You will remember that a few days ago I sent a
quote from The Times for your consideration. For those who did not see it the
quote was:
"Oxford, Cambridge, and other elite Universities are the
guardians of intellectual life. They cannot teach the qualities that people
need in politics and business. Nor can they teach culture and wisdom, any more
than theologians teach holiness, philosophers goodness or sociologists a blue
print for the future. They exist to cultivate the intellect. All else is
secondary."
I thought you might be interested in the results of
the "discussion".
Firstly, of course, I must note that I made a serious cultural error in
beginning the debate at Thanksgiving. You might be understanding about this -
for some reason it is not a holiday in the UK.
The original quote was part of an article about (surprise) money for
Universities and made the point that Oxford and Cambridge Dons should
concentrate on intellectual life rather that what some see as "fringe"
activities, but what we - since we belong to this grouping - would not see as
fringe but integral to the development of the student.
It is a matter of history that the US has been more concerned with "the
total student" than the UK where traditionally a university degree was three
or four years heavy concentration on a single subject. That does not mean, of
course, that the US did not have some way to go and we might argue that, over
the last few years, the move from service-learning in "stand alone" programmes
to integration into disciplines has been a pedagogical ecblastesis* (!) that
still has some way to go, but is very welcome.
As interesting as the subject itself, however, I - and others - thought,
was the response. A good number of people responded many in terms I have
expressed above. One point I particularly liked was that although a teacher of
theology cannot teach holiness - the teacher can BE holy. What we are is as
important as what we teach - integrity is not to be preserved but, maybe,
created. (biver - with a quote like that I would have liked to put a name to
it... rather than an e-mail address). Tom Shields said that the quote
indicated the continuing belief that learning occurs best within walls - a
belief we should constantly challenge and with one voice.
Other replies - in fact the majority - were depressing. There were
complaints that I was wasting the time of busy people with a discussion that
had no relevance to service-learning. I was criticised for adopting a
condescending manner to colleagues because I had put the word "Discuss!" at
the end of my post.
One final point - all replies pro and con - except for two were sent
direct to me rather than to the group. It may be now that most see the
list-serv primarily as a site for advertising posts and programmes - which I
don't mind personally - but it is a pity if we now have no time to exchange
thinking.
Cheers - and a very Happy Holiday to all of you out there!
Tony
*the bursting forth of flowers in spring!
International Community Service
and
Westminster College, Oxford Service-Learning
NEW PROGRAM -
PERFORMING ARTS