EDUCATION: Walter Williams was a rock star

Friday, April 4, 2025

https://jeffjacoby.com/28453/84-years-of-not-suffering-fools

84 years of not suffering fools
by Jeff Jacoby  — December 7, 2020

*** begin quote ***

Walter E. Williams taught economics to university students for 47 years, the last 40 of them at George Mason University in Fairfax, Va. He taught his class as usual last Tuesday, then died suddenly some hours later. His death did not go unnoticed — lengthy obituaries appeared in both the New York Times and the Washington Post — but the news ricocheted with particular velocity through the world of conservatives, libertarians, and free-market economists: To us, Walter Williams was a rock star.

*** and ***

From How to Live in Peace (2017):

*** and ***

The liberty-oriented solution to the school prayer issue is simple. We should acknowledge the fact that though there is public financing of primary and secondary education, it doesn’t follow that there should be public production of education. . . .

*** end quote ***

I read Walter Williams as soon as I found out about him.  He led me to Thomas Soul.  Together they formed my opinions on Gooferment, Gooferment Skrules, politicians, and bureaucrats.

Clearly and concisely, they demolished the welfare / warfare state with its one-size fit all solutions.  Good thing the Gooferment doesn’t produce shoes.

Argh!

—30—

Leave a Comment » | Education | Tagged: , | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

EDUCATION: Time to separate Gooferment from “education”

Thursday, January 12, 2023

https://jeffjacoby.com/26666/the-school-that-sabotaged-its-standout-students

The school that sabotaged its standout students
by Jeff Jacoby The Boston Globe

*** begin quote ***

It is hard to overstate the outrageousness of this betrayal, but it reflects the school district’s stated determination to “produce equal outcomes for every student, without exception.” Taken literally, such a policy requires the dumbing-down of classroom expectations to the lowest common denominator. It means that high-scoring students must on no account be encouraged to excel.

*** end quote ***

“Catholic school taught them that it was their obligation, and could even be a mortal sin, if you didn’t use all your talents to the greater glory of God.” — “Chapter Fifty — Samaritans going to Jericho / Monday November 5, 1962 – Church Day + 17 (continues)” CHURCH 10●19●62 Volume 1 Page 296

I was never a willing student, but I was always “encouraged”  — sometimes with physical violence  — to do my best.

Now, seven decades later, I realize how important that encouragement is.  We don’t have “corporal punishment” like in my day, but sometimes  — to refer to the old joke about the farmer and the stubborn mule  — sometimes “you need to get the student’s attention”.   I like when the student is encourage to learn what they want and when they want to learn.  Maybe we have lost the American ethic to “work hard and smart”.

I admire the Asian family influence over children and the importance of education.  It’s a shame that black students equate being educated with “acting white”.  We’ve failed them.  The late Walter Williams came from the segregated Philly school system where poor performance was just unacceptable.  He attributed his success to the encouragement he got then.

Bottom line for me is that the Gooferment has take over “education” and “achieved” diminishing results and an ever expanding cost.

In the tax revolt of the 1970 in the Pepuls Republik of Nu Jerzee, I urged a “Forty Year” plan to move from the current system to a free market solution.  The first 20 years was a series of 5% liberations of students from the requirement to attend a local public school with a “green voucher” to but whatever education is best for them.  The second 20 years was a series of 5% reduction in the amount of those vouchers.  At the end of 40 years, the problem would be solved.

But, as ususal, politics and the “teachers’ union” was impossible to overcome.

—30—

Leave a Comment » | Education | Tagged: , , , | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj

EDUCATION: Another reason for the separation of “education” and the State?

Monday, April 4, 2022

https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2022/04/03/south-carolina-womens-basketball-team-refused-to-take-court-during-national-anthem/

South Carolina Women’s Basketball Team Refused to Take Court During National Anthem
WARNER TODD HUSTON 3 Apr 2022

*** begin quote ***

Ahead of Friday’s NCAA Final Four tournament game, the South Carolina Gamecocks refused to take the court and remained in the locker room during the playing of the national anthem.

*** end quote ***

I’m sure that the Taxpayers of South Carolina, the veterans —  disabled or not — in and from South Carolina, as well as all the parents of the KIA, MIA, WIA, and other war related casualties are very “proud” of these snowflakes expressing their opinion while risking nothing.

As a little L libertarian, I’ll just add this to file “Reasons Why the Gooferment should not be involved in EDUCATION”.  (Among other things.)

—30—

Leave a Comment » | Education | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , | Permalink
Posted by reinkefj