From: Dehede011@aol.com
Date: Sun Aug 25 2002 - 11:43:57 MDT
Thank you, Lee,
This is a subject where it is easy for you and I, or who ever, to
assume we are being contentious. However, I would much prefer it to be a
mutual exploration. In that spirit I may sometimes argue with your point but
just as often consider your point as an opportunity to explore a previously
unexplored branch, by me anyway.
I have gone down the "conspiracy theory" trail and frankly I just
don't see that branch as having significant existance. John Taylor Gatto
absolutely does not put forward a conspiracy theory view of education and I
haven't previously. Mike writes on this subject on these pages and I believe
he doesn't either -- (speak for yourself, Mike).
My personal take on conspiracies is that there are innumerable
conspiracies but they are almost totally unsuccessful ones. I personally
know of one that is a success that could be spoken of as a benign conspiracy.
I know of one other that might be. However, neither of those are into
anything that would come to mind when we think of a conspiracy.
However, I see nothing in Education that appears to be a conspiracy.
At the national level I think some bigger "cotton farmers & merchants" are
simply doing what they do in advocating and promoting a theory of education
to provide themselves with cotton pickers along with a smaller number of
"tractor hands."
I have a brother in law that is one of the big farmers. He serves on
all civic groups such as the school board. Most folks don't even realise
that the big farmers often disappear to socialise with one another. I listen
to him talk and there is no conspiracy but there are a number of highly
intelligent folks paying close attention to their business and comparing
notes on the meaning of upcoming events. They don't vote their conspiracy
but rather their enlightened self interest as they see it. The problem is
only that no one explains the other side. IMHO the same thing goes on at the
national level.
I enjoyed looking at the thought that the "Old Money" (my phrase)
prefers the highly intelligent. Is that true? The Bell Curve puts forward
the idea of the conflict between the highly intelligent employees and the old
money but I believe it also puts forward the idea of the conflict.
I see the importation of foreign brain workers and the exporting of
businesses to be nothing more than my brother in law's instinctive reaction
to a bunch of uppity field hands. He would find another source of labor and
use it to beat down the local boys.
Of course, there is much more involved but I do believe that is one
significant factor -- but, there isn't a conspiracy in the whole pack. <G>
Ron h.
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