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Andrew Nikiforuk. If Learning Is So Natural, Why Am I Going To School? A Parent's Guide. Toronto: Penguin Books, 1994. ISBN 0 - 14 - 024264 - 3, 457 pages, $16.99 softbound.
During the last 30 years, the major debates on public policies have been between people who support the idea of libertarianism and those who support the idea of egalitarianism. The argument of the egalitarians is based on a few simple assumptions: all people are basically good; self - expression and self - esteem are more important than objective achievement; teachers do not need to teach, all they need to do is facilitate "conversations" between pupils; and, naturally, pupils learn. The libertarians, of course, do not accept these assumptions.
Nikiforuk argues that by accepting the egalitarian assumptions as the guiding rationale for education, we have lost sight of the benefits of individual initiative for both pupils and teachers. We have neglected that, in many respects, we need teachers who are competent intellectuals, and who are willing to teach our children to be as competent. In addition, we have lost sight of the fact that democracy itself depends upon children receiving a good education.
In this book, Nikiforuk is writing for parents -- and teachers -- who...