Taking on an entrenched and wrong set of beliefs.

You are probably at least a bit familiar with the conflict between Galileo and the Roman Church over the earth-centered (geocentric) view then believed and Galileo’s sun-centered (heliocentric) theory based on his scientific observations. This story is one of an entrenched power structure that defends its beliefs in spite of scientific proof of their inadequacy. In fact, it is the story of trying to destroy those who held opposing views.

The first attack on Galileo came when clerics denounced him to the Roman Inquisition early in 1615. Although he was cleared of any offence at that time, the Catholic Church nevertheless condemned heliocentrism as "false and contrary to Scripture." Galileo was warned to abandon his support for it—which he promised to do. [This could be termed a “live to fight another day” approach] When he later defended his views in his most famous work, Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems, published in 1632, he was tried by the Inquisition, found "vehemently suspect of heresy," forced to recant, and spent the rest of his life under house arrest. Also, the publication of any of his writings past or future was forbidden. Although he tried to remain loyal to the Catholic Church, his adherence to scientific experimental results, and their objective interpretation, led to a rejection of assertions contrary to observation, in matters of science.

You might well think that you are glad you live in a world where such things can no longer occur. You would be wrong. Oh, certainly things are not so openly biased but going against an entrenched and fixed in their beliefs monolith is not easier or safer today than it was in Galileo’s time. Instead of Inquisitions new methods are now employed to prevent the truth from being recognized and acted upon.

• The first set of techniques is to go on their way reinforcing their false beliefs while actively ignoring the truth as presented by “outsiders.”

• The second technique is to create a façade of expertise. This false (in the face of the evidence) posturing as the experts is very effective especially if they are careful to not react defensively which might give the outsiders’ arguments credibility.

• To reinforce their expert reputations they give themselves false trappings; including certificates of expertise (diplomas) and continuing education in the false doctrine from other “departments” of the monolith.

• Any problems with performance related to using the false but mainline approaches are blamed on other factors and people that the insiders do not control. This, “We confess it is their fault” approach is incredibly effective to the majority of the credulous populace.

• They are also adept at using their leverage on politicians to preserve their power to prevent concerns over their false beliefs.

Yes, I am building an analogue to our education system. The similarities are robust.

Acting on Reality in Times of Tight Education Budgets, An Opportunity and a Responsibility

Tight budgets are a perfect opportunity to assess the validity of underlying assumptions within our education system. The board deliberations of a large local district are instructive as to the logical traps that tend to prevent facing reality and taking appropriate actions. To date in their deliberations the board has followed the guidance of the “status quo at all costs” administration recommendations. One example will make the point. Two well meaning and kid advocate board members voted against cutting literacy and math programs for K-8. That is akin to voting to preserve the dosage of intellectual arsenic to those kids. You see, they made the assumption that the programs were worthwhile and having a positive impact. But foundationally both the literacy and math curricula are based on scientifically unsound beliefs. While our competitor nations and even the best states (ex. Massachusetts) have embraced curricula that work and pass scientific scrutiny. They feel no need at all to worship false education beliefs especially when it would harm their kids. Thus the answer is not preserving the added time and effort to inflict the harmful curricula on the kids. The answer is to install curricula that actually work and make sure they are well taught.

This tight budget period is a perfect opportunity to put on your netting and “kick the hornet’s nest” to excise the false educational beliefs from our education organizations. Administrators who cannot admit the error of their ways are perfect candidates for not having their contracts renewed. Don’t feel sorry for them. The choice is eliminating their false beliefs or ignoring the harm they are doing year after year to the kids. That is an easy decision to make. That would reduce the negative drag on performance more than any of the current alternatives that are based on a false foundation of wrong beliefs.

This is an opportunity that must be taken. It will mean taking positions on performance and substance of the education process that are different, but much more effective, than those held by the governmental education bureaucracies, the education schools, the administrators, etc. That is, there is no rule against having higher standards than the very weak standards at the state and national level. There is also no rule against using curricula that are scientifically sound and work. If we care about the kids let our actions show it. Words and platitudes are not enough.