-=> Quoting Sheila King to Michael Martinez <=-
 -> What do you guys think of Ivan Illich's educational reform
 -> theories as set forth in _Deschooling Society_ and _ABC:
 -> Alphabetization of the Popular Mind_ ?
 SK> I don't know about the others here, but I haven't read it. Do you mind
 SK> to summarize?
Alphebetization is different than Deschooling Society.  ABC is not
explicitly about schooling.  It is an excellent companion (and may be 
better written) because it traces the history of written language.  It
is really fascinating because it reshuffles your idea about what
language is, and how, 500 and 1000 years ago, people's attitude toward
it and how they thought of it was suprisingly different.  So much so,
that you and I, in our modern world, can hardly conceive of how
somebody in the Middle Ages thought about language, and used language,
all the way from the lowly peasant to the king or monk.
Ivan Illich's books are sort of hard to come by.  Good, used book
stores get them once in a while.  You can always find a copy in the
library.
I hope you enjoy it, and I'd like to hear what you think about it when
you're through.
If you are familiar with George Steiner or Walter Ong, then _ABC_ is
somewhat on that caliber of inspiration.  These guys are always
thought provoking.  Steiner and Ong are somewhat more difficult to
read than Illich.  Steiner is an essayist, a literary critic and
linguist.  Ong is a Jesuit priest who is very well-learned, too.
Steiner has written impeccable books and essays.  He's one of the few
literary critiques who's worth his salt.  
Here's a couple of Steiner's books:
ExtraTerritorial:  Papers on Literature and the Language Revolution
In Bluebeard's Castle
Anno Domini
After Babel:  Reflections on Translation
----
Wonderful titles, aren't they?
Have you heard of Noam Chomsky?  Chomsky is known for two things:  his
socialist-anarchist policy (the new Chomsky);  he revolutionized
linguistics (the old Chomsky).  I don't particularly recommend reading
him.  His books are as dry as anything you can imagine.  His
linguistic books are technical.   His political books are just as dry,
if you can believe that.  But it's a real delight, because Steiner has
a particular fascination, respect, and fundamental disagreement with
Chomsky.
Chomsky's a theoretical linguist who believes that our faculty for
language is genetically-programmed.  He's a brilliant, rational,
fairly uncreative (unartistic) man.  Steiner has a deep love and
passion for literature.  Well, the two end up being a little bit at
odds sometimes, and it's neat to watch.  I personally agree with
Chomsky and I think sometimes Steiner doesn't quite have the
scientific and logical bent to fully grasp Chomsky's arguments.  But
at the same time, literature is about life, and Chomksy couldnt' write
a good piece of literature for anything.  My feeling for literature is
the same as Steiner's.
Anyway, now you've got an incredible reading list, right?!  Enjoy.
-michael
... AIDS IS NOT CONTAGIOUS
--- Blue Wave/DOS v2.30 [NR]
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