There is an old adage that I am almost sure we all know: "The pen is mightier than the sword," which basically attests to the power of the written word. Those same written words yield even more power when the scribe is quite reputable, say for example, a renowned writer or Nobel laureate with ground-breaking work on the structure of DNA. But, what if these individuals use their power irresponsibly? What if they use it in the way that Charles Murray and James D. Watson have? Both men have used science to support their racist claims. Both men have purported that blacks are innately less intelligent than their white counterparts. Charles Murray, in his recent book Real Education, sets out to expose the lies in our educational system. Lies that, according to him, cause educators/administrators to waste resources on less intelligent learners at the detriment of the gifted in the society. One would think that the gifted are better able to take charge of their own learning, hence the need for more programs for the ones that require additional support. One would also think that with differentiated instruction being such an effective methodology that someone of Dr. Murray's learning ought not to worry about a diverse classroom. Alas, it seems that he does worry about it, and in his new book he offers four simple truths that debunk the hypocrisy of America's educational establishment.
So outrageous is this book that Ben Wildavsky, in his review for The Wall Street Journal - "When Learning Has a Limit," sets out to point out the "dismayingly fatalistic" ideas expounded in Real Education.
Read Mr. Wildavsky's article and used the comment link at the end of this post to voice your opinion on the issues discussed. I want to hear from you...
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