In Berkeley. . .even the private-school students are communists

Zombie Time (Via OrbusMax.Com) ^ | 6/19/09

[llevrok]

Berkeley is so left-wing……that when 7th- and 8th-graders at an expensive prestigious private school are asked to design their own tiles for a permanently displayed mosaic, they draw a big hammer-and-sickle and declare as their message to the world, “Capitalism will fail.”

The communist message is part of a school mosiac for the Class of 2007 at Black Pine Circle School, which has a reputation as one of the best private K-8 schools in the city. (Most of the other tiles in the mosaic are what you typically might expect from 13- and 14-year-olds: declarations of friendship and personal messages that are generally inscrutable to adults.)

[lilylangtree]

If they’re state supported, it’s time for the taxpayers of CA to rise up and say, “NO MORE!” Get the funding cut. These nuts running the University and teaching there will leave.

[Mark319]

Bookmark

[Fresh Wind]

"MR. GORBACHEV, FORGIVE US FOR MEDDLING IN YOUR AFFAIRS"

[nmh]

My nephew goes to University of Berkeley...

There is no “University of Berkeley.” There is the University of California at Berkeley.

My bad. That’s the one - University of California in Berkely. He’s taking up robotics. He’s a smart kid. He made the paper with his perfect S.A.T. score.

[Rudder]

Are you sure there’s no university of berkely?

I said there is no University of Berkeley, not confusing Berkely with Berkeley.

[Salman]

The kid who did the “capitalism will fail” tile is probably just a teacher’s pet giving the adults want they want.

Bingo.

I'll add this -- The parents know all about the school and are fine with it. I know the type.

[Cvengr]

Sorry, my expectation of an academic institution is somewhat marred when one isn’t allowed to enter the stacks of the library, even as a student or grad student. Go figure.

I noticed they had plaques on the buildings giving some world league names of intellectuals associated with the departments, but they simply never taught there or were ever available. Most frauds I’ve met had more socially redeemable value.

Color me not impressed of their intellectual capacity.

[bootless]

Hey, and that cannibis leaf is nice, too.

[Cvengr]

Rice can hold its own, although no longer the Institute it formerly was, it has broadened it’s curriculum fairly well.

I haven’t looked in the last decade. In the 80s and 90s Peterson’s ranked by Competitive, Highly Competitive and Most Competitive Institutions. Berkeley at that time wasn’t even a Competitive institution at that time.

In the 90s, students, UG and Grad, weren’t even allowed in the stacks of the library. (So how would one ever expect decent research or broad minded intellectualism, if the student population can’t be trusted in the stacks of their own library?) IMHO, its a nonstarter. Granted, there is probably a fair amount of material just to be learned from the token ABET curriculum textbooks, but don’t ask their UGs for an intuitive grasp of the materials they are studying. the lack of intellectual atmosphere there didn’t support it. Liberal mediocrity at its best.

[bauerpauer]

Well, there’s some 7th and 8th graders who got brainwashed!

[Cvengr]

"Cal is very highly ranked and is very competitive."

I understand there is quite a bit of competition amongst the Asian-American crowd to have a Berkeley degree, but IMHO, their efforts are more fruitfully applied elsewhere. There are about 20 great intellectual institutions in the US for outstanding UG education, and depending the student's situation, some are much better than others, especially when migrating to Graduate curriculums. Of course there is always the MIT open course curriculum for those sincere enough to pursue the studies prior to exposure to some good professorial guidance.

[rogue yam]

U.S. News
Rankings Best Colleges 2009
Best Colleges: Top Public Schools: National Universities

University of California-Berkeley Berkeley, CA Rank 1

http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/college/national-top-public

[EDINVA]

“Parents are really getting value for their bucks.”

I have a sneaking hunch the kids get this from their parents, then have it reinforced at school.

[married21]

I have an acquaintance who is entering Berkeley this Fall. She is Asian-American, in line with your theory about it being popular with Asians, but she had several excellent colleges to choose from, so there must still be something there that is a draw for dedicated students. If I get the chance, I’ll ask her about the library policy. My personal experience dates from the 1980s, but I have fond memories of the main library and the several stories of the law library. And, of course, I was able to check out stuff. You sound really bitter about Berkeley.
By the way, when I was there they did a study about who were the most successful students. It turned out to be Koreans, because they were the most consistent participants in small study groups, helping each other through the course material and holding each other accountable for doing their part. Now, I tell all the entering college students I know about those findings, but they seldom really take it to heart.