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Friday, March 24, 1978
University Daily Kansan
Philosopher proposes radical educational changes
By ROBERT BEER
Staff Writer
Graduate schools, Ph.D.'s, parents and corporations are threatening basic education, Mortimer Adler, philosopher, said last night.
Speaking in the Kansas Union Ballroom to about 100 persons, Adler said that until the four entities are either changed radically or somehow reorganized in process, meaningful education was hopeless.
Graduate schools control what the curriculum of colleges and universities will be, Adler, who taught philosophy at the University of Chicago for 20 years, said.
"The basic common schooling for all, without exception, is aimed to elevate the minds of all, not just the specialists in graduate school," he said.
ADLER, WHO founded the Institute for Philosophical Research in San Francisco, said educators, because of the emphasis on intellectual discourse, do not communicate outside of their specialties.
"In math, a specialist of one sub-fragment cannot understand a specialist of another."
In fact, Adler said, graduate schools should be entirely separate from basic schools.
"I would allow no one with a Ph.D. to teach in college."
Liquor laws remain same for Kansas
TOPEKA (AP) — An effort in the Kansas Senate to eliminate the 10-day waiting period for membership to private clubs and thereby prevent them from liquor by collapsed yesterday.
The bill was rejected, 18-30 following a parliamentary move that forced all senators to vote on the issue. A majority of the Senate had voted the day before to send the bill and roll call vote and create a situation that the measure had enough support to pass.
Sen. Don Everett, R-Manhattan, said he was disappointed that the Legislature again refused to ease Kansas' strict liquor laws. He jokingly said that the law's proposition faced a tough battle because of the firmness against the issue earlier yesterday.
ALTHOUGH HE DID not mention the jobbist by name, Everett apparently was aiding to the Rev. Richard E. Taylor, head of the Kansas United Dry Forces.
"He has won another victory and the state of Iowa is up." The riptide of "Iowa's" is Everett subs.
He said opponents of the bill had succeeded in returning the state of Kansas to its moral and spiritual core.
SEN. TOM REHORN, D-Kansas City, was successful Wednesday in attaching the first non-profit alcoholic beverage Control Division to crack down on bogus non-profit clubs which are now permitted to waive the 10-day waiting fee and receive a membership fee for profit-making clubs.
in other action, the Senate passed measures that would:
- Establish a procedure for compensating the victim of violent crimes for their compensation.
- easanish a state committee on agricultural grain marketing that would contact other states to see whether changes should be made in international grain trade.
The Senate also passed and sent to the House bill creating a presidential primary of the Republicans.
If the bill passes the house and is signed by Gov. Robert F. Bennett, the first presidential primary would be held in Kansas on the first Tuesday in April in 1980. It also would be the same day of the year every four years thereafter.
Billing . . .
From page one
"THE BILL is probably going to be high
price," Bryan said. "The consumer is
originated." Bryan said.
He said that surprisingly few people complained or even noticed that their bills were estimated. Bills that have been estimated are marked as such and do not have a meter reading in the appropriate space.
The safeguard to a consumer's being mistakenly overcharged is that eventually an actual reading is taken and the previous discrepancies will be incorporated in the next bill. By law, KP&L cannot estimate more than three bills in a row.
WHEN THE actual reading is taken, a bill suddenly may be cut in half or doubled, depending upon the accuracy of the reader, or the pattern of a consumer's usage has changed.
As Bryan put it, "Things will catch up when we finally get an actual reading."
If a person receives an estimated bill and is upset about it, Bryan said, he should call KP&L and someone would be sent to get an actual reading.
HOWEVER, if a bill has been consistently
than expected, it probably is because of
investigations.
This winter has been the coldest winter since 1900, Bryan said, causing most bills to rise accordingly, even though the cost of a kilowatt hour is comparatively last in list
If a person wants to find out more about the way he is billed and how utilities operate, Bryan said, KP&L conducts public seminars to promote consumer awareness.
ADLER SAID the Ph.D. should be reserved for graduate school where specialized education was needed.
After said that when he was in college, only one of his literature teachers discussed books other than his speciality. He said all of the other literature teachers discussed only the books that were their specialities.
specifically.
"If we ask the students to read all of these books, why shouldn't the professor?" he said.
said.
Ph.D.'s write books only for their peers,
he said, and not for the generally educated
person.
FOR INSTANCE, Adler said when that he edited the new "Encyclopedia Britannica," he asked educators to eliminate specialized
jargon that could not be understood by someone outside of that speciality.
"Some educators refused to change to less specialized words," he said.
Adler said that Ph.D. $s$ should not teach in the undergraduate schools because they were primarily interested in their own education and their rise through the graduate schools.
Like Ph.D,'s, parents in this country are a threat to basic education. They instil the idea that their children must specialize in school to learn a profession, he said.
"I FEEL sorry for parents who want to leave their children, say that they've invested in their children's health."
"No one should go to college to learn how
to earn a living. They should go to learn how
Parents demand that their children learn achievable skills that can be transformed into real-life situations.
Ader said that parents' demands for saleable skills required specialized training.
"They want very precise skills and they pressure the schools to prove students with these skills."
Adler said that if he could design educational systems he would start children in the first grade at age 4 and would provide 12 years of general education.
THE FOURTH enemy of basic education is corporations, he said.
"At age 16 everyone would be thrown out of school," he said. All children would then return to school.
Adler said that such a broad education would makeenable and sensible persons.
entrance exam would be admitted to graduate school where they could pursue a master's degree.
However, he said我不教育 man a good shoemaker not by teaching him how to make shoes but by teaching him how to think
"Then they will become capable and sensible lawyers and doctors," be said.
AT AGE 20, anyone that passed a stiff
The Brewery
714 Mass.
Ladies Night
Every Thursday For Ladies
"We haven't a chance in the world to be educated," he said.
Draws 30c
Pitchers $1.50
Pitchers $1.30
---
Every Friday 3:00-6:00
Draws 35c
All Cans and Bottles 50c
However, Adler is not optimistic about his plan's chances.
POSITION OPENINGS
K. U. Residence Halls and Scholarship Halls 1978-1979
RESIDENT ASSISTANTS
Must be Junior, Senior or Graduate Student for 78-79 academic year
ASSISTANT HALL DIRECTORS
Must be Graduate Student or Fifth year status for 1978-1979 academic year
SCHOLARSHIP HALL DIRECTORS
Must be Graduate Student or Fifth-year status for 1978-1979 academic year
All applicants should evidence above average academic achievement, prior residential group living experience and availability for the entire 1978-1979 academic year (August-May).
Applications and job descriptions available now in Dean of Women's Office (220 Strong Hall) or in Dean of Men's Office (228 Strong Hall).
Application Deadline March 31,1978
The University of Kansas is an equal opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. Qualified Men and Women of all races and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
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