Cartoon 678: Teaching

Segments of just about all cultures have a “traditionalist” cadre. They want to return the current society to the mores of another time or just halt the advent of change. It generally implies a return to a time when they were more ascended in society. This traditionalism in America is represented by the “Conservatives”.

The way to change the mores or preserve existing ways is though the education system. The education system inoculates people in society. It starts with the family unit and propagates throughout formal education. Hence, such slogans in higher education as; “give business what it wants” or “acquire marketable skills”. The goal is develop workers in the existing orthodoxy. It is not to develop people that have a perchance for free thinking and analysis.

Most every modern revolution or challenge to the system of things is by students.  The American approach over the last three quarters of a century is control the direction of thinking. This is accomplished through its education system. The system excises free thinking and analysis. Such works as those of Plato and Shakespeare are disappearing from education curriculums. The reason is the works require thought and evaluation. The ruminations result in speculation about the system of things. In fact liberal arts, which is the bastion of creative thinking, is under attack.

The first causalities of critical thought in a society is usually religion, the system of justice and the dissemination of wealth. The “conservatives” in a society really do not want these things questioned. The system of things fortify the control and stratification of society.