipe as ‘Good’, when they very well could be. I suppose if one had to find an upside to this recipe, it could be conformity. Downsides to this recipe include a lack of variety, creativity, and originality amongst other things. The downside that I think is the most important to note is that this recipe, before even being attempted, categorizes certain molds above others, and in doing so, gives privileges to students of certain molds and takes privileges away from students of other molds before any of them are even made.