Difficult or nearly impossible for spiritual communities to join the civic faction

 

Review of:  https://www.theepochtimes.com/opinion/the-hidden-crisis-in-our-classrooms-why-education-without-character-is-failing-america-5926442

Phil’s essay:

I like the drift of this Falun-Gong associated attitude. But I think it misses the meme that distinguishes the civic faction in humankind’s civil debate.

It seems that physics, psychology, and mystery hold humankind (Homo sapiens for the recent 200,000 years) responsible and accountable for goodness that inspires good behavior.

Sumerian kings, starting about 5500 years ago wrote behavior codes with punishment for badness. Recently, civic citizens pursue legislated statutory-justice.

I think most fellow citizens are not aware of and therefore could not articulate the civic faction, yet a few comprehend independence and pursue civic integrity as they perceive it.

Our civic faction, We the People of the United States, is defined by the intentions stated in the preamble to the United States Constitution: integrity, justice, safety, strength, prosperity, and responsibility “in order to” pursue goodness “to ourselves and our Posterity”.

If personal religion does not discover the goodness that motivates good behavior, faith should be considered and perhaps improved.

Phil’s notes: (fei tian college wikipedia and https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Dragon_Springs)

 

1.       A peculiar contradiction

a.       Students with cellphone access to the world’s knowledge

                                                               i.      Yet disconnected and unhappy

                                                             ii.      Unqualified for college

b.       Graduates disengaged with their jobs

c.       Seems like a civility change

                                                               i.      Formal ability without virtue; goodness; capable but not upright

                                                             ii.      Trace to John Dewey’s utility rather than character formation

1.       values “socially constructed and relative”

2.       Colleges more business than educator

a.       Customers instead of students

b.       Endowment success and graduates’ salaries

c.       Job competence but no civic integrity

d.       No pursuit of truth, goodness, and excellence

e.       Inculcated thoughtful minds and meaningful life

3.       Student disconnect

a.       Can’t imaging ever using what they learn

b.       No perception of learning human being (verb)

c.       To pursue completion in maturity

                                                               i.      Duty, initiative, self-restraint, creativity

d.       Autonomy rather than license

                                                               i.      Personal goals and standards

                                                             ii.      Engage soul as well as intellect

4.       Human beings

a.       Civic integrity rather than spiritual nature

b.       Purpose higher than power, status, or materialism: goodness

c.       Professional success and resilience empowers civic confidence

d.       Pursue divinity: literature, history, philosophy, rhetoric, mathematics, science, and art

e.       both virtue and ability; character alongside capability

                                                               i.      Dona Bean’s work on “Character Counts”

                                                             ii.      Civic integrity more than common good”

f.        Self-governance rather than accumulation

5.       Improved education systems

a.       More than “training the workers we need” (Obama 2^nd inauguration speech)

b.       Restore teacher nobility

c.       Shape the world as it should be.

                                                               i.      past generations left this opportunity to our generation

                                                             ii.      We may and can practice goodness that motivates good behavior.

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