This is very needed, but as an elementary school teacher, it did not go far enough. Elementary, middle and high school administrations need to refocus their attention as well.
K-12 education certainly does need restoration or something. The difference between K-12 and higher ed is that states have constitutional obligations to pay for K-12, with some federal aid, but they have only self-binding statutes to fund higher-ed. Reforming K-12 must start, and has begun, at the state level.
Agreed. I was certified to teach K-12 and sadly became disillusioned, both seeing what teachers go through (including the baloney union) and having my children in public school for a short time, the worst experience being with autism.
The foundation of Western education must be The Trivium. *Rhetoric without logic* is the means by which ideologies gain traction to corrupt institutions.
I teach the trivium! Grammar. Logic. Rhetoric. To my writing students, my kids, and myself. Improves communication so much, with the added benefit of drawing attention away from argument-by-identity to argument-by…well…-argument. Language is already an imperfect communication system, and poor logic and rhetoric only compound the confusion caused by the limits of language symbols to accurately represent our minds, opinions, and Reality.
As an associate professor at Cornell University, I am thankful for the Manhattan Statement, since I believe that our university could use a little help in changing from within.
I saw the story about universities returning to public favor and thought that it was a case of "if we close our eyes and all of us wish hard enough and long enough, it'll be true." Doesn't seem likely, though; once lost, trust is hard to regain.
I was an older student at Niagara University (read: the students were younger than my kids and I was older than some teachers and professors) and graduated in 2013. I saw first hand how the indoctrination was taking hold. Most of my teachers and professors were gracious when I would counter but one hated me. Ironically, he was my son's age and I wanted to say "Give it up, dude. You're my kid's age." but he was also the head of the department so I had to tread carefully, snot that he was.
Don't forget to reform teachers' colleges and the education departments of universities. It's no coincidence that most teachers and administrators are leftists. These are the footsoldiers of the March Through the Institutions.
Just so. The Teachers (indoctrinators?) Colleges are the sources of all the various” authors of critical theories which are simply guidebooks to destroying color-blind meritocracy and replacing it with warmed over Marxism with an Islamic spin. Teachers must embrace these concepts in order to graduate and go on to spread this poison, first seen in the universities and, over time, in elementary, middle, and high schools. We see the results of three generations of this attack on Constitutional Democracy in chants of supposedly “educated” students, clad in the dress of those sworn to destroy Western Democracy and chanting mindless slogans like “From the river to the sea” without being able to identify either. We see it in the growing potential of electing the son of an immigrant to the Mayorship of our largest and most important city, a candidate who promises to turn the Big Apple into a warmed over Moscow. We are running out of time to correct this travesty. God Speed to Chris and the extraordinary group of co-signers.
Outstanding statement by all the right signers! Now the challenge is to get this acted upon by Congress and the administration before it gets buried by the media. But it does beg a companion movement addressing the lower education levels that have been equally infiltrated by the "long march" forces. It will do no good for "cleaned-up" universities to have woke-brainwashed freshmen coming in!
As a professor at GVSU, I applaud your efforts and would sign off on this statement as well. I also think we need to begin at the K-12 level and reform there first. The students I am seeing now are no where near prepared for the university as they were 20 years ago. Although, this may be a result of our current administration's decision to drop admission standards -- a decision which reflects their commitment to DEI principles. The idea is that everyone has a right to go to university, rather than those who enter university must earn their place there. I wish I knew how to contribute in a significant way to your ongoing work.
Excellent statement, but institutions will not go willingly. There has to be fullsome punishment for them. Carrot sticks will never work. Only one thing, FUNDING. Cut all public funding, and make sure if they hit the defunding benchmark that they are forced to remain defunded for the next 10 years. Watch them all quickly change tack.
This is well written and hits the target. In order for it to be implemented, a majority of the administrators and faculty of each institution will have to voluntarily accept and adopt it. I cannot imagine a scenario in which committed leftists do so. Therefore, many of them will have to go before the institutions can be re-centered. That will take strength, commitment, and stamina. Let's do it.
This is very needed, but as an elementary school teacher, it did not go far enough. Elementary, middle and high school administrations need to refocus their attention as well.
Totally agree.
K-12 education certainly does need restoration or something. The difference between K-12 and higher ed is that states have constitutional obligations to pay for K-12, with some federal aid, but they have only self-binding statutes to fund higher-ed. Reforming K-12 must start, and has begun, at the state level.
Agreed. I was certified to teach K-12 and sadly became disillusioned, both seeing what teachers go through (including the baloney union) and having my children in public school for a short time, the worst experience being with autism.
The foundation of Western education must be The Trivium. *Rhetoric without logic* is the means by which ideologies gain traction to corrupt institutions.
I teach the trivium! Grammar. Logic. Rhetoric. To my writing students, my kids, and myself. Improves communication so much, with the added benefit of drawing attention away from argument-by-identity to argument-by…well…-argument. Language is already an imperfect communication system, and poor logic and rhetoric only compound the confusion caused by the limits of language symbols to accurately represent our minds, opinions, and Reality.
As an associate professor at Cornell University, I am thankful for the Manhattan Statement, since I believe that our university could use a little help in changing from within.
Thank you Chris and signatories,
randy
Dude, I'll give you this: you seem to have some balls.
Two to be precise.
First time I've laughed at a line from an Ag School prof in about 54 years!
Perhaps that why Biddie Martin, when she was provost, said that I should be in Arts??????
I suspect she really wanted you to stay were you are and be gelded at the horse barns ...
As a professor at Columbia, I very much hope the Statement moves universities in a better direction than the one they've been following.
It looks like public perception is assuming that universities are already improving. I think they are jumping to a false conclusion. This is according to Gallup and New America polling: https://heterodoxacademy.substack.com/p/public-perception-of-us-higher-ed?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=1571658&post_id=168883573&utm_campaign=email-post-title&isFreemail=true&r=f0weo&triedRedirect=true&utm_medium=email
I saw the story about universities returning to public favor and thought that it was a case of "if we close our eyes and all of us wish hard enough and long enough, it'll be true." Doesn't seem likely, though; once lost, trust is hard to regain.
I was an older student at Niagara University (read: the students were younger than my kids and I was older than some teachers and professors) and graduated in 2013. I saw first hand how the indoctrination was taking hold. Most of my teachers and professors were gracious when I would counter but one hated me. Ironically, he was my son's age and I wanted to say "Give it up, dude. You're my kid's age." but he was also the head of the department so I had to tread carefully, snot that he was.
How did he get to be head of the dept.? Was it affirmative action or age discrimination? I'm just wondering.
Universities are the most unaccountable organizations on the planet. Time to clean house, kick ass and take names. Long overdue.
100%
Since 1980, just after the inception of the federal Department of Education, and now having spent $ 3 trillion on the effort, these are the results
...
Nation's Report Card Stats (NAEP):
Grade 4 Reading: 69% can't meet basic standards
Grade 4 Math: 61% can't meet basic standards
Grade 8 Reading: 70% can't meet basic standards
Grade 8 Math: 78% can't meet basic standards
Don't forget to reform teachers' colleges and the education departments of universities. It's no coincidence that most teachers and administrators are leftists. These are the footsoldiers of the March Through the Institutions.
Just so. The Teachers (indoctrinators?) Colleges are the sources of all the various” authors of critical theories which are simply guidebooks to destroying color-blind meritocracy and replacing it with warmed over Marxism with an Islamic spin. Teachers must embrace these concepts in order to graduate and go on to spread this poison, first seen in the universities and, over time, in elementary, middle, and high schools. We see the results of three generations of this attack on Constitutional Democracy in chants of supposedly “educated” students, clad in the dress of those sworn to destroy Western Democracy and chanting mindless slogans like “From the river to the sea” without being able to identify either. We see it in the growing potential of electing the son of an immigrant to the Mayorship of our largest and most important city, a candidate who promises to turn the Big Apple into a warmed over Moscow. We are running out of time to correct this travesty. God Speed to Chris and the extraordinary group of co-signers.
Define “Marxism” because you don’t seem to have a damn clue what it actually is.
You don't even know what a woman is, I recommend sitting this out.
Get some original material, asshole. 🙄
Outstanding statement by all the right signers! Now the challenge is to get this acted upon by Congress and the administration before it gets buried by the media. But it does beg a companion movement addressing the lower education levels that have been equally infiltrated by the "long march" forces. It will do no good for "cleaned-up" universities to have woke-brainwashed freshmen coming in!
As a professor at GVSU, I applaud your efforts and would sign off on this statement as well. I also think we need to begin at the K-12 level and reform there first. The students I am seeing now are no where near prepared for the university as they were 20 years ago. Although, this may be a result of our current administration's decision to drop admission standards -- a decision which reflects their commitment to DEI principles. The idea is that everyone has a right to go to university, rather than those who enter university must earn their place there. I wish I knew how to contribute in a significant way to your ongoing work.
I cheer for this and all its notions. Thank you Christopher, et al.
Excellent statement, but institutions will not go willingly. There has to be fullsome punishment for them. Carrot sticks will never work. Only one thing, FUNDING. Cut all public funding, and make sure if they hit the defunding benchmark that they are forced to remain defunded for the next 10 years. Watch them all quickly change tack.
Brilliantly written
This is well written and hits the target. In order for it to be implemented, a majority of the administrators and faculty of each institution will have to voluntarily accept and adopt it. I cannot imagine a scenario in which committed leftists do so. Therefore, many of them will have to go before the institutions can be re-centered. That will take strength, commitment, and stamina. Let's do it.
How about add stop taking donations from foreign countries and limit foreign students to 5%?
3 action items for the Trump Administration:
1. Issue an executive order that conditions federal funding on university compliance with principles from the Manhattan Statement.
2. Implement a standardized annual reporting system that requires universities disclose their practices.
3. Establish a federal office to audit compliance, investigate violations, and enforce penalties such as withholding funding for noncompliance.
Why are you getting more fed govt involved? Come up with something different.
Hear, hear!