Interesting References On History Of Public Education In The USA

   (Commentary posted by Roger Erickson)

A Giant Takes the World Stage

These slides are from Bill Black's presentation at the Cockefair Chair Lecture held at UMKC. The Lecture topic was the rise of American Industrialism. It was presented on October 28, 2014.

There are 200 slides here. It's long, but there are many interesting reference points.
The most interesting aspect for me is how much these developments parallel similar patterns found in molecular, cellular, physiological and cultural evolution.

Given all the system patterns to be aware of, and consider, you might think that we as a people would be more motivated to use that potential awareness to help guide our national or cultural destiny ... but we obviously never have been very motivated in that regard.

Every example of evolution yet found is incredibly sloppy. Apparently simply because it simply doesn't have to be more focused .... but likely also because it simply hasn't paid off - long term - to try to be more focused. :)

You have to wonder what Friedrich Fröbel, or Wallace & Darwin, would think of current outcomes.

And what'd Abe Lincoln say? Most people are about as happy as they have a mind to be? Well, most evolving systems also are about as focused as they have a need to be, and not a smidgen more.