by Katia on March 9, 2010
“What is school for?” asks Seth Godin. His initial answers on the matter, while interesting and meant to spark discussion, I think reflect a larger problem: The ideas floating around about education are still pretty antiquated. Despite all our access to new technologies, the fundamental assumptions of education are unchanged.
Seth presents a variety of ideas about “What is school for?” but most seem to fall into three categories:
- To build and maintain a society with certain standards among the citizenry.
- To socialize the masses and keep them down under The Man’s thumb.
- To fulfill oneself.
Forget a revolution of the proletariat; what we need is an education revolution. Shouldn’t there be a different way of thinking about education? A 21st century reason to go to school already? But what might that be?
by Nicole on March 5, 2010
The anger over rising tuiton and school budget cuts have sparked fury with college students across the country. Large demonstrations and clashes with police at college campuses, public parks and government buildings in several U.S. cities were reported yesterday. Police arrested more than 150 protestors in Oakland, California for blocking the freeway. The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee saw at least 15 people arrested.
The protest is a result of tuition hikes of up to 30 percent this year. While anti-establishment campus protests are nothing new, colleges students are not alone in this battle. More than 200 professors, instructors and faculty members marched through the University of Illinois yesterday protesting the recent furloughs and 4% pay cuts imposed on thousands of employees and faculty.
Further protests were seen in the University of Texas, UC Berkeley, California State University, Auburn University, and many more on what was being called as the March 4th Day of Action to Defend Public Education.
Whew! Sounds like the public universities are getting more and more dangerous. Maybe its best just to stay at home and get your degree safely online?
See the article in The Huffington Post
