Thread: What is a liberal education?

Originally Posted by Rick Blaine

And the history books have a paragraph about George Washington the Slave owner and a chapter about some African Tribal Leader no one has ever heard of. One book of American history for middle school, I couldn't find one mention of Jefferson?

1. We're talking about "liberal education" here, not middle school.

2. The text you refer to, although flawed, likely replaces an earlier text that was even more politically biased and more deeply flawed. Hopefully, with each generation, the political bias and historical flaws are reduced over time. Perfection is apparently no an option for human beings.

Originally Posted by Rick Blaine

Yet though the study of our founding fathers is a study on what makes people great. Oh well, yet how can you out do some African Tribal Leader that no one ever heard of and has basically has no influence of any great movement or meaning.

A study of the founding fathers is a study of the founding fathers. Period.

In other words, you apparently don't object to propaganda in the classrooms at all - what you object to is propaganda in the classroom that you don't personally agree with...

How typical.

Originally Posted by Rick Blaine

And the history books have a paragraph about George Washington the Slave owner and a chapter about some African Tribal Leader no one has ever heard of. One book of American history for middle school, I couldn't find one mention of Jefferson?

Yet though the study of our founding fathers is a study on what makes people great. Oh well, yet how can you out do some African Tribal Leader that no one ever heard of and has basically has no influence of any great movement or meaning.

But without a link or a source we can only assume you are making things up.

When pundits talk about how "liberal educational institutions are failing our students" I just don't know what they are talking about. It seems like most people who have gone through these "liberal institutions that are failing" are doing pretty well. The students who are failing were the ones who wouldn't have tried hard enough regardless of the institution or had uncaring parents. The institutions that are "failing" has nothing to do with the institutions at all. I always found it fascinating that pundits blame teachers first when parents are the primary influence of motivation. Pundits never hold parents accountable.

Originally Posted by reino

Pundits never hold parents accountable.

Heck, I'd just like to see one 'pundit' held responsible for their own opinion - just once!

Pretty much every single American media 'pundit' was categorically wrong about the Iraq invasion. Not just 'slightly wrong' - I mean massively, completely and totally wrong.

And they carry on like they are still clever and respected fellows... watching people die.

Originally Posted by Hank

That sounds like labeling to me. Keeps you guys from considering both sides huh?
You know, it could be shit like spending an entire chapter on Amelia Earhart
and a mentioned paragraph on Charles Lindbergh. (I mean, she did crash and burn…)
Also, on math word problems. It’s not necessary to state Janice is an African American who had 43 cents and Debra who is a native- American who had 23 cents.

Well, I have certainly never seen anything of the sort. I don't believe that you have either.

In my math books (Saxon), the word problems usually began with sentences like "Ramses Pontificated..." or "There were seven queens and six dukes" etc.

Originally Posted by Hank

That sounds like labeling to me. Keeps you guys from considering both sides huh?
You know, it could be shit like spending an entire chapter on Amelia Earhart
and a mentioned paragraph on Charles Lindbergh. (I mean, she did crash and burn…)
Also, on math word problems. It’s not necessary to state Janice is an African American who had 43 cents and Debra who is a native- American who had 23 cents.

I thought the word "liberal" also meant "plenty." Liberal is not a dirty word, you know.

I can name some dirty words in a PM, though. Any takers?

Ben

Originally Posted by Benjamin

I can name some dirty words in a PM, though. Any takers?

I'm actually a little curious as to what you would consider a dirty word.

Personally, I'm enrolled in a liberal arts education, after graduating from a liberal arts focused high school. My high school education was at a Jesuit high school, so it was indeed a left of center education, but we're not talking about ultra-liberal, just compassionate social-justice orientated liberal.

Originally Posted by Tree Hugger

I'm actually a little curious as to what you would consider a dirty word.

Personally, I'm enrolled in a liberal arts education, after graduating from a liberal arts focused high school. My high school education was at a Jesuit high school, so it was indeed a left of center education, but we're not talking about ultra-liberal, just compassionate social-justice orientated liberal.

Well, it starts with a "c." I actually don't consider the "f" word all that bad, more of a taboo among older folks.

Wow, a Jesuit education. I was homeschooled, and it had no agenda. My liberal arts education really has no agenda, either. I don't understand what concerns conservatives so much about college, except for the fact you are required to think.

Ben

Originally Posted by Benjamin

I don't understand what concerns conservatives so much about college, except for the fact you are required to think.

Ben

Bemused giggles. You can be so innocent sometimes Ben.

Conservatives distrust academia for the simple reason that higher education co-relates rather closely with liberalism. Conservatives apparently hate this, but there is nothing they can do about it - except denigrate academia and the value of higher education (which they do regularly).

That a higher education co-relates with liberalism is not a factor of any politically liberal bias in the course material - it is more a natural function of learning about what has worked and what hasn't.

Originally Posted by Mad_Michael

Bemused giggles. You can be so innocent sometimes Ben.

Conservatives distrust academia for the simple reason that higher education co-relates rather closely with liberalism. Conservatives apparently hate this, but there is nothing they can do about it - except denigrate academia and the value of higher education (which they do regularly).

Something I used to buy into, as I would listen to right wing talk all day. I know now that it's a load of shit. Funny how conservative political candiates have college degrees......

Ben

Originally Posted by Benjamin

I was homeschooled, and it had no agenda.

I beg to differ.

Originally Posted by Benjamin

My liberal arts education really has no agenda, either.

I beg to differ.

All education has an agenda by definition.