Greenleaf appears to desire that universities and education generally "provide continuity for a culture of freedom and rationality, plus are a great creative experience."
Why doesn’t Greenleaf’s desire happen?
I think a central problem is that if you asked the average American parents (typically the one who pays for universities through tuition and taxes) to tell you what they want out of the university for their children, they would say, “I want my children to have a good careers when they’re done in four years.”
Few parents would say, “I want my children to have the knowledge to carry on the Western traditional culture of freedom and rationality.” Most parents wouldn't quite know what that was or even why it's important. Not good.
Pressure to meet parents’/taxpayers' perceived needs generally shape universities. We have met the enemy and he is us.
Chris,
Thank you for your reply....once again, you are spot on!
Trevor
Harvard University must be reading Greenleaf...in today's (2/8/2007) USA TODAY it is reported that Harvard University proposed its "biggest curriculum overhaul in three decades...putting new emphasis on sciences, religous beliefs and world cultures. The curriculum (according to the report) has been criticized as focusing too narrowly on academic topics instead of real life issues, or for being antagonistic to organized religion."
The huge problem is (and I say problem, not challenge) that the educational system has the least focus on personal values such as integrity and leadership. There are very few that actually develop better mentalities for success on a grander scale. Why do you think some dropouts are some of the most successful people in the world? They know a few simple principles or "secrets" that not everyone is educated on. That's why the 5% control most of the wealth.
Education nowadays are only concerned with getting a good education to get a good job to get a good life. (The good good good syndrome.) It doesn't teach about success. You usually have to pay a premium to learn those things.
What was once thought as a savior to our children's livelihood is now a cancer because society has evolved and changed so much while the educational system has not.
Benjamin...great points. Any thoughts on what a mission statement might and/or should look like for our education system. I have been in groups with educators at all levels that try to figure that one out. At the end of the day how does the "system" know if it is successful?
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