Grants Get Ayn Rand’s Ideas Covered in Kentucky Classrooms

[DontSayBanana]

I learned about Rand in high school English.  I've said on here before that I think her books are worthy of inclusion in like an American lit class or perhaps a philosophy class.  I also don't get the constant Languish criticism that they're boring or badly written.  I could hardly put The Fountainhead down.  The major issue I see with her writing is that she tends to like absurdly long monologues in which people deliver unrealistic dialogue... but she's hardly the only writer with this shortcoming.

There are certainly enough authors in the American literary canon who've been guilty of this.

[derspiess]

Well the UT Austin language department teaches a course on Tolkein's made up Elven language.  I bet those kid's parents were delighted to see that on their bill.

Taxpayers ought to be pissed, as well.  On the other hand, if this were the only example of waste & stupidity at universities, we'd all be better off.

[Admiral Yi]

Speaking of which, I got exposed to an awful lot of Keynesianism in addition to that other stuff 

[Fate]

If private universities want to sell out and teach junk philosophy that is their prerogative.


EDIT: actually the class as described seems pretty unobjectionable.

Well the UT Austin language department teaches a course on Tolkein's made up Elven language.  I bet those kid's parents were delighted to see that on their bill.

Didn't see that one in the course catalog...

[Ed Anger]

If private universities want to sell out and teach junk philosophy that is their prerogative.


EDIT: actually the class as described seems pretty unobjectionable.

Well the UT Austin language department teaches a course on Tolkein's made up Elven language.  I bet those kid's parents were delighted to see that on their bill.

You know, I'd be pissed if my goddaughter took a course like that. Pissed off like Sauron.

[Valmy]

Didn't see that one in the course catalog...

Well they might not be offering it this semester but they did when my ex-fiancee was at UT.

[Malthus]

If private universities want to sell out and teach junk philosophy that is their prerogative.


EDIT: actually the class as described seems pretty unobjectionable.

Well the UT Austin language department teaches a course on Tolkein's made up Elven language.  I bet those kid's parents were delighted to see that on their bill.

Tolkien was a genuine linguist, so researching his made-up language might be a valuable thing. a whole course seems more than a trifle excessive though.

[CountDeMoney]

A little Rand will hurt no one

Of course not.  Unfortunately, a lot of Rand wound up hurting everyone.

[derspiess]

Of course not.  Unfortunately, a lot of Rand wound up hurting everyone.

When did that happen?

[CountDeMoney]

Of course not.  Unfortunately, a lot of Rand wound up hurting everyone.

When did that happen?

[grumbler]

I learned about Rand in high school English.  I've said on here before that I think her books are worthy of inclusion in like an American lit class or perhaps a philosophy class.  I also don't get the constant Languish criticism that they're boring or badly written.  I could hardly put The Fountainhead down.  The major issue I see with her writing is that she tends to like absurdly long monologues in which people deliver unrealistic dialogue... but she's hardly the only writer with this shortcoming.

The fact that rand is not absolutely dreadful in every possible way, rather than just being dreadful in terms of character development, dialogue, and plotting, is not a reason to read her books.

Being no worse than some other authors doesn't make an author good.

[Caliga]

As I've stated numerous times before on Languish, I think her books are interesting and worthy of consideration if only because she presents a surprisingly different viewpoint from almost everything else a typical high schooler might encounter.

I'm sure you will agree that one of the main goals of our educational system should be the broadening of one's horizons.

[bogh]

I'd love to teach Rand to a Danish high school class. 

[grumbler]

As I've stated numerous times before on Languish, I think her books are interesting and worthy of consideration if only because she presents a surprisingly different viewpoint from almost everything else a typical high schooler might encounter.

I'm sure you will agree that one of the main goals of our educational system should be the broadening of one's horizons.

What I disagree with is your apparent belief that reading Rand's books is the best way to study her viewpoint.  I disagree.  Given the limited number of books that students will get a chance to read in high school, making one of Rand's books one of them seems to me to be foolish - it would prevent students from being exposed to another, more worthy author (whose ideas and writing are of interest).

I'm sure you will agree that one of the main goals of our educational system should be to be the presentation of emulation-worthy subjects that broaden one's horizons.

[Alatriste]

As I've stated numerous times before on Languish, I think her books are interesting and worthy of consideration if only because she presents a surprisingly different viewpoint from almost everything else a typical high schooler might encounter.

I'm sure you will agree that one of the main goals of our educational system should be the broadening of one's horizons.

That sounds quite reasonable. What about Mao's Red Book, for example? And that Austrian's book... now what was his name, Sicklegruber or something like that? 

Everyone calls what the books he likes do 'broadening one's horizons'. But the things the books we hate do... now they deserve other names, like 'poisoning one's mind'.

For the record, I have only read 'The Fountainhead'. I hated it, by the way... (and I agree with Grumbler, too)