I would also think it is pertinent to say that while education is a very excellent thing, and essential...it can be used as a means to cultural genocide too.

In the book Slave by Mende Nazer it tells how the Arabic people came into the villages to establish schools for the tribal folk. And the children were forced to learn and speak only Arabic. If they were caught speaking in their birth language they were physically disciplines, even if they were only speaking with one another during a recess.

And education is often used to establish a forced adherence to a particular religion, either Muslim or Christian.

I believe there must be a way to help people without negating their own culture and traditions. Really another form of genocide.

OD

I don't think it's an issue of cultural assimilation, though. It has more to do with basic education in topics which people should have a general knowledge of such as math and writing. It's also about preparing people for higher education.

Education does not mean what you stated... It can... But it need not.


The undeniable fact is that Education is essential, and it need not negate culture or tradition, but to withhold education in order to preserve culture and tradition for a people who are in such dire conditions is insidious... It's apathetic...

No, no, no!!! You misunderstand my point. That being that ones such as Oli would not promote an objective education, of that I am very sure.

And a good many schools in Africa are used, while educating the people, to also promote their own political/religious/social agenda.

OD

Ahhh... I see your point...

Actually my friend is in Africa now teaching Physics with the Peace Corps... He seems quite impressed with his students. Of course Oli would have us believe they were all Jibbering idiots, but it's simply not the case...

Exactly! And a non-sectarian group such as the Peace Corps is such a wonderful organization for this cause.

When you get missionaries and investors funding schools for their own agenda, the curriculum is subject to the purposes of those who look at the people as a commodity to bend for their own means.

OD

Agreed

No I wouldn't.

But what does happen is there's too many to educate or to make productive or even give jobs to and these people join gangs or liberation armies and ransack and pillage.

So maybe it's one thing to educate someone in Kenya they have a chance.

But if your friend is teaching someone physic in Uganda he is wasting his time, undoubtedly he'd be killed maimed or captured before he's 35.

He's in Tanzania... And I do not see that the African Population can possbly be as bad as you claim it is. It makes no sense. Scientists have shown that the Earth can sustain 5 times the population is has now...

Oliphant, why are you on this board?

I am gonna do something that might only prove how ineffectual I am as a persuasive voice, then again, I might find out that what I am proposing would not be very productive anyhow.

But I am calling for all DtT community members to put you and your damned racist posts on ignore.

OD