Sunday, March 16, 2008

Liberal Education

I was in a restaurant recently and overheard a man say to a younger man: "You'd better be careful about college. I hear you get a very liberal education there." I guess he is right, at least at a liberal arts college where they teach "the liberal arts." Does that mean that you learn how to paint like a left-wing progressive? We know that isn't what we mean by liberal arts-- but what DO we mean? DuBois talks about the great books tradition that is part of the liberal arts. He felt that, in his own time, the opportunity for higher education in the liberal arts should be made available to all races, but he also felt that not everyone would benefit from that kind of higher education. We ended class before break wondering: if the liberal arts are to teach you how to think and solve problems, well, don't plumbers need to solve problems? Our POW that week also ponders the different kinds of "higher education." I have thought a lot about that since that day.

I am currently working on a project here at UR that looks at the changing definition of "a liberal education." On the front page of one of the documents we are looking at is a quote from DuBois!

Of all the civil rights for which the world has struggled andfought for the last 5,000 years,the right to learn is undoubtedly the most fundamental.
—W. E. B. DuBois


If DuBois was alive now and looking at the world of the new millenium, I wonder if he would be working with the folks at the AAC&U and if he would agree with their conclusions. Read their definitions of "liberal learning" "liberal arts" and more here. You can also read more about the Liberal Education and America's Promise project which seeks to find a bridge between the Ivory Tower and the work world and life after college.

I would love to hear what you think about the LEAP reports.

Friday, March 7, 2008

POW!!

Carolyn's post on higher education has inspired many people. Go here and check it out--

Wednesday, March 5, 2008

consider this...

This article from Inside Higher Ed reports on research done on college graduates and their careers. What do you think of our conversation about "liberal arts" and employment after reading this article?

interesting opportunity

On Wednesday, March 19 at 7:30 pm, Paul D. Miller aka DJ Spooky brings his internationally celebrated "Rebirth of a Nation" to the Modlin Center's Alice Jepson Theatre. A noted conceptual artist, writer and musician, DJ Spooky has created what he refers to as a "remix" of D. W. Griffith's controversial 1915 film "The Birth of a Nation." In re-imagining the film, DJ Spooky has combined his acclaimed talents as a club DJ, multimedia storyteller and social commentator to transform the silent-era epic into a sweeping statement on corruption and racism in America. Tickets are available now through the box office at 804-289-8980 or modlin.richmond.edu. Get yours before Spring Break as it may sell out!


IF you go and write about it in your blog, it is extra credit toward class participation : )

Tuesday, March 4, 2008

Loving v. Virginia

No court case was ever more aptly named: Loving v. Virginia was the landmark case that made legal marriage between people of different races--and it was decided in 1967!
You can read more about what I was going on about in class at this wikipedia page
If you follow the link to "Racial Integrity Act" you will see a short bit about the awful Mr. Plecker I was talking about.

Eugenics was an awful pseudo-science, we now know. And here is a connection to another Core text: it grew out of Darwin's theories. But it is a misuse, I believe, of Darwin's scientific observations and theories. Read these pages, and you can decide for yourself.

I also want to point out an assumption that had to be made in all of these "color-line" distinctions: not only that there are differences between races, but that such a thing as race even exists! I mean, Darwin would say we are all one species. In fact, none of us has "pdeigree papaers" that tell who are parents are and where they are from, all the way back to--when? So the way race got designated was either by someone like Plecker making arbitrary decisions, or as in the case of Kirby v. Kirby:
The Arizona Supreme Court judged Mrs. Kirby’s race by observing her physical characteristics and determined that she was of mixed race, thereby granting Mr. Kirby’s annulment


...judging by "looks."

Friday, February 29, 2008

POW!!

Abby's post on what REALLY happened on that ferris wheel tops our nominations this week.

Lots of interesting posts this week. I love that people made connections to movies and your own digital stories and real life! I always enjoy reading these posts.

Thursday, February 28, 2008

Shakespeare!!


This is the closing weekend for the play that the wonderful Mr. Hamm was telling us about. Want to go? How about the final performance: 2:30 on Sunday. If we can get a group together we can get cheaper tickets. Email me if you are interested.