Re: [Phys-l] How did Bill Gates get to decide what's good for our children?

["Wilson, Hentie" <Wilsoh@unisa.ac.za>]

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Well, this interesting discussion partners should consider a respectful reminder that if something seems broken anybody can suggest a solution. Should American educators not consider the results of their education, hand in bosom, and ask why do others want to "fix" it? Part of the problem is apathy not to be involved creatively and with passion; part of the problem is sometimes that you are so close that you cannot see the possible solutions even if you tried.
> From Over the water, in an African space with many problems and much apathy.
Hentie

-----Original Message-----
From: Bernard Cleyet [mailto:bernardcleyet@redshift.com]
Sent: 05 May 2011 11:18 PM
To: Forum for Physics Educators
Subject: Re: [Phys-l] How did Bill Gates get to decide what's good for our children?

bc:

On 2011, May 05, , at 05:54, Spinozalens@aol.com wrote:

> In a message dated 5/5/2011 8:15:34 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
> Spinozalens@aol.com writes:
>
>
> Additional points. The corporatazation  of education could have  the same
> effect it has had on medical care.

Is this not their intention?


> The United States has the most  expensive
> and one of the worst health care systems in the world. American health  care
> is so expensive millions of Americans have no access to even basic medical
> treatment. This might be the effect of the corporatazation of education.
> Giant  corporations are to free markets as cats are to water., they always
> create  anti competitive structures in the interest of maximizing profits , the
> same  should be expected with the privatization  of education. Will the
> endpoint  of this be that basic education will be a privilege of wealth as
> medical care is  now in the United States.

This is already nearly the case.  (My total education U of Calif (BA, MA), Keele (england - PhD)  was free -- more accurately subsidized -- lab assistant, TA, demonstrator.)  Now it's thousands of dollars, etc.  I think this has happened in England, too.

"Universities require a Royal charter in order to issue degrees, and all but one are 'financed' by the state with a 'low' level of fees, though these are increasing, for home and European Union students."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_England


> ( except for seniors but soon to be
> changed) The  effect on educators will be lower salary and lack of  job
> security even as  the cost of education spirals higher and higher in cost. No
> democracy can  function without an educated voting population.

Again, that is the intention.

> But of course to
> call the United  States a functioning democracy involves creative writing.

Right;  it's a kleptocracy.

> However, the  privatization  of education can only makes things worst.

and better for the kleptocrats.

> Bob Zannelli
>
>
> In a  message dated 5/4/2011 8:10:27 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
> bernardcleyet@redshift.com writes:
>
>
> Thank you for posting this.  We had a discussion related to this on DR Vic
> Stenger's physics  list.

 Stenger announced that work has begun on a tenth book, tentatively titled The Fallacy of Fine-Tuning: How the Universe is Not Designed for Humanity.[1]

I see a modern day Arouet.

> This is exactly right. In the United States much
> of
> public  policy is no longer under the guidance of any democratic process ,
>
> but is completely controlled by powerful elites whose main incentive  for
> the policy they create is often naked self interest. Gated has a  long
> history
> of  unethical and criimnal behavior ( saved by the  election of G Bush an
> interesting  fact) He is the last person in the  world who should be
> creating
> policy on  education.
>
>
> Bob  Zannelli
>
>
> )))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

cut