Peasant Education

[Archaeopteryx]

This, one might suspect, seems to indicate a desire to push a peasant education. That is, to shape higher education so that its primary purpose is to create workers crafted to meet the needs of employers. While there is an emphasis on critical thinking and writing proficiency (after all, as my friend noted, the peasants need to be literate), these also seem to be matters relating to being fit employees rather than a concern for educating people to think for themselves (which has been a hallmark of the liberal education).

It is interesting that the fields that are typically the most subject to attack tend tend to be those that emphasize original thinking and questioning. For example, philosophy has long been bashed as being “impractical” and “useless.” Coincidentally, philosophy is focused on original thinking, questioning dogma and inquiring into matters deeply. Folks who learn too much philosophy (such as Locke, Socrates, King, Wollstonecraft and Jefferson) are often not content to go along with the status quo and have a tendency to be rather concerned about such things as ethics and justice. As another example, science has often come under attack, at least when scientists deal with matters that certain folks regard as unsettling (such as climate change, vaccines and evolution). Of course, I am sure it is just a coincidence that the fields of inquiry that are most concerned with big questions and profound inquiries tend to be the target of charges of being useless and impractical.

From A Philosopher's Blog.

 

[Ishraqiyun]

This, one might suspect, seems to indicate a desire to push a peasant education. That is, to shape higher education so that its primary purpose is to create workers crafted to meet the needs of employers.

This theory has really contributed to the dumbing down of America. People aren't thought to think. They are instead taught to be useful workers. Obedient cogs in the machine.

 

[NightHawkeye]

It is interesting that the fields that are typically the most subject to attack tend tend to be those that emphasize original thinking and questioning.
From A Philosopher's Blog.

Did anyone happen to notice that one of the most attacked institutions is the teacher's union, the NEA.

Aren't these the teachers who have consistently resisted reforms in the public school system? Resisted vouchers ... resisted alternative schools ... resisted any competitive schools ... while the nation's students got dumbed down year after year.


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[Daniel25]

oh noes they might defund my queer studies department!

 

[NightHawkeye]

Here's more on the National Education Association's "dumbing down" agenda ... from the Wall Street Journal. The NEA's Latest Trick - WSJ.com

Public school teachers are supposed to teach kids to read, so it would be nice if their unions could master the same skill. In a recent letter to Senators, the National Education Association claims Washington, D.C.'s Opportunity Scholarships aren't working, ignoring a recent evaluation showing the opposite.

"The DC voucher pilot program, which is set to expire this year, has been a failure," the NEA's letter fibs. "Over its five year span, the pilot program has yielded no evidence of positive impact on student achievement."

That must be news to the voucher students who are reading almost a half-grade level ahead of their peers. Or to the study's earliest participants, who are 19 months ahead after three years. Parents were also more satisfied with their children's schools and more confident about their safety. Those were among the findings of the Department of Education's own Institute of Education Sciences, which used rigorous standards to measure statistically significant improvement.

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[chaz345]

This theory has really contributed to the dumbing down of America. People aren't thought to think. They are instead taught to be useful workers. Obedient cogs in the machine.

How is that worse than the alternative, where you've got people with a degree that gives them absolutely zero knowledge or thinking skills that has any value to an employer expecting to make $40k per year the minute they graduate. A masters or even PhD in Ancient Middle Eastern languages or Renassiance Art doesn't mean jack in the employment world even though getting one does require the ability to think critically. Clearly philosophy and other pursuits have value to society but if you can't do something that generates $$ for an employer too, don't expect to get paid just because you've got a bunch of letters after your name.