"Civilization sends us out here to solve a great problem: i.e., how two races and cultures can be accommodated side by side. And we fall to stock-speculation and wheat-raising and leave the problem to the political hack and the strong-lunged agitator."
Letter of Royce, in 1870, to chancellor of brand new Berkely, complaining of California, but his point could be made about America today. But Platt asks a question: how? We may talk of utopian better ways, but baby, you know we'd love to see the plan... besides whining, what points can be made? Platt sez vouchers. John agrees. Start with fundamental choice for parents. Either institute vouchers or eliminate the whole boon doggerel. This will open up the system to experimentation and creativity and break the hold of the academic forces of self-interest which clamp down upon non-SOMish philosophys. But besides freedom, a positive choice should be instantiated. A goal to shoot for, an ideal to draw in the sand - in other words, don't just open up the possibility of a Quality education, actually try creat one. Or at least the curricula. Platt sez How. The cliche greeting of the Red Man. I responded thus to Platt before, but more mention is needed of DQ University. The dream part imagining is whereby we communally design a curriculum for such. The dream continues in that those who currently are in charge of the actual DQ University, would be overwhelmed by the comprehensive Quality of our curriculum and would adopt it and begin training young people today in the ideas of yesterday we're going to need tomorrow. egad. I'm already writing like an administrator. Of course its far-reaching and beyond any man's grasp. But it's a good idea, and good ideas deserve an outworking of their ramifications. So... I will get the ball rolling with some ideas for classes at DQ University. We start with Metaphysics 101. This is because you need to understand the ground upon which your education is based. This should be the first thing all students learn and the fact that it is not is only due to the status-quo, powers-that-be-in-charge, having a vested interest in covering up and hiding. Not so at DQ University - which carries the principle of openness and honesty to a seemingly ridiculous degree. Metaphysics 101 will be conducted by a teacher reading to a class, with pauses for questions when anybody needs to ask a question. The class will be as long as the students need to get through the required reading, with no set time limit. The grades will be pass or fail. If you persist in sticking with the class and reaching the communal consensus of understanding, you are ready to move on. If you fail, you have to keep playing until you succeed or drop out or do something different. I think all classes should be like that. After a firm grounding in Metaphysics, the student will choose a track of education in harmony with their taste and inclination, but to successfully graduate from DQ University, every student must have absorbed and demonstrated the knowledge of mastery of all levels of their being - in a natural progression from the biological arts of agriculture and shelter creation to the high intellectual pursuits of art and politics. In fact, the school grounds should be themselves an ideal demonstration of proper principles put in practice. Designed in a circle with enough food for all and gardened according to the wisest minds in a holistic pattern. And archery. Every student should learn how to hit the target with a bow. For your doctorate, you have to get it in the bulls eye. There. I have a plan. Moq_Discuss mailing list Listinfo, Unsubscribing etc. http://lists.moqtalk.org/listinfo.cgi/moq_discuss-moqtalk.org Archives: http://lists.moqtalk.org/pipermail/moq_discuss-moqtalk.org/ http://moq.org.uk/pipermail/moq_discuss_archive/
