Liberal Arts education and bullies

I'm glad I never looked on my education as an opportunity to specialize. As Robert Heinlein said: "Specialization is for insects." I had the benefit of a strong liberal arts education. My education, along with my parents' examples, allowed me to figure out who I wanted to be and not just what I wanted to do. I developed an understanding of my responsibilities as a citizen and a passion for social justice.

In the past couple of weeks I have come to the realization that I won't be saving the world but I am glad for the tools I have been given for fighting what Dr. Paul Farmer calls "The Long Defeat." I am currently dealing with people who maintain their arrogance in the face of complexity. They criticize my successful efforts at providing under-served teens with an education. They form their opinions on the basis of unexamined assumptions, whim, delusions, and lies.

My education has armed me against manipulation, coercion, demagogues, and bullies. I am grateful and I will be moving on.

Living Well

Robert Heinlein was correct when he stated that "specialization is for insects." I am distilling my educational philosophy more and more. I want my students to learn how to "live well." That will mean they need to gain education that is useful. They will need to develop the "barbarian virtues" at the same time they acquire the civilized ones. They must become servant leaders who cultivate self-discipline, accountability, frugality, good manners, curiosity, a sense of the possible, and the ability to be dangerous in pursuit of the good.

Developing a school culture that teaches these things has been/will be difficult in a culture that looks to imposed discipline, nice hall displays, and standardized test scores as the measure of a good school. It's not popular to point out that academic achievement often does not correlate to happy and successful living.