[MD] Imaginings

[John Carl]

"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.