[lbo-talk] School Debate: Central Focus

[Wojtek S]

Doug: "Also, none of the progressive education types I've interviewed
on the radio, and I've interviewed many of the luminaries, want to
talk about how American anti-intellectualism figures into the
problem."

[WS:] This is my impression too.  Based on my experience, many of
these progressive & liberal types with whom I rub elbows around here
do not want to acknowledge the deeply embedded anti-intellectualism,
it seems to offend their populist sensibilities ("the people" can do
no wrong).  Blaming schools and teachers seems like an acceptable
cope-out to them - it is the school's fault, not the people's and
their anti-intellectualism.  On the rare occasions when I point this
out, those progressive and liberal types get really defensive and
upset, which tells me that it hits the weak spot.  And many of them
support the charter school approach too.

Wojtek