GOOD READING Kids.....

[David Farber <dave () farber net>]

Begin forwarded message:

From: "John S. Quarterman" <jsq () quarterman org>
Date: November 17, 2008 9:00:37 AM EST
To: dave () farber net, "Dewayne Hendricks" <dewayne () warpspeed com>
Cc: "Bryan Price" <bytehead () gmail com>, jsq () quarterman org
Subject: Re: Kids.....

--------

> Laziness IS good.

Indeed.

But massive redistribution of wealth to one percent of the population
aided and abetted by many of the victims because the school system
didn't help them learn how to know when they were being taken is *not*  
good.
That kind of laziness leads to 90% of the population having to work
harder, not less, so that 1% can live the life of Midas (and the
other 9% get to suck up to Midas).

And it's not an accident that the school system doesn't help:

'While President of Harvard from 1933 to 1953, James Bryant Conant wrote
that the change to a forced, rigid, potential-destroying educational
system had been demanded by "certain industrialists and the innovative
who were altering the nature of the industrial process."'

http://www.thememoryhole.org/edu/school-mission.htm?

The so-called "No Child Left Behind" was just another step in that
rigidification: tests on detail trumping learning to think.
(If you knew how to think you'd know that getting the decimal
point right was important.)

> I'm sure at some point that parents will be telling their kids, "When
> I was your age, I had to actually read and study a subject until I
> understood it instead of just googling it and having it downloaded
> into my brain."

Google and the Internet may be a way out of the educational  
straitjacket.
First in Korea, now in the U.S., the Internet has elected a president
despite the wishes of many of the industrial powers that be.

That's why it's important not to let the Internet fall under the
control of a few big telecom and cable companies.  Fortunately,
as Shoshana Zuboff is telling us and as Mark Anderson and William
Gibson predicted, the world is turning upside down:

http://riskman.typepad.com/peerflow/2008/11/users-revolted-net-neutrality-to-win.html

-jsq

"The reasons adduced here to-day have long ago been advanced
 in favor of passive obedience and non-resistance. In 1688,
 the British nation expelled their monarch for attempting
 to trample on their liberties. The doctrine of divine right
 and passive obedience was said to be commanded by Heaven — it was
 inculcated by his minions and adherents. He wanted to possess,
 without control, the sword and purse. The attempt cost him his crown.
 This government demands the same powers. I see reason to be more
 and As more alarmed. I fear it will terminate in despotism.
 As to his objection of the abuse of liberty, it is denied.
 The political inquiries and promotions of the peasants are
 a happy circumstance. A foundation of knowledge is
 a great mark of happiness. When the spirit of inquiry after
 political discernment goes forth among the lowest of the people,
 it rejoices my heart. Why such fearful apprehensions?"

 --Patrick Henry, 14 June 1788
   http://www.constitution.org/rc/rat_va_12.htm#henry-08




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