Over the past couple of months we have been treated with an in-depth examination of the rot that permeates American higher education, particularly at its most elite colleges and universities. It hasn’t been pretty, but is has been instructive for America’s opinion leadership. With the transparency offered by the congressional testimony of Harvard’s President, the now resigned Claudine Gay, and its follow up, we have a much better perspective on the undermining of the mission of American higher education, primarily with its abandonment of its primary mission to seek the truth to one of seeking “social justice” or, as Ms. Gay might say, “my truth”.
The better news from this episode may be that, finally, it appears that the people of America have been awakened to the damage that has been done and are ready to do something about it. And it won’t be easy. The progressive left has been on the march for at least 60-80 years to get to this point and the problems run deeply in the higher education culture and structure. Reform starts with returning to the mission and uprooting systems like the diversity, equity, and inclusiveness (DEI) programs that permeate every aspect of university life. Some say this transformation must be “measured and persistent” and I agree, but it must be aggressive to the point of revolutionary, and for a look at a good model, see the new University of Austin. Let us begin.
The work of Christopher Rufo at New College in Florida shows how quickly and smoothly this may be done. Increasing the numbers of students, deserving by merit, will be a giant step in supporting the hiring of genuine educators.
Rufo may be the modern day Martin Luther. The recovery of higher ed may be like the Reformation with variations of all kinds existing and fighting viciously over details and for funding. Cancel culture has already created the academic equivalent of the Inquisition.
While this is playing out, education is still a very necessary element for human success as new generations take over.
Competition in the provision of educational services is the only workable solution. What if state legislators mandated that course credits leading to degrees from state universities could be obtained by testing, with the knowledge needed to pass the tests provided by outside providers. There are already standards for course content that guide Community College transferability. They could be expanded to handle third and fourth year level courses.
Students receiving these credits would receive the same degree as those who sat through the courses, and could mix actual classes with credits via exams to attain their degrees.
To stop indoctrination, an appeals procedure staffed by volunteer alumni should allow review of grades where other than multiple choice questions are part of the grade.
An example of how this might work is the training for aviation, everythiung from flight attendants to airline transport rated pilots. A number of large and small outside providers produce most of the new pilots, flight attendants, mechanics, and technicians, with FAA testing setting the requirements. I got my ratings from both a state university and outside provviders. The outside providers were much much better due to free market competition. An FAA website shows the status of everyone holding a rating. Long multiple choice exams are the main basis for the ratings.
The real problem is that we are not as smart as we think we are !
The only way things will change is if donors decide to cut off their source of funds. People continue to fund organizations that no longer reflect their values. In my opinion, this is the only way we will affect change in the education system at all levels.
The only way things will change is if donors decide to cut off their source of funds. People continue to fund organizations that no longer reflect their values. In my opinion, this is the only way we will affect change in the education system at all levels.
I am encouraged and hopeful that American are finally getting it and will show that on November 5th.
As Jim points out, the degradation of “higher education” has been going on for a looong time. Leftists hire leftists, and it is clear that leftists compose 90% of college/university administration and faculty.
So Gay resigned as Harvard president. So what? Its board, which ignored her serial plagiarism and trivial scholarship, now will select another female of color as Harvard president, while Gay remains a full professor at $900,000 annual salary.
BTW, we have the same problem with the tenured Federal bureaucracy, some 3.5 million of them,
Amazing! This blog looks just like my old one!
It’s on a totally different subject but it has pretty much the same page layout and design. Superb choice of colors!