Public Service Academy Proposal Is Still Stupidest Idea I Have Ever Heard
The most appallingly horrible proposal in recent history might be coming to Missouri, which makes it even worse. The Kansas City Star has the details on how supporters of a national public service academy are considering Kansas City as a location. Sarah touched on this a few months ago, and I am still mortified by the thought.
It is difficult for me to comprehend how some people think it is a good idea to take some of our best and brightest, and convince them to dedicate their lives to the government. How is this for a frightening statement from a Missouri official?
Robert Stein, Missouri’s commissioner of higher education, said public service is the lifeblood of our country, but there is no institution dedicated to developing public-service leaders.
“We need to explore how to establish a public service academy that will prompt a cadre of new leaders into government at local, state, national and even global levels,” Stein said.
I have news for Mr. Stein: Working as a bureaucrat for the government is not the lifeblood of our country. Things like liberty, freedom, individualism, entrepreneurship — these are the lifeblood of our country. Making sure that someone who wants to be a hair braider has the proper license is hardly at the same level. Nothing will get us out of this recession like convincing an entire generation that the smart move is to get a cushy job with the government, you know, with nice benefits and a feeling of fulfillment that you are not harming others by engaging in capitalism.
Look, I worked for St. Louis County for six years. There is a level of government service that has to be performed by someone. But we need our leaders to come from society and have a broad range of experiences. That is how you gain wisdom and judgment. Trying to form a culture of insular government workers who never leave government service, and who at the same time attempt to be our permanent leaders, should terrify anyone who believes in individual liberty. It only takes a short tenure in the government’s employ before too many people start to believe that the government knows best, rather than free people or markets.
“The lifeblood of our country”? Give me a break.
Comment by Sarah Brodsky — April 28, 2009 @ 12:42 p.m.
It’s amazing how clueless bureaucrats can be, even without a special academy to insulate them from the real world.
Comment by Sarah Brodsky — April 28, 2009 @ 12:44 p.m.
Plus, it sounds like he’s from Star Trek. I just googled “lifeblood” and “Klingons” and got a zillion hits.
Comment by Sarah Brodsky — April 28, 2009 @ 12:47 p.m.
The use of the word “cadre” isn’t reassuring.
Comment by Mike S. — April 28, 2009 @ 3:48 p.m.
I think Missouri’s Department of Higher Education would do well to try influence improvement in our state academic standards and assessments. The rising remediation rates among college freshmen may may soon become public knowledge. Their Curriculum Alignment Initiative was well on their way to improving our math standards, yet there has been no effect on the K-12 documents.
Over 50 Missouri mathematicians and scientists signed a letter last May calling for improvements to our mediocre K-12 math standards. When are they going to be made?
And I have another question… Why are DESE and METS promoting the use of questionable “research-based” NSF-supported math programs by giving “competitive priority” of state discretionary grants to schools using them.
Compare
No. 8 on the METS website here: http://www.missourimets.com/mx/hm.asp?id=GrantFAQs
To
2004 Mathematical Sciences Education Board Report
On Evaluating Curricular Effectiveness
JUDGING THE QUALITY OF K-12 MATHEMATICS EVALUATIONS
Committee for a Review of the Evaluation Data on the Effectiveness of NSF-Supported and Commercially Generated Mathematics Curriculum Materials
http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?isbn=0309092426
Does this seem right to you?
Comment by Lisa J — April 28, 2009 @ 7:54 p.m.
This guy is Plato reincarnated. He wants pervasive rule by the educated intelligentsia.
Comment by Josh Smith — April 30, 2009 @ 11:05 a.m.
They seem to want to take from the established reputation of the US Service Academies (Annapolis, West Point, Kings Point) and then cross out the Service part (there is no obligation for service after graduation, read the proposal). On the face of it, it is a way to hand out $100,000 scholarships to political patrons. Not a great way to start a school, but an easy excuse for spending a billion dollars.
Comment by JohnScott — October 25, 2009 @ 2:48 p.m.