Comments on: So what exactly is the role of public education? http://keyes.ca/journal/2008/08/15/so-what-exactly-is-the-role-of-public-education/ Connecting with Canadians Thu, 12 Aug 2010 18:21:07 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Rob http://keyes.ca/journal/2008/08/15/so-what-exactly-is-the-role-of-public-education/comment-page-1/#comment-170 Rob Fri, 05 Sep 2008 15:43:57 +0000 http://keyes.ca/journal/2008/08/15/so-what-exactly-is-the-role-of-public-education/#comment-170 1. Stephen Harper is an economist? I did not know that. I just thought it was an interesting article in contrast to the 'profit motive' ascribed to all things "good". It can go the other way. Don't get me wrong: yay capitalism! Personal engagement/ownership is one of the system's crowning glories. Nothing else has been able to manage that successfully. I do recommend the book. The history of economics has ups and downs. Economics has done great good in the past and will continue to do in the future; but when it does poorly, it's spectacularly bad. Another good one: http://www.amazon.com/Here-Comes-Everybody-Organizing-Organizations/dp/1594201536 in the first chapter: humans are by nature social creatures, collective action is in our genes. Do non-social systems -- eg. dog-eat-dog commercialism -- go against our evolution? 2. I agree with you: politics + education invariably is a bad thing. As with the USA, try combining politics + education + religion. That's when the sparks really fly. NB: using "...most Canadians would take issue with..." as a rebuttal point could do with a stronger reposte. Saying "...I take issue with..." is much stronger position; full ownership of a position always makes for a better debating tactic. Personalizing it also makes it unassailable. I can't argue with your opinion, but I can question the source of "most ___" statements. [I learned that one from a friend of mine here in the Second City... she's a debate coach for a local university] PS: thanks for not binning these comments. I miss TO and everyone there. 1. Stephen Harper is an economist? I did not know that. I just thought it was an interesting article in contrast to the ‘profit motive’ ascribed to all things “good”. It can go the other way.

Don’t get me wrong: yay capitalism! Personal engagement/ownership is one of the system’s crowning glories. Nothing else has been able to manage that successfully.

I do recommend the book. The history of economics has ups and downs. Economics has done great good in the past and will continue to do in the future; but when it does poorly, it’s spectacularly bad.

Another good one:
http://www.amazon.com/Here-Comes-Everybody-Organizing-Organizations/dp/1594201536
in the first chapter: humans are by nature social creatures, collective action is in our genes. Do non-social systems — eg. dog-eat-dog commercialism — go against our evolution?

2. I agree with you: politics + education invariably is a bad thing. As with the USA, try combining politics + education + religion. That’s when the sparks really fly.

NB: using “…most Canadians would take issue with…” as a rebuttal point could do with a stronger reposte. Saying “…I take issue with…” is much stronger position; full ownership of a position always makes for a better debating tactic. Personalizing it also makes it unassailable. I can’t argue with your opinion, but I can question the source of “most ___” statements.

[I learned that one from a friend of mine here in the Second City... she's a debate coach for a local university]

PS: thanks for not binning these comments. I miss TO and everyone there.

]]> By: Andrew http://keyes.ca/journal/2008/08/15/so-what-exactly-is-the-role-of-public-education/comment-page-1/#comment-169 Andrew Fri, 05 Sep 2008 00:56:07 +0000 http://keyes.ca/journal/2008/08/15/so-what-exactly-is-the-role-of-public-education/#comment-169 Two things Rob: 1. I try to shy away from making generalizations about the character traits of a particular profession. I suspect your remark is a veiled reference to Stephen Harper. I know a few economists and they are quite distinct from one and other, but at least they have a fundamental grasp of fiscal matters. 2. This post was not intended to be critical of the inventor of the X-Ray (although X-Rays were not invented, they were discovered), rather it was critical of the message being advertised by the public school board suggesting profit is a bad thing. That is an ideological/political position that most Canadians would take issue with, and it's a message that has no place in our public schools. Two things Rob:

1. I try to shy away from making generalizations about the character traits of a particular profession. I suspect your remark is a veiled reference to Stephen Harper. I know a few economists and they are quite distinct from one and other, but at least they have a fundamental grasp of fiscal matters.

2. This post was not intended to be critical of the inventor of the X-Ray (although X-Rays were not invented, they were discovered), rather it was critical of the message being advertised by the public school board suggesting profit is a bad thing. That is an ideological/political position that most Canadians would take issue with, and it’s a message that has no place in our public schools.

]]> By: Rob http://keyes.ca/journal/2008/08/15/so-what-exactly-is-the-role-of-public-education/comment-page-1/#comment-168 Rob Thu, 04 Sep 2008 23:06:50 +0000 http://keyes.ca/journal/2008/08/15/so-what-exactly-is-the-role-of-public-education/#comment-168 http://www.boingboing.net/2008/09/04/economists-selfish-b.html Would you prefer a world full of economists? At least the X-ray inventor invented something useful. Compare it to http://www.amazon.com/Dr-Strangeloves-Game-History-Economic/dp/0676974481 http://www.boingboing.net/2008/09/04/economists-selfish-b.html
Would you prefer a world full of economists?

At least the X-ray inventor invented something useful. Compare it to http://www.amazon.com/Dr-Strangeloves-Game-History-Economic/dp/0676974481

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