Monday, April 20, 2009

On Education, Briefly

Flannery O'Connor on education:

...In defending the teaching of the great works of the Western canon rather than those of the modern day (which kids far preferred), she said something wise, the sort of thing an adult might say. She said that the whims and preferences of children should always, always be sublimated to the sense and judgment of their elders.

"And what if the student finds this is not to his taste?" O'Connor asked. "Well that is regrettable. Most regrettable. His taste should not be consulted; it is being formed."

That ought to make Jay's day.

1 comment:

MAS1916 said...

Sounds like a good lesson in political rhetoric as well.

Liberals tend to be wild-eyed idealists without the life-experience necessary to understand either how a free economy works, or how international relations work.

Conservatism takes thought, intellect and above all, experience. Liberalism just takes 'feelings.' Unfortunately for the US, the Students are now running the country.