[MD] 42

[John Carl]

Arlo and Dan,


> [Arlo]
> First, Dan, I'm not trying to be difficult here, educational reform is a
> very big area of interest to me. There are many legitimate concerns over
> the present way we educate; pedagogical, functional, structural, economic,
> etc., and legitimate concerns over establishing privilege and cultural
> hegemony (see Paulo Freire, for example). So I'm genuinely concerned here
> to hear what you (and others) think (1) is wrong (specifically and
> generally), and (2) "what would something better look like".
>

JohnC:

I agree Arlo that the subject is of utmost importance.  We can come up with
the most wonderful and correct metaphysics but unless we figure out how to
translate that to oncoming generations, nothing will change for the
better.

(1)  The main thing wrong is entrenchment.  We have a rapidly evolving
world but the academic world isn't adaptive enough to keep up with those
changes.  Unions and tenure may have served a good purpose in the past but
now they are part of the problem.

(2)  The solution is to open up the field - vouchers.  Give families power
and choice and give hot teachers freedom from the system.  Sure some
failures will occur but I believe an evolutionary competition is the best
way to improve the whole educational system.

John