deschooling and politics
William Ray Arney
This is from Escaping Education by Madhu Suri Prakash and Gustavo Esteva
(Peter Lang Publishing, 1998). Esteva has a knack for taking little
individualized acts resistance and turning them into political issues.
"Years ago, some of us campaigned for legislation imposing ten years of
jail upon anyone demanding a diploma to qualify for work. [This was in
Mexico.] In the debates generated by these campaigns, the central
conclusion was that most students will abandon education once diplomas
become an illegal currency. These debates revealed the extended
awareness of the people that schools and universities are not really
places for learning useful skills or for 'socialization'--as it is
called. They are principally places for procuring diplomas, which
guarantee nothing in terms of skillfulness or hard work and responsible
character yet still carry the illusion of avoiding grim diaster.
"After our failures at making diplomas illegal, we have sought to
escape
them by following other routes in the exact opposite direction: we now
give diplomas to anyone learning any useful skill--especially those
mastered autonomously in a matter of a few hours of study with a
non-expert. After three days in our workshop[s on dry latrines, for
example, young people now receive a big, beautiful diploma certifying
them as "Experts in Alternative Sanitation." If you cannot beat them,
join them, they say. One possible route for escaping the diploma game
is through its multiplication--thus widening access to those who do not
want to or cannot attend school. Our three-day diplomas and other
certificates offer immediate access to creative and profitable
occupations. We have received support for our endeavors from the
system
of 'open education' created by the government for 'adult learners.'
Students can receive certification equivalent to three to six years in
a
few months of study in community workshops we have participated in at
the grassroots."
Bill Arney
(Peter Lang Publishing, 1998). Esteva has a knack for taking little
individualized acts resistance and turning them into political issues.
"Years ago, some of us campaigned for legislation imposing ten years of
jail upon anyone demanding a diploma to qualify for work. [This was in
Mexico.] In the debates generated by these campaigns, the central
conclusion was that most students will abandon education once diplomas
become an illegal currency. These debates revealed the extended
awareness of the people that schools and universities are not really
places for learning useful skills or for 'socialization'--as it is
called. They are principally places for procuring diplomas, which
guarantee nothing in terms of skillfulness or hard work and responsible
character yet still carry the illusion of avoiding grim diaster.
"After our failures at making diplomas illegal, we have sought to
escape
them by following other routes in the exact opposite direction: we now
give diplomas to anyone learning any useful skill--especially those
mastered autonomously in a matter of a few hours of study with a
non-expert. After three days in our workshop[s on dry latrines, for
example, young people now receive a big, beautiful diploma certifying
them as "Experts in Alternative Sanitation." If you cannot beat them,
join them, they say. One possible route for escaping the diploma game
is through its multiplication--thus widening access to those who do not
want to or cannot attend school. Our three-day diplomas and other
certificates offer immediate access to creative and profitable
occupations. We have received support for our endeavors from the
system
of 'open education' created by the government for 'adult learners.'
Students can receive certification equivalent to three to six years in
a
few months of study in community workshops we have participated in at
the grassroots."
Bill Arney
[email protected]
In a message dated 9/2/99 10:05:50 AM EST, arney@... writes:
<< Students can receive certification equivalent to three to six years in
a
few months of study in community workshops we have participated in at
the grassroots." >>
It may very well equal out to the same thing! I don't think many are willing
to admit all the time and money they have spent couldv'e been done in a
fraction of that time and money! Lori in TX
<< Students can receive certification equivalent to three to six years in
a
few months of study in community workshops we have participated in at
the grassroots." >>
It may very well equal out to the same thing! I don't think many are willing
to admit all the time and money they have spent couldv'e been done in a
fraction of that time and money! Lori in TX
David Albert
William Ray Arney wrote:
for any of my friends who want them. They can make up the name of the
University, the degree they want, even who they want to sign it. I will
usually provide a Latin gloss on the document (the most popular is the
latin for "No one but me knows when my shoe hurts.") Some of them have
my Ph.D.s and M.A.s and M.S.s hanging proudly in their offices. I make
no claim about their veracity (other than the fact that they asked me
for them), and they can use them anyway they wish.
The long-time Philadelphia Superintendent of Schools DR. Michael Marcase
had a mail-order degree. When it was revealed, he was supported by the
Board of Education, which basically said that if he hadn't earned the
degree traditionally he sure deserved it by now! (Philadelphia schools
were the worst in the country!
I am also ordained in the Universal Life Church -- which gives me the
right to make anyone else a minister, a pope, a rabbi, or a saint, a
metropolitan or anything else one might choose -- and I actually have
conducted two marriages, one over a 1-800 line, duly certified by the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
> From: William Ray Arney <arney@...>I for years have offered to make up official-looking degree certificates
>
> This is from Escaping Education by Madhu Suri Prakash and Gustavo
> Esteva
> (Peter Lang Publishing, 1998). Esteva has a knack for taking little
>
> individualized acts resistance and turning them into political
> issues.
>
> "Years ago, some of us campaigned for legislation imposing ten years
> of
> jail upon anyone demanding a diploma to qualify for work. [This was
> in
> Mexico.] In the debates generated by these campaigns, the central
> conclusion was that most students will abandon education once
> diplomas
> become an illegal currency. These debates revealed the extended
> awareness of the people that schools and universities are not really
>
> places for learning useful skills or for 'socialization'--as it is
> called. They are principally places for procuring diplomas, which
> guarantee nothing in terms of skillfulness or hard work and
> responsible
> character yet still carry the illusion of avoiding grim diaster.
>
> "After our failures at making diplomas illegal, we have sought to
> escape
> them by following other routes in the exact opposite direction: we
> now
> give diplomas to anyone learning any useful skill--especially those
> mastered autonomously in a matter of a few hours of study with a
> non-expert. After three days in our workshop[s on dry latrines, for
>
> example, young people now receive a big, beautiful diploma
> certifying
> them as "Experts in Alternative Sanitation." If you cannot beat
> them,
> join them, they say. One possible route for escaping the diploma
> game
> is through its multiplication--thus widening access to those who do
> not
> want to or cannot attend school. Our three-day diplomas and other
> certificates offer immediate access to creative and profitable
> occupations. We have received support for our endeavors from the
> system
> of 'open education' created by the government for 'adult learners.'
> Students can receive certification equivalent to three to six years
> in
> a
> few months of study in community workshops we have participated in
> at
> the grassroots."
>
> Bill Arney
for any of my friends who want them. They can make up the name of the
University, the degree they want, even who they want to sign it. I will
usually provide a Latin gloss on the document (the most popular is the
latin for "No one but me knows when my shoe hurts.") Some of them have
my Ph.D.s and M.A.s and M.S.s hanging proudly in their offices. I make
no claim about their veracity (other than the fact that they asked me
for them), and they can use them anyway they wish.
The long-time Philadelphia Superintendent of Schools DR. Michael Marcase
had a mail-order degree. When it was revealed, he was supported by the
Board of Education, which basically said that if he hadn't earned the
degree traditionally he sure deserved it by now! (Philadelphia schools
were the worst in the country!
I am also ordained in the Universal Life Church -- which gives me the
right to make anyone else a minister, a pope, a rabbi, or a saint, a
metropolitan or anything else one might choose -- and I actually have
conducted two marriages, one over a 1-800 line, duly certified by the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
> I refuse to accept money for either of these services. Having earnedDavid
> more than my share of degrees "the traditional way", I have to say
> that the degrees themselves aren't worth any more than the ones I
> offer -- except that most of those I end up handing out are to people
> with more useful experience, and are done with a lot more love.
[email protected]
In a message dated 9/2/99 10:15:52 PM EST, shantinik@... writes:
<< for years have offered to make up official-looking degree certificates
for any of my friends who want them. They can make up the name of the
University, the degree they want, even who they want to sign it. I will
usually provide a Latin gloss on the document (the most popular is the
latin for "No one but me knows when my shoe hurts.") Some of them have
my Ph.D.s and M.A.s and M.S.s hanging proudly in their offices. I make
no claim about their veracity (other than the fact that they asked me
for them), and they can use them anyway they wish.
More power to ya!!! Lori in TX
<< for years have offered to make up official-looking degree certificates
for any of my friends who want them. They can make up the name of the
University, the degree they want, even who they want to sign it. I will
usually provide a Latin gloss on the document (the most popular is the
latin for "No one but me knows when my shoe hurts.") Some of them have
my Ph.D.s and M.A.s and M.S.s hanging proudly in their offices. I make
no claim about their veracity (other than the fact that they asked me
for them), and they can use them anyway they wish.
>>Lol! Talk about "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em"! I think this is terrific!
More power to ya!!! Lori in TX