Re: [xmca] Fwd: Value(s) and Higher Education

["Bruce Robinson" <bruce@brucerob.eu>]

One of the most disgusting aspects of current developments in the UK is the 
support - or in the case of the self-appointed Russell Group of top research 
universities, enthusiasm - of most university vice-chancellors and 
managements for the increases (trebling) of tuition fees that will force 
many working class students out of universities. At the same time, the 
dependence of universities on the supposed market choices of students will 
lead to some being de facto privatised, others closing and some subjects 
that may not be popular but contribute to knowledge disappearing altogether. 
(Fish is right about the arts & humanities - they and the social sciences 
are now to be 100% dependent on income from student fees.)

The only silver lining has been the response of students: Several large 
demonstrations ending in disturbances (Duchess of Cornwall poked with a 
stick!), a string of occupations of buildings in universities up and down 
the country and the involvement of school and further education students - 
and lots of support frfom staff. Having been on a number of these marches 
and to our local occupation, what is striking is that it is not just the 
usual suspects but a lot of very angry young people getting involved in 
protest for the first time. That bodes well for the coming year as I doubt 
they will just go away now the fees bill has gone through.

Bruce Robinson


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Andy Blunden" <ablunden@mira.net>
To: "eXtended Mind, Culture, Activity" <xmca@weber.ucsd.edu>
Sent: Sunday, January 02, 2011 5:46 AM
Subject: Re: [xmca] Fwd: Value(s) and Higher Education


> The depth of the depravity described in this review is shocking. Britain 
> was once the paragon of free  universal public service, and has now been 
> dragged down to a level even worse than Oz or the USA. How far can this 
> process go? In his PhD thesis in 1968, James Coleman suggested that 
> although every citizen was entitled to a vote, people ought to be allowed 
> to sell their vote on the market, much like the "education voucher" of 
> which Milton Friedman was an early advocate.
>
> The irony is that the elimination of the ethos of free, universal 
> education as a public good, is offered in diect response to the utter 
> failure of the market to regulate financial investment. Why on Earth do 
> these people think the market will do a better job of regulating learning?
>
> Andy
>
> mike cole wrote:
> > For more of the story check out the most recent NY Review of books
> > or get an English colleague to forward a summary document. Before long 
> > its
> > going to be in a convenience store near you, or perhaps a Walmart.
> > mike
> > ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> > From: Frank Kessel <kesfam@pdq.net>
> > Date: Sat, Jan 1, 2011 at 8:18 PM
> > Subject: Value(s) and Higher Education
> >   ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> >
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> --
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> *Andy Blunden*
> Joint Editor MCA: http://lchc.ucsd.edu/MCA/Journal/
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