Re: Instrumental reason

Bruce Robinson (bruce.rob who-is-at btinternet.com)
Fri, 4 Sep 1998 10:44:42 +0100

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>Just weedling through some trite doctrinaire "Homo economicus" texts about
>the role of education in society and thinking: Has education everywhere
>been relegated to an instrumental "thing" that people "do" to get a job?
>
>Certainly, in Australia, the powers that be can see no value in education,
>or should I say, training, other than for the economic good of the
>individual or society. Thus, even primary schools here are to be corporate
>training grounds ...
>

Certainly true in the UK thanks to the Thatcherite era. Apparently this
year's applications for university places show large falls in various
subjects considered to be non-vocational (probably partly also for financial
reasons following the introduction of student loans and tuition fees). There
is also the increasing domination of business needs in determining curricula
in various areas, the introduction of business people into the governing
bodies of schools, colleges and universities and the effective privatisation
of much vocational education and training. Loss of democratic accountability
throughout the education system as elected education authorities lose power
to the 'great and the good' - always including business interests.

The Blair government is doing nothing to reverse these trends and is even
extending
them in many fields.

Bruce Robinson

>Phil
>angrily
>Phil Graham
>pw.graham who-is-at student.qut.edu.au
>http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Palms/8314/index.html
>
>