John O. Andersen

Perhaps only 5-10% of the population in any society can truly be considered
academically gifted. In other countries, that low percentage more or less
mirrors the percentage of people who attend college.

In America, on the other hand, we send a much higher percentage of people to
college; more than any other major industrialized nation. And we love to
act like those college-goers are the elite, the academically gifted. Never
mind that an alarming number of our college graduates can't write a
persuasive essay, haven't read the classics, are geographically illiterate,
and lack a working knowledge of our system of government.

We like to label our graduates as "educated" people, but perhaps deep down
inside during our private moments, we sense something's not quite right.

The plain fact is that a substantial percentage of college students in this
country couldn't even qualify for college in a country like England or
Germany.

Nevertheless, the pretense is alive and well here.

May I suggest this widespread self-congratulatory delusion creates a huge
class of pseudo-intellectuals in this country, and directly fuels bigotry,
closemindedness, and snobbery?

John Andersen
Uncoventional Ideas: A Collection of Short Essays Which Question Mainstream
Values
http://www.unconventionalideas.com

[email protected]

In a message dated 00-11-21 10:32:01 EST, you write:

<< May I suggest this widespread self-congratulatory delusion creates a huge
class of pseudo-intellectuals in this country, and directly fuels bigotry,
closemindedness, and snobbery? >>

Well sure, but with unschoolers you're preaching to the choir directors.

In light of John Gardner's work, "academic giftedness" is kind of an
embarrassing label anyway.

Sandra

Lynda

Perhaps that would go in the file folder labeled "A little knowledge if a
dangerous thing."

Lynda
----- Original Message -----
From: "John O. Andersen" <editor@...>
To: <Undisclosed-Recipient>
Sent: Tuesday, November 21, 2000 7:30 AM
Subject: [Unschooling-dotcom] Academically gifted


> Perhaps only 5-10% of the population in any society can truly be
considered
> academically gifted. In other countries, that low percentage more or less
> mirrors the percentage of people who attend college.
>
> In America, on the other hand, we send a much higher percentage of people
to
> college; more than any other major industrialized nation. And we love to
> act like those college-goers are the elite, the academically gifted.
Never
> mind that an alarming number of our college graduates can't write a
> persuasive essay, haven't read the classics, are geographically
illiterate,
> and lack a working knowledge of our system of government.
>
> We like to label our graduates as "educated" people, but perhaps deep down
> inside during our private moments, we sense something's not quite right.
>
> The plain fact is that a substantial percentage of college students in
this
> country couldn't even qualify for college in a country like England or
> Germany.
>
> Nevertheless, the pretense is alive and well here.
>
> May I suggest this widespread self-congratulatory delusion creates a huge
> class of pseudo-intellectuals in this country, and directly fuels bigotry,
> closemindedness, and snobbery?
>
> John Andersen
> Uncoventional Ideas: A Collection of Short Essays Which Question
Mainstream
> Values
> http://www.unconventionalideas.com
>
>
>
>
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