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May 28, 2008 - 3:55pm.
When I was in junior high school, my friend wrote a novel and sent it to Longmans' for publication. They sent it back to him asking him to simplify it. They wanted it published under the children's category but the language is a bit above kid level. Well, he did simplify it but they wanted him to simplify it more. He told me that he can no longer to it. He is satisfied with the term ''Your Novel'' which Longmans' publishers used when they wrote him. And that over- simplification will destroy both the structure, texture and overall beauty of the novel. I agreed with him. The novel was good by many standards, better than most I had read. And I was an avid reader. My question is, should he have gone on simplifying the novel even if it cost him the structure, texture and overall beauty of the book? Personally, I think what the writer mean is more important than what the reader makes out of his book. That's why schools are there. God bless every government that offers her citizens free education. Education improves ones capacity to understand and the hunger to discover. But the most important discovery of all is self. I remember my mum telling me one day after listening to a teacher that there is a difference between education and enlightenment. You can acquire one but the other is inborn. Enlightenment offers more than education and can be achieved through contemplation and self examination. It leads to self discovery. Whoever discovers self has discovered life hidden formular. And should political leaders spend a little of their time on personal comtemplation, they would soon discover the recipe for world peace.
Capitol Hill Blue's columnists, blogs and reader comments Capitol Hill Blue is an independent, non-partisan news site that belongs to no political party and subscribes to no political or philosophical point-of-view. Our columnists are welcome to their opinions but readers should understand that their views do not necessarily reflect the editorial policies of this web site. We also welcome comments to selected opinion columns and in our popular ReaderRant discussion forum. Please remember, however, that we believe in civility on this web site and comments may be reviewed, moderated or removed if we feel they contain obscenities, racism, bigotry, anti-Semitic remarks or attack other posters. Our goal is reasoned discussion on issues facing this nation and we do not feel that goal is served by personal attacks and by seeing how many cute adjectives you can attach to an elected official or politician's name. Copyright © 2008 Capitol Hill Blue
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what does it say about the
Submitted by pollchecker on May 28, 2008 - 4:24pm.what does it say about the state of our education system when they want you to simplify a story for the mind of a 2 year old?
Are you smarter than a 5th grader? Most aren't! Sad state but it is what it is. Thanks to the failed policies of Bush/McCain our population is dumber than ever.
One has to seek enlightenment to find it. To seek something you have to know what it is first. I'm willing to bet you couldn't find 3 people in a mall in 3 minutes that could tell you what enlightenment means.
I like how you continually
Submitted by griff on May 28, 2008 - 4:58pm.I like how you continually persecute Republicans for everything. Was this country only founded eight years ago? The education system has been going downhill for decades. Have not the two parties shared and traded power these many years?
"No people will tamely surrender their Liberties, nor can any be easily subdued, when knowledge is diffused and Virtue is preserved. On the Contrary, when People are universally ignorant, and debauched in their Manners, they will sink under their own weight without the Aid of foreign Invaders."
-Samuel Adams, November 4, 1775
"Law and liberty cannot rationally become the objects of our love, unless they first become the objects of our knowledge."
- James Wilson, The Study of the Law in the United States, 1790
Grif -- don't take it
Submitted by pollchecker on May 28, 2008 - 5:26pm.Grif -- don't take it personally. I only criticize the Bushie republicans for reasons I have stated. Since they are so good at deflecting the blame on everyone else, it's time they are the ones to bear responsibility for their acions.
I have many clients who are teachers. I know how they felt about education before and after Bush. I guarantee you if it was a Democratic President who had come up with a catastrophe like No Child Left Behind they Genuises of Propaganda would be shouting worse.
No as an old time past Repub myself, I am allowed to call a spade and spade and will continue to until after the election. How many times do I have to tell you, I will not stand by idly and allow John McCain to steal another election.
Enlightenment is the way to our future but we have to be certain people even know what that is. A lot of people happen to think America has gotten Dumber under the leadership of the Bushies in the past 8 or so years.
I don't take it personally,
Submitted by griff on May 28, 2008 - 5:58pm.I don't take it personally, but No Child Left Behind was certainly not the beginning of the decline of education in this country, but just the latest chapter in a sad and pathetic story that began with the establishment of the Ministry of Indoctrination, er, the Department of Education back in the 50's.
You say we need enlightenment, but what I see from your post is not enlightenment but partisan propaganda and selective amnesia. Even Obama supports No Child Left Behind, and in fact means to expand it.
From Obama's website...
"The goal of the law was the right one, but unfulfilled funding promises, inadequate implementation by the Education Department and shortcomings in the design of the law itself have limited its effectiveness and undercut its support. As a result, the law has failed to provide high-quality teachers in every classroom and failed to adequately support and pay those teachers."
And a word about hope from Patrick Henry, in a speech to the Virginia Convention March 23, 1775...
"It is natural to man to indulge in the illusions of hope. We are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth — and listen to the song of that siren, till she transforms us into beasts. Is this the part of wise men, engaged in a great and arduous struggle for liberty? Are we disposed to be of the number of those, who having eyes, see not, and having ears, hear not, the things which so nearly concern their temporal salvation? For my part, whatever anguish of spirit it might cost, I am willing to know the whole truth; to know the worst, and to provide for it."
As far as I know Obama did
Submitted by pollchecker on May 28, 2008 - 6:28pm.As far as I know Obama did not vote for the "NO child left behind" program because he was not in office. As to what he will do or won't do remains to be seen and is not about enlightenment.
What I do know for a fact is that an awful lot of teachers blame the dumbing of America on this program. We KNOW what McCain brings....more of the failed policies of Bush/McCain and we have his record to prove it.
So stop calling me a partisan because I am not a Democrat either. However, I will vote for Senator Obama because of all the candidates he is the best chance this country has for enlightenment in the next four years and that may not be enough.
The Bushie Republicans want conformity and as you and I have agreed in another blog that is not necessarily a good thing and certainly not enlightenment.
Parents are responsible for
Submitted by Sandra Price on May 29, 2008 - 7:35am.Parents are responsible for the education of their children. Many will buy homes in a good school district and that is the end of it. Many will check out the reading scores of the schools and work with the kids at home or locate a private school.
We are using labels to define each other and the subject of academics is again lost.
Sylvester. Your friend should have written a book that would be acceptable to the public and then bring the public up to the standards that only the author can bring. He is fighting a losing battle against television. I wish him well.
The conflict is really
Submitted by Flapsaddle on May 29, 2008 - 10:55am.The conflict is really between what the author believes to be the soul of his book and what the editor believes can be sold. The publisher is taking the financial risk and the decision as to marketability - right or wrong - is his. The author has the choice of insisting on purity of product or accepting revisions that may well increase the sales of the modified work; the choice is his.
Few if any authors, even well-established ones, have absolute control of their submissions. Stephen King was/is always disputing the recommendations of his editors. Robert Heinlein, the "dean of American science-fiction writers" still had to conform to the wishes of his editors in his written-for-juveniles series.
I see it more as a market issue than as an intellectual issue.
Most sincerely,
T. J. Flapsaddle