"Fred" is a smart guy. To prove it, he has 3 degrees and is working on his 4th.
But some say he's dumber than a rock.
When it comes to matters of everyday life, he can barely balance his own checkbook and has trouble holding a conversation with an average person. He's the kind of guy that when you ask him to fill the salt shaker with salt, he'll get a toothpick out and start trying to get the grains of salt in the little holes. In his field he's a genius, outside of it, an utter incompetent.
Politically, he's rabidly liberal. Why? "Because a college professor of mine was liberal and I really liked what he had to say" says he.
Just another quality product of our modern educational system.
And I'm starting to wonder about that education system these days; is it really higher education or is it just glorified brainwashing?
Sure, the information you gather on your field of study is no doubt high quality (depending on what school you go to of course), but the worldview being taught by most professors- is it actually going to make for a stronger America? Judging from the likes of "Fred", I think not.
You have no idea how many people I meet who before they went to college were nice, kind and decent folks. When they came out it was like they had undergone a brain switch with a robot: a really arrogant liberal robot. It hadn't enlightened them at all, in fact their minds are more closed now than before they entered Academia! And we thought education was supposed to open your mind...
It's as if the more educated you become these days, the more dumbed down you have to get. Political correctness has become the drug of choice of former free thinkers, an addiction of hypocrisy and delusion.
So I'd like to propose a revolution in American education.
Let's convince some of our schools to hire actual successful people to go back to college for a year or two to teach their young people. They always say,
"those who can't succeed, teach others how to succeed" and I think it's time this changed. We have a bunch of elitist professors sitting in tenure who don't know the first thing about real life outside a textbook, while out in the real world there are thousands of qualified individuals who can teach students something that actually works.
I have great hopes for the future of education in America, but the Academia I see in my mind's eye doesn't look anything like what we have now.
What do you think? Do you see the same trend, or am I just worked up over a few isolated incidents?
Comments (15)
I've heard many of them called "educated fools". ; ) Even in Christian universities I've seen some very different attitudes in the person upon return, and not one has been positive that I have seen I'm sorry to say.
I like your idea for an education revolution! : )
yes totally agreed!!!
a lot of time is all about "logic" and if we followed the text blindly there are no logic in life.
You're SPOT ON, Tentguy! Your plan makes sense, which is why it will never be tried. We are in a heap of trouble, education-wise.
@thats_italian - Oh, I don't know. I went to a left-wing secular university, and still came out a clear-thinking conservative, and my kids (both of whom are college grads) came out the same. Ultimately, I think good parenting is the key.
@Defogger - Right you are there Defogger. I'm starting to see too that if we were to totally pull back from our education system we are in effect dooming it to the road it seems to be on now. Could it be that if we instead start invading "the beast" with solid ideas and morals that we actually preserve it? We are supposed to be the "salt of the earth" and if we pull out and lose our flavor, how are supposed to be the salt?
It's a fine line. Who you are before you go in will determine who you will be when you come out, regardless of what they're teaching. I'm going to be writing on this in the future in regards to what our role as conservatives is in this changing culture. Education is the foundation of the revolution in American culture!
My daughter attended a "christian" university. She had one professor who was so liberal she had to quit the class because she knew she couldn't write a paper that he would pass....and that's at a private christian school....then she went on to a public university...and it is exactly what you say...propaganda and brainwashing. Our next two won't be going that route if we can avoid it...good parenting gives a kid a great start......but it can be a very costly mistake to discover your child was not as strong as you thought..... a risk many christian parents have greatly regretted....not to mention why would someone want an education that you have to sift through all the liberal propaganda to get to the meat of the material...it's silly. My daughter has said she wishes her professer would teach the subject and get off their ridiculous liberal agenda's.
Let the revolution begin!!
@thetentguy - A companion of fools will be destroyed, that's what the Bible says. I've seen it happen to even Christian university grads. So far, I have not seen one college grad come back with a better Christian character.
@toomanyhats - Yes.
@thats_italian -
Hmmm... yes that's true for sure! I have seen a few who came back stronger, mostly because they had to make a choice- either strengthen themselves in the Lord or drift into the nothingness of godlessness. But as time goes on and more people my age graduate with ever higher degrees, there are a precious few indeed.
More what I was pondering is if one can be in a system, but not of it? Is it presumptuous to think that a few good, strong people can change an entire establishment?
I personally am not called to the schools, but I know some who are and they are definitely stirring things up!
The way I'm seeing it now, either we do nothing and lament the loss of America's moral compass or we rise up and take action where it matters most: in our own families first, then in our communities, our education systems and finally our politics.
How can a light shine if it's put under a bushel? The problem though is that our lights just aren't bright enough in the first place to overcome the darkness. We've allowed compromise to seep into our lives and make us a shadow of what we should be. We need to get serious about what it means to be a follower of Jesus; doing greater works than even He did is what will revolutionize the world!
It is the very act of NOT being a companion of fools that defines a revolution.
Anyway, I know you weren't looking for a sermon there! Just some thoughts I've been having on the subject...
@thetentguy - The Light should come from the parents, such as running for school board positions, running in political positians as true statesmen etc. The battle is not for our children or youth to fight.
It's hard enough being a Light in the modern churches, as for our family, we have had enough of the world system and the system fragmenting families. And yes, : ) our family will share Light, in those places who will receive it, pregnancy centers, home mission bases through our VOH class, the nursing home ministry (one of the most unpopular and most uncool ministries) but a most important mission field. And we will lead and disciple other young people to go into those places such as the nursing home to share that Light.
Where else do we have the chance to kneel and sit with a dying saint of God as they see Jesus in us on their deathbed, as they are wearing the five and dime bead bracelet our little girl made for them? Those who will meet their Maker that very day may see Jesus in us, I know this may not have much to do with the school question, but it does have something to do with truly revolutionizing young people and allowing them to see the real world shoulder to shoulder with parents. Many of the college educated churched parents I have run into won't touch the nursing home because they don't like the smell, it "bothers" their children. How are those kind of people or their kids going to revolutionize the schools when they can't even reject immodest dress in most cases?
If one thinks that they can send their kids to those socialistic indoctrination centers, many times a free for all, sinful playground where the professors are tried and true liberals who have gone to their liberal desks to "retire" but indoctrinate, those people are only fooling themselves.
I graduated from a highly intellectual highschool. But let me tell you, sin abounded much and the indoctrination from the highly esteemed teachers was unbelievable. A young person can only take so much, it's not fair to the kids. Not at all. It's simply not wise.
Back in my younger days I also attended many a college activity, being surrounded by young men in a circle singing sexual songs etc. I watched medical students drinking themselves silly, passing a bong around, I cannot fathom putting my daughters in that situation or anyone I cared about.
We certainly don't hang out at bars everyday but yet people will send their precious kids to the equivalent everyday and expect them to come out unscathed. Many professors will not even hear of students speaking on Christian subjects or writing Christian papers, at Texas A & M in all of it's touted greatness, Harry Potter books were used by professors.
When parents send their children and youth to these institutions even those Christian ones, they give their authority over to those institutions. It's just not wise.
If there are any solid Christian students in the colleges I hope they are standing alone, and willing to fail classes when they refuse to read books that would go against the Lord. I truly mean that, because from what I hear that is what many time happens. My heart really goes out to them. In all sincerity my heart goes out to them. ...I remember.
@thats_italian - Yes to you too!!
@thetentguy - Try as I might I can't find a spot in the bible where it calls me to send my children to a secular institution to have them trained by atheists or agnostics....or liberals for that matter. Could it be these institutions weren't God' ideas to start with...and thus he doesn't need our helping saving it?? As a Christian I take the bibles instructions to train my own children seriously....as well as the lack of instruction to have them trained by fools.
I sent a very strong, bright young christian girl off to university. What I got in return from these institutions of higher learning was a sad young woman whose no longer sure of what she believes. With bachelors degree in hand she has no idea what to do with herself. Will I make that mistake again....not on your life!! You see at 18 and even 20 a young person is highly impressionable. We send them to be taught by professors who are much more educated and much older than them. Guess what happens...they learn from them....because we told them to! It is never, ever worth the risk. Our public schools and universities are in dire need of evangelizing....from adults who are prepared....I've watched even grown adults fall under the intense pressure of the liberal, anti-God mentality of these establishments. My children are not called to go there and bring change....Saints of God whose faith is solidly unshakeable perhaps are. Because you see I wonder if an institution that was not necessarily God's idea needs us to change it....It IS a missions field ripe for harvest though.
@thats_italian -
Good word there. And I totally agree about it being the parent's responsibility rather than the child's, that's a good word of wisdom. I guess I'm thinking of myself and those my age more as prospective parents, teachers and future professors rather than impressionable children fresh out of high school.
Your family is a testimony to being a light in a dark world! Kudos to you for raising your children in the way you have, the value you've placed on being set apart is refreshing.
Truly, the family is the nucleus of culture revolution. Family is the basic structure of a healthy society, break it up and you break up society. I too believe there's no better place to grow into adulthood than working shoulder to shoulder with those who truly love you... and test your patience like only family can! :P Learning how to live is true higher education.
There are two schools of thought on evangelism these days: one is that we completely withdraw from society and rely on people coming to us in their hours of despair. The other is to go out into the darkest places where sinners are, even acting and looking like them to reach them.
To me, Jesus is perfect theology. What He did I believe we can do. Jesus taught both in the synagogues and in the marketplace. He withdrew to be alone and at the same time wherever He went, people were drawn to Him. Jesus didn't act like the sinners, nor did He act like the religious people of His time.
He was a catalyst of change for both the saint and the sinner. Without having to become "relevant", He brought the kingdom of heaven to both the common man and the educated elite. (Interestingly enough, it was the educated elite who had the hardest time receiving Him.) He was who He was regardless of where He was and people saw in Him both a just man and a loving man. He was truly a catalyst to the world around Him: He changed the world, but the world didn't change Him.
That's the kind of evangelism I've seen to work!
There ARE young people out there standing alone, facing the giant. They need our prayers and support. They need those of us outside the system telling them that we believe in them and stand with them, regardless of our feelings on college in general. Whether we like it or not, some of them are going to be future leaders in America and they need to know we haven't abandoned hope that they can stand strong and overcome.
So in consideration of the points you've brought up, I'm starting to see that the true revolution starts at home. If we want to change culture, we have to change what lies beneath it: our value system. If that means getting a teaching job and challenging the biased system, so be it as long as you're called to it by God.
But what I'm learning here is that it's most important that we as serious followers of Jesus raise up godly offspring who are well equipped to both face a fallen world and overcome the forces that drive it. It means not putting them out on the line before they're ready, but preparing them for adulthood by allowing them to walk alongside us in real life situations. It means allowing them to make mistakes in a safe environment before they make them in a hostile one.
Thanks for provoking some thought!
@toomanyhats -
Interesting point! Let's look at the life of Jesus to find out...
Let's see...
Jesus had to have gone to some basic schooling to know how to read, but He never went to school to become a priest; and yet He is the High Priest for all people.
Jesus was never formally taught the scriptures, but because He loved them so much He knew more than all the teachers combined.
Jesus learned a trade from His father and excelled in it.
Jesus didn't leave home until He was 30.
Jesus could have been a literal king of Israel. He could have used His wisdom to change the political world forever, but He chose instead to eat with IRS agents and sinners. He could have become the greatest Pharisee of all time, yet instead He chose to become the lowliest man of all time in order that He might save the world.
Jesus was smart, witty and had a sense of humor. He taught as a great professor would, yet His teachings were to the heart and not the mind.
Jesus was above intellectualism, He defined the true marriage of mind, spirit and body. His words penetrated the mind, healed the soul and awakened the spirit without the benefit of Freud.
So is college God's perfect idea of education? Nope. Not in the least.
But that won't make the institutions go away, nor the fact that there are so many lost people caught in it's grasp. There are those in academia who are genuinely called into that world to reach people within it's jaws. They are evangelists with a paper on the wall that says they have the blessing of "the beast" to drive a stake directly into it's heart!
Christians have pretty much totally abandoned colleges anyway, even "Christian" colleges. The results are catastrophic. You're probably aware that many of the most prestigious and largest colleges began as schools of theology, and nowhere is it more apparent that Christianity has lost influence on society than in these schools. We stood by and let prayer be taken out. We stood by and let liberal professors take the jobs WE should have and now we are paying the price.
Perhaps you are right, perhaps it's time for more than just a revolution inside the school, perhaps it's time for a revolution in the very roots of our culture, the family. The breakup of the family has had widespread effects on our nation at large and the best place to start the revolution is within the family. Let's challenge our offspring (um, ok, I don't have any yet, but it's never too early to get ready!) to go beyond where we are, let's make our ceiling their floor.
Statistics show that the quality of higher education is dropping along with the fact that having a degree doesn't mean you'll have a job for life like people used to think.
Teaching our children how to learn is more where it's at. I've learned more in the years since I've been out of school than I did while in school because I have a voracious appetite to learn, thanks to my parents. Maybe I don't know how to design a rocket motor, but in this information age I could find out if I needed to! :D
So yes, the question still hangs in the air: is it worth trying to change the schools? If not, then we need to have a viable alternative answer!
@thetentguy - Thank you for a nice summary, it truly does go back to that greenhouse theory that we as parents heard so long ago when we first heard of homeschooling. : ) Now that our daughters are youth and young adults, the theory, and more importantly what the Bible says on this precious, sacred subject means more than ever to me as a mother.
This is a good reminder to pray for those young people who are in the fray, to keep them in our prayers no matter how they arrived there.
God be with us all and God bless you. : )