What Kind of Education Befits a Democracy?

Mike Rose (UCLA) was recently interviewed on NPR's Speaking of Faith on his book "The Meaning of Intelligence." He discusses the bias against manual labor (compared to intellectual indeavors), the complex cognitive skills associated with vocational work, and the meaning of and focus on standardized testing in the American education system. The latter half of the program focuses on his views on education, and creating learning environments that encourage intellectual and creative risk, social connection, and the "essential understanding of good teaching as not merely inspiring thought but supporting high expectations and giving students a sense of what opportunity feels like" (Tippett, NPR, 1/11/10). 

I can't do justice to this piece in a summary. Listen to it. It speaks to the fundamental wonder of becoming aware of one's mind and helping others do the same.

http://speakingoffaith.publicradio.org/programs/2010/meaning-of-intelligence/