Hey guys, just came across this lengthy article (more like an essay, really) that picks apart the small but growing "Classical Education" movement, including the Great Books movement. I thought it was pretty interesting, and most of her criticisms are valid, I think, although I don't agree with everything she says. Note that her critiques of "classical education," and especially of the Great Books curriculum, only seems to apply to grade school; she doesn't talk about high school and beyond, so I think that in high school and definitely in college, a Great Books education is still one of the best educations around. Also note that she is a libertarian who explicitly bases her educational philosophy on Ayn Rand's philosophy, although this philosophy in turn is based on Aristotle.

http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/issues/2007-summer/false-promise-classical-education.asp

-Joey

If Notre Dame is Catholic Disneyland, then Lent is like Catholic training for the marathon. Lent is a serious time of reflection, a time of intense emotion, blah, blah, yada, yada. You've all heard it before. Lent is a time of repentance and forgiveness. Today's reading at my school Mass was Matthew 5:20-26. Go and make peace without your neighbor before offering your gift at the altar. Fun fact: that's why we exchange the sign of peace before the Eucharist!
    In this reading, Jesus tells us not to be angry with our brothers and sisters. That is INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT. I might say almost impossible for us to follow. There are going to be some downright jerks in this world, and everyone has experienced those people who irk you to no end. The two of you are like oil and water. You just can't stand that person. Yet Jesus tells us if you got beef with someone, go and make nice then you can come into my Father's house.
    Okay, so here's the problem. What if you want to make nice with a person and they don't want to? What if they're not playing by your Catholic rules? What if you are ready to forgive them and they don't think they've done anything wrong to be forgiven? Can you really forgive someone who doesn't want to be forgiven? I honestly don't think  you can. Maybe you can let go of that grudge and "get over it," but where does that leave us?
    So how do you deal with those people that just piss you off to no end and you're forced to be in close proximity to them? It's driving me nuts. Anyone else feel this way?


    -Conor