We discuss the corruption of elite American education by the pursuit of high status positions and the resulting subordination of that education to ideological fads and pseudo-wisdom.
Christian college professors Matt Parks and David Corbin explore the ideas behind today's headlines.
Leading Off (1:36) - We discuss the new CDC guidelines for social distancing in elementary schools. Links: National Review reports new guidelines; ABC News report; David Zweig at The Intelligencer; NYT report on AFT reaction.
Required Reading (05:21) - Prof. Corbins leads us through chapters 7-10 of volume 2, part 1, of Democracy in America on key qualities of the democratic mind and a selection from Act I of Shakespeare’s The Tempest. Assigned for next week: DIA, volume 2, part II (pp. 479-532).
Headlines (38:35) - We discuss the rise of radical ideologies in elite private and public schools in light of Tocqueville’s discussion of the democratic mind. Links: Caitlin Flanagan in The Atlantic; Bari Weiss at The City; Cameron Hilditch reporting at National Review; Cameron Hilditch on California Ethic-Studies standards; David Brooks, Bobos in Paradise.
Open the Gradebook (49:20) - We discuss the early stages of NFL free agency and grade the deals signed by the top three free agents to change teams. Links: Sporting News list of top-50 free agents; Position salary rankings at OverTheCap.
Tocqueville's Crystal Ball (56:07) - Last week, we picked the final two #1 seeds for the NCAA men’s basketball tournament, each getting one of our two picks correct. Dave is now 14-4 in 2021; Matt is 8-10. This week we pick four of Saturday’s first round NCAA tournament matchups.
Opening and closing music is from the beginning of "Happy Life" by Ryan Andersen from his 2018 album, Americana volume 1. Available here. Licensed by Creative Commons.
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Email: DemocracyinAmericaToday@gmail.com
Matt Parks is an Associate Professor of Politics at The King’s College in New York City. David Corbin is a Professor of Politics and the Vice President of Academic Affairs at Providence Christian College in Pasadena, California. All views expressed in this podcast are their own.
