Some comments and suggestions by Jason Diceman – November 27, 2000
The goal of any successful business is to make profit. Any other goals must be compromised in the name of profit or the business will not be successful and will soon vanish in the competitive market place.
The goal of a public institution is to benefit people. Although public institutions are not often profitable, they make decisions with the good of the people in mind.
Private educational institutions will make decisions that are in the best interest of profit, not the public, not the students, not society.
- Universities are institutions for higher learning. They are a resource for independent research, the development of critical skills and the exchange of important ideas for the benefit of all of society.
- Universities are NOT a training facility for business. That is the role of a commercial training school.
In a functioning democracy, each citizen needs to be educated to analyze and be critical of society from various perspectives. Only with a community of balanced and diversely educated citizens will a democratic society make intelligent decisions that are in the best interest of the public. Private education is interested in making a profit, not providing a strong civic base.
Private education is a business. It is not in a business’ best interest to educate students to be critical of private structures. Civilians that are educated by the private sphere will have an unbalanced education that favors the private sphere over the public. Private education will create a democracy that is not in the best interest of the people.
If we as a society think that our institutes of higher learning need to be improved, then let us investigate the full range of possible actions, including increased funding and restructuring. Privatization is a trend that is promoted by the business community and is not the answer to all challenges.
I suggest we look to other models of education systems around the world (not just the USA) and learn from their success and challenges.
In terms of what actions we should take now, I suggest the collecting and centralizing of as much knowledge as possible concerning this issue. We should find reports, studies and well-formed arguments to present to the press and to governing bodies.
Emotion may give us energy, but knowledge will give us power.
Let us use our independent education to prove the value of independent education.