George Cowitch 🇺🇸

Students need to learn how to sit, think, and write for extended periods. No phones. No computer. Just their thoughts, the struggle to organize them, and the clarity that comes from deep focus.

high school in 2004

On day 1 of my high school history class, our professor got up and said You are 15 or 16 years old. 200 years ago people your age were married, planted crops, had children, and built a cabin by winter. You can do your homework. The bar set for you historically is embarrassingly low. You are not dealing with regional famine or plague. You do not have to save your family from marauders or go into battle to destroy your enemies. You have to sit down and learn from someone who cares about you in a safe, air-conditioned room. You have no excuses.

Public schools: “But how will we enforce this cell phone ban?!” Private schools: “We saw you using your phone in hallway. We will give you your phone back next month.”

Refs too worried about coaches box, undershirt colors, what the bench is saying and other stuff that doesn’t the effect outcome of game instead of focusing on making the correct calls on the court

I went to high school from 1998-2002. I am convinced HUMANITY PEAKED here. •Every freaking moment wasn't recorded. People said/did dumb stuff without it haunting them forever. Privacy felt default. Every kid would DANCE at school dances & didn't have to fear looking silly & it being posted online forever. •We had cell phones for calls/texts, but not constant notifications, social media doomscrolling, or smartphones glued to everyone's hands. Life felt connected without being overwhelmed. WE LIVED IN THE MOMENT IN REAL LIFE! •There were no pronouns or safe spaces. •No one obsessed over race, identity or sexual orientation. People just mostly got along. Politics didn't feel like THE MAIN THING. People weren't so tribal & didn't feel the need to shout their opinion on everything. •Michael Jordan reigned over the NBA & he never took "load management" days off or flopped. They called traveling in the NBA & guys played hard. •The music was better than ever! It's all recycled garbage now. •The movies were better than ever! Now it's just Fast & Furious 17 & more of the same -- nothing groundbreaking & original like THE MATRIX, Fight Club, Saving Private Ryan, Gladiator etc. etc. •Housing & jobs still felt affordable. Low inflation, cheap gas (89 cents a gallon I recall), & me & 4 high school buddies could get 2 large pizzas for $10. •Kids played outside, hung at malls & arcades, made plans via landlines & AIM INSTANT MESSENGER. There was no social media FOMO or curated online personas ruining spontaneous hangs. •Everyone wasn't offended by everything. 100% of people acknowledged there were two genders, women shouldn't get pummeled by men in sports, & common sense was just more common. •Pre 9-11 you could show up to a flight 30 minutes before it took off & walk right onto the plane. I get nostalgic at times, but am still super bullish on humanity & an awesome future. What do you think?! Have we peaked (if so when) or is the best yet to come?!