[MD] The Academy is Evil! Here's what I'd do instead...

[ARLO J BENSINGER JR]

[John]
We can't take on "the academy" in isolation without also addressing K-12, and
in fact, that's where I see a great deal of the solution coming - from the
bottom up.  How?  The voucher system.  Allow parents and students to choose
freely from a variety of education systems...

[Arlo]
There are a lot of open posts in this thread, so just a heads up that if I miss
something its unintentional.

At present, parents have that ability to send their children (and adult
students can make their own decisions) about which University or college to
attend. Given this, I don't see your point about how if parents had the same
"choice" at the K-12 level, the problems you mention would be solved.

For example, if its "religious integration", there are many, many religious
colleges and universities you could send your kids to. Do you feel these
institutions are more "flexible" or open to evolving ideas than non-religious
universities?

[John]
... and I think a sort of evolution would occur that is being stifled by the
interference of big govt/big business which are focused on  training  up drones
for the giant's hives. More vocational schools, more art schools...

[Arlo]
Setting K-12 aside for the moment, there are plenty of art schools, vocational
schools, all kinds of alternatives out there to the university. Do you think we
need more? 

What you seem to be suggesting, in fact, is separating out vocational and art
schools from the Academy. I've long argued the reverse is true (leaving aside
Crawford's- and Pirsig's- notion that the problem IS the divorce of vocation
from art), that students entering these fields should be given the same broad
exposure to knowledge that the University provides. There is no reason why our
future carpenters should be denied courses in literature, history, poetry,
astronomy, philosophy, etc. 

[John]
Then I believe the university system is flexible enough to meet the higher
needs of such a self-empowered base of students.

[Arlo]
How is the University NOT meeting their needs, because it is certainly bending
over backwards to meet their demands. And students have more power now than
ever in the Academy.

[John]
And there [tuition costs], I think we need a top-down solution - but by "top",
I don't mean the university, I mean the society.  In this case, the academy
needs to see that, acknowledge it and work toward revolutinary change.

[Arlo]
What change would you suggest? Free tuition such as the "commie" European
model? Tuition forgiveness for entering certain fields? Scaling tuition to be a
certain percentage of income? 

[John]
Ok, it's getting near Christmas.  Can I start huming Kum-bay-yah now?

[Arlo]
There are many traditions for celebrating the Solstice, John, if you want to
start humming a song, by all means, please do so.