Democracy Begins In The Classroom

By Bevan Holloway

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From Here, Back to Eternity

When I first saw this line from ERO, “some of this is currently outdated”, I was pleased. It felt good to have that criticism levelled at the work of the MAG.

But. But …

If you’ve read Timothy Snyder you’ll be familiar with the concept of the politics of eternity, that appeal to the glorious past and the political manoeuvres in the present designed to make the populous feel like things are recapturing that great time. Trump and MAGA are an example. Putin another. Hitler another.

On my ride to work this morning my pleasure about ERO’s statement turned to unease. The last two words – “currently outdated” – twisted in connotation. Outdated is the point. Currently is an impermanent state.

So, “currently outdated” is not a criticism to Stanford and the MAG. It is information that they have not completed their ideological takeover of the institutions of government. That is why, even in September, the ERO QA reports suggest there has been very little shift in the curriculum and minimal responsiveness to their QA reports.

2 responses

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