Harvard Sick of All Those Old White Guys

Publius Forum ^ | 11/09/10 | Warner Todd Huston

[ladyjane]

Boston Globe clucks disapprovingly that of the some 750 oil portraits in Harvard’s collection of celebrated alumnus only two are of "minorities...

The plural for alumnus is alumni. That's for male graduates.

For females it's alumna and alumnae, singular and plural respectively.

[DeFault User]

How many are conservative Republicans?

Here's one :o)

[Svartalfiar]

Yea, its rather sad how few people know some basic facts.

What might be interesting would be to compare a standardized test over math, grammar/language, national history, government, and so on as compared to students in other countries. I bet they know alot more about their own stuff than we do about ours. Hell, I bet a significant amount of them would do better on a US test than US students/adults would.

[A Navy Vet]

Forgot to mention that neither of us went much past High School. Yet, we still do better than most of the academics that appear on that show, including Stanford, Harvard, Yale and other professional students. Pretty sad.

Even sadder, have you ever seen the old segment on The Tonight Show called, "Jay Walking"? He asks the simplest questions of young and older adults on the streets, and they can't even distinguish between the different portraits of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. They say stupid stuff like, "I think he was someone in WWII" or "he invented something". Best, "He (Washington)was the leader of 'some country'". Most didn't even have a clue and admit it. Pitiful.

Or, "What was the Revolutionary War About"? They answer: It was something about Indians not liking tea, or a war against France or other inane crap. Again, sad.

Here's a good one: Who is the vice-President? No one got it right. No one!

Last "Jay-Walking" question: What is Mount Rushmore? Answer: A volcano? Just dumbfounded.

These people vote!! I have more respect for naturalized citizens who have to learn about our great nation's history than I do for all the Desperate Housewives/Jersey Shore joe-six-pack-soccor-mom idiot citizens born in this country.

I sincerely now believe that the only people that should be allowed to vote is those who pay taxes, which excludes some 40 something percentage of the American populace. Change the tax laws to an across-the-board flat tax and watch how the "gimmes" will change their voting habits. Make them pay "their fair share" for services as the socialists preach, and watch them find a new political religion! Of course, it will never happen...I can dream...

"Two centuries ago, a somewhat obscure Scotsman named Alexander Tytler made this profound observation: "A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until the majority discovers it can vote itself largess out of the public treasury. After that, the majority always votes for the candidate promising the most benefits with the result the democracy collapses because of the loose fiscal policy ensuing, always to be followed by a dictatorship, then a monarchy."

While there is much debate if Tytler actually wrote those words, they are no less true. Think modern history.

[A Navy Vet]

"The valedictorian of my high school class (2004) went to Harvard. She is now struggling to finish medical school. She minored in sociology while attending Harvard. I’m guessing all that commie drivel must have fried her logic board. All for the best. The last thing anyone wants is a leftist doctor who measures the worth of her patients."

Killing me!

Personally, I think that all commonsense left planet Earth some 40 years ago. Hopefully, it is now penetrating the icy depths of Jupiter's moon, Europa. Maybe those microbes can make some sense when they evolve.

Best, and sorry about your friend. Sociology studies are for the lazy. Wanna bet she winds up as a government employee?

[A Navy Vet]

"I know a couple of Harvard alums with a child now attending college there. These libs are shocked at the emphasis on diversity. It’s not the school they attended. I am amused watching their cognitive dissonance on display."

Really? I can't believe Harvard students don't have a problem with accepting politically correct instruction. Tell me more...

[Soothesayer]

It’s all very upsetting actually. She was extremely bright and talented but then her mind was destroyed by the mental disease we call liberalism.

[A Navy Vet]

Sorry I made light of it. I've been an advocate for education reform as far back as the early 1980's when I realized my own children were not getting the education I experienced in the 50's and early 60's. I remember difficult "homework" after having true instruction in the classroom.

The answers to our lowering standards of un-education are:

1. Get rid of or defund the fedgov Department of Education. That should never have been created;

2. Bust the the NTA. Unions had a purpose in history - they are no longer needed, especially where our children are concerned. It's almost impossible to fire a sub-standard teacher now;

3. Continue the Standardized Testing;

4. States and municipalities look VERY close at what is being taught. Unfortunately, nowadays we can't rely on parents, so School Districts should do away with all the "feel-good" programs and concentrate on the 3 R's.

There is something to be said about competition. So you lose sometimes or get bad grades or not get an award for just participating. I lost some times as a youth, and it made me stronger. Others may not - life is not fair. ALL children need to learn those lessons once again. So, some fail. Most will rise to the challenge if given the chance.

Remember the movie (true story), "Stand And Deliver"? Where a dedicated teacher inspires his dropout prone students to learn calculus to build up their self-esteem and do so well that they are accused of cheating, but are exonerated by a second test. Think about what built their self-esteem. It wasn't "I'm okay; you're okay". It was about accomplishment.

The US is used to be the leader in science, innovation, production, and economical prowess. Now we are down the scale in all categories due to what I believe to be the dumbing down of American students, starting back in the 1960's.

Worst of all, our so-called higher learning institutions are now over-run by the Hippie generation and spouting their own political beliefs on a daily basis and indoctrinating young minds that can't discern.

I say defund them also. Let their alumni pay. I don't want my money supporting their socialist agenda. End rant.