The National Association of Scholars has issued an official statement critiquing the campus “sustainability” movement and suggesting paths to improvement. “Sustainability,” of course, sounds like a wonderful idea. We all want to preserve the earth for future generations. But there’s much more to this movement than the encouragement of environmental stewardship.
One of the key problems with it, seen on college campuses today, is that it closes debates that should be open. Sustainability advocates assume that the answers are already in. They take it for granted that the earth is running out of key resources, that we have to change our ways if the earth is to survive, and that capitalism has been getting in the way of social justice.
Colleges and universities should raise questions about how to deal with scarcity, and we should study and debate sustainability’s pillars, and they should be open to hearing competing ideas. Campus actions for sustainability today, however, largely bypass the faculty and the scholarly scrutiny that faculty members could provide. Initiatives such as the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment, for example, require college presidents to set the agenda for their institutions.
It all comes back to remembering the fundamental purpose of higher education. Contrary to popular belief, its purpose is not to transform society through social activism. Its purposes are to provide students with sound education through rigorous study, to prepare them for work, to transmit civilization’s legacy, and to help them grow into adulthood. Instilling prescribed attitudes is outside that mission.
We at NAS recommend that colleges and universities treat sustainability as an object of inquiry rather than a set of assumed precepts. Only if institutions insist on scholarly examination will “sustainability,” as an academic enterprise, have a shot at being really sustainable.
Thank you so much David.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseBefore they lecture the rest of us and indoctrinate our kids, they should address their own sustainability issues. For example, tuition has been rising at more than twice the rate of inflation for a long time. Clearly, this is not sustainable because colleges are pricing themselves out of business. Anything that can't go on forever will ultimately end, be it the dot-com bubble, the housing bubble, or the higher education bubble.
Academia, heal thyself lest you have to go out in the private sector and find out how little your credentials are really worth.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseLarry J had the same thought I've always had when my university would go on and on about "sustainability" - what about the fiscal side of things? Tuition goes up ~$1800/yr and is fast approaching $50,000 at my alma mater - how is that sustainable?
Reply to this commentLinkReport Abuse"Campus actions for sustainability today, however, largely bypass the faculty and the scholarly scrutiny that faculty members could provide."
If you're expecting today's faculty to provide any sort of rigorous critique of sustainability, Ashley, you're barking up the wrong tree, so to speak.
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseHow about testing for higher ed's sustainability relative to the end of taxpayer subsidies?
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseGovernment published PISA results for 2009 External Link
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Table R1 has results of all countries participating, Table R3 has USA results broken down by race of students.
Summary:
A. Top 3 countries in reading are
1.S Korea 539,
2.Finland 536 and
3.Canada 524
Asian-Americans scored 541, representing a country they would be in the first place.
White non-Hispanic Americans scored 525, as a country they would be in the third place. They would in THE FIRST place among large countries.
About half of US students are Blacks and Hispanics, who, for variety of reasons, score significantly lower than Asians and Whites. So the average scores of US are mediocre. But that is no excuse for slander of US educational system and teachers from Repub and Dem punditry alike.
It might not perfect, and it is Very expensive but at least 50% of students get results as good as any in the world.
Of course we know why punditry slanders US teachers. The cowards afraid to touch race with a 10 foot poll, so much easier to step on teacher unions (Repubics) or alleged lack of money (Demorats).
Reply to this commentLinkReport AbuseWhat amazing drive academics have for expanding their social activist agenda. As an Environmental Engineer, I'm highly critical of the politicized "sustainability" movement. Fortunately, I am not alone. My industry peers, academic or otherwise, agree.
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