A young girl asked the question about questioning a person with vested authority without sounding over smart and disrespectful. The answer given by the speaker was interesting and an eye-opener.
To Listen to the question and the stated answer: Facebook video
Attitude Towards Authority an Unasked Question
This brought back the viewpoint towards me. I wondered how many times, I had stood by my belief and understanding. How many times have I questioned the person in authority who held the decision of my future. Many of us buckle under the pressure from authority.
Given a choice, most of us would have rebelled; but we held on to our silence because, we have been ‘a defeatist who handed over our rights to questioning the authority’ out of pre-programmed inherent fear.
We refused acceptance of the same and try to negate that we didn’t speak up for ourselves by justifying the entire incident as power to respecting authority.
I could give you examples of authority in our different stages of life. As a child, our parents knew what was best for us, as a student our teachers and professors knew what was best for us, as an employee our manager knew what was best for us, thus leaving us as humans who are clueless, as to what is best for us!
Value Systems Gone Broke
Questioning authority takes first an understanding of the self well. There are no user manuals for being a human, it is made uniquely by the individual through experiential thoughts and actions which is, by-the-way, a process of life.
So, the value system that the society flaunts has little to no effect, if it is not processed by individualistic thinking, at a high price of not confirming, to tow the line of accepted normal behaviour.
Partly, it could be that, the authority goes unquestioned, because of fear of the person who holds authoritative power, or as a controlled subordinates who remains silent. I, thereby see these people as a weak person in command for all given situation.
Thug Life of a Rebel for Questioners of Norms
How many times the scenario of young minds not accepting the enforced norms for peaceful coexistence or subjugation of free thinking had to be judged as living a thug life and ostracised by the community for not toeing the line of authority.
Once the first question is shot at authority then, the person is always seen as a rebel. This is especially hard for young thinking minds. I feel when young, one needs to question relevant rules, if it does not serve the purpose of common good.
Providing Safe Environment for Healthy Discussion
It also becomes important, that there is a safe environment for them to provide opportunity to openly question the authority. While discussing it would be best, if both interact, without either feeling threatened of being questioned, or cold-shouldered as too young to question.
The middle ground in exploring the safe discussion between subjects of authority and upholders of authority can be possible when both allow free; but restricted expression. It is not name calling or rebel for rebellion’s sake; but to truly bring to the table, the various diverse fractions of interest.
Mindset Needs to Change
The old school of thoughts aims for simple matrix. Authority states and the Subject obeys without questioning. This is clearer when there is opposition to a thought or idea placed by younger generation which does not fall in line with pre-set ideas.
This calls for understanding the young and the old through interactive and reassured transaction of communication. This becomes clearer in the classroom interactions.
If the teacher assumes old school of societal rules as their role in the educational system. Then, it is hard to progress. Or if the educator is willing to experiment within the perimeter of open conversation and interaction. Then, we see a two different kind of classrooms.
Silent Vs. Noisy Classrooms’ Role of Authority
Old school is full of strict discipline in the behaviour and exempts all questions. While the present-day school of thoughts, allows for free expression within some restriction. It could defy some discipline for a more rounded educational experience.
I have always enjoyed a noisy and buzzing classroom. It kind of blooming of young minds. Every child’s question is given utmost careful consideration. Of course, the teacher’s answer may or may not be what the child expected. Or even in some cases the teachers themselves do not know the answer.
I feel the viewfinder of teachers and students should be malleable understanding. It should allow the authoritative person may not have all the answers. But a promise to discover it together as a class would be encouraging and positive reinforcement.
Future Environment for Questioning Authority
Be it home, school, college, or workplace the voice of authority might have to undergo a paradigm shift in attitudes of dispensing discipline. Having the right kind of questioning process and response channel and to discover as a unit comes with lot of benefits to both the involved persons (i.e.,) both the person in authority and the person under authority.
The classroom is no longer the same as used to be since the virtual life exposure are on the high and the sense of feeling being protected is at its early stages of technological innovation and research. Somehow, to question in these unprotected arena makes self-expression a borderline bullying.
What Needs to Change?!
Very few of us have an answer to existential question. Yet, fewer are willing to say that the answer is yet to be discovered through the process of living and societal progress. Blind old rules may not cut out in the present-day rapidly changing environment, yet, the basic rules are written in rocks and to show by example may not even reach its audience.
Then, where is the change most required?! I don’t know the answer because the line that separates the just question of authority and rash defiance of authority are in the structure of posing the question to authority from being a subject of authority. When it is clear, what is acceptable questioning and what is not acceptable questioning of authorities helps in diagnosing the social behavioural sickness that the society is facing now.
One-Sided Thought Views | Debatable The above thoughts and supportive reasoners are just views from one angle or personal viewpoints. To make it something universal, it will require an entire community working on the behaviours and their thought processes.
The best outcome is seen when there are no barriers to open communication and all views good or bad, have been given space to express and an healthy debate ensues between the two fractions of diverse views. Then, I believe the process of democratic school could be aimed for as ultimate goal.
Itinerant Storyteller 