Study-Reading

I have such a different way of reading when it comes to ‘study-reading’ - i.e. reading to learn something, not reading for leisure or research. My pace is slightly slower and I tire easily. I can’t just scan the pages, looking for useful keywords and I can’t skip paragraphs… I can, but I don’t want to because this book is very interesting.

You see some of my notes in the picture. So far, I learned that everything I know about what youth work *should* be is 100% correct. A young person who becomes a youth worker is what Gramsci calls an ‘organic intellectual’ = someone who understands a group’s experience because they lived it, can articulate its needs, and represent its interests. What Gramsci also emphasises is that the organic intellectual needs to remain in touch with their group and constantly respond to the new ‘common sense’ (as in consensus or discourse) that emerges. So the youth worker needs to go back to their young people regularly.

I love knowing that what I do is right!