We are in the process of writing a follow-up book to Ivory Tower Blues (ITB) and will use this website to post weekly blogs on a variety of topics stemming from reactions to ITB and what we have learned from those reactions, both in terms of our own understandings of issues and what we see to be misunderstandings held by various critics. These will be published early every Friday morning.
The blogs will fall into one of several categories:
1. Commentaries on relevant current events
2. Responses to critics that clarify key issues
3. Common misconceptions about universities
4. Faulty arguments among critics that are independent of facts
5. Insights and wisdom for the ages
6. Reinventing the wheel: Common problems internationally
7. Reinventing the wheel: Solutions elsewhere
[Regarding The Agenda] As a former Professor , I believe James Cote is “right on” with many of his observations. The marking system today is a complete sham that does not reflect real performance.
Too many students are disengaged and should not attend universities early in their lives. As Jeff’s case, a few years outside the institutional education system really helps most older students develop a perspective and a clear direction to areas they would like to learn. Older students generally roll up their sleeves and seek knowledge and personal answers and tend not to waste their time and tuition money.
Steve, I feel the next step for the Agenda is to discuss alternative forms of education for members of our community. Educational Institutions have by en large become fat, arrogant and lazy. Today, universities, faculty and administrators, have become more motivated by the buck and government largess and strive first to preserve their jobs, grow programs and built empires and monuments.
I am sure if students were required to pay the full tuition costs more than half would seek a cheaper alternative to these over priced fat Institutions. Students would also make more marketplace decisions as to where they attend, the type of program they followed and the direction they wished to head.
Many would examine closely the cost and value of institutional learning and rightly choose to study in the market place of life, go to libraries, read and seek knowledge from fellow citizens.
While various institutions, such as universities, can help some individuals learn quickly, other cheaper social institutions such as Girl Guides/Boy scouts, public libraries and even television can equally educate and motivate one to seek knowledge and provide a base of the social economic skills which would make them successful in life and allow us to improve our communities.
Thanks for an interesting presentation at the Coast Guard College here in Cape Breton. It would have been great to have you over to Cape Breton University. I would have liked to have seen more faculty as well as administration in the room. It will take a combined effort to make some positive changes. thanks again. John.