But now that I've had my morning decaf, I'm imagining Prince Charles & Duchess of Cornwall (where the hell is Cornwall anyway?), adorned in formal theatre wear, driving their bullet-proof Rolls into the heart of a mass student anti-tuition raise/anti-education cuts march. Well now, THAT'S a provocation. Like waving a red flag in front of the proverbial bull, I'd say. Just imagine the symbolism here, particularly after the royals just announced plans to spend $60 million on the wedding of Kate & William, while thousands of Brit students watch their futures being yanked away from them because they can no longer afford college tuition.
Compared to that, what's a little paint splattered on the Rolls? They'll probably run right out a buy a new one. And next time these high-maintenance feudal relics need to exit the palace on their way to the theatre, they should tell their driver, "Jeeves, let's take a more circuitous route this time. What say?"
Wouldn't it be interesting to see our own royal education couple - Bill and Melinda Gates of Microsoft - meet with a similar demonstration over their education privatization agenda.
ReplyDeleteBBC commentator says: While some of the demonstrators appear to be a break-away group...others just seem to be people "wanting a bit of a rumpus."
ReplyDeleteI realize this is somewhat off-topic but the 2009 PISA test scores were released recently and not surprisingly the U.S. scored in the lower half of all countries in math science and reading once again. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/07/education/07education.html?pagewanted=2
ReplyDeleteIn its current form, is the public education system in the U.S. even capable of improving student test scores on the PISA? If not, should we be trying to? Although the PISA provides some interesting information, I'm afraid the results are going to lead to school reform aimed at improving student test scores rather than improving the overall quality of education in the U.S. which would hopefully cause student test scores to improve as a result.
Adam: We are already engaged in schooling to improve student test scores. We have actually lost sight of the value of a well-rounded, deep, and thorough education for the sake of education. Teach--> test. Direct pathway. Test--> more teaching to improve scores.
ReplyDeleteHey! Cornwall is cool. Don't blame Cornwall.
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