"The tradition of the oppressed teaches us that the ‘state of emergency' in which we live is not the exception but the rule...There is no document of civilization which is not at the same time a document of barbarism. And just as such a document is not free of barbarism, barbarism taints also the manner in which it was transmitted from one owner to another. A historical materialist therefore dissociates himself from it as far as possible. He regards it as his task to brush history against the grain."
Walter Benjamin, "Theses on the Philosophy of History."

Date: Fri, 21 Nov 1997 15:16:10 -0500 (EST)
From: Sergio Sismondo
Subject: Education and Meaning

Dear colleagues, students, alumni, others:

This past Wednesday, Premier Harris addressed a summit on the future of the universities. On that occasion he said that he sees little value in academic degrees in the humanities, geography, and sociology, in which "The graduates Š have very little hope of contributing to society in any meaningful way." (Globe & Mail, Nov. 21, Toronto Star, Nov. 20)

I am writing to ask you to take a little time out of your day to consider this remark, especially in the context of this government's other actions on education, and to make a public response. I have tried to keep this note brief, because I hope that reading it takes only the first minute of that time.

At the least, Harris's remark is extremely offensive. And at the worst it is phenomenally stupid and dangerous. For those of us who have been educated in these fields, and especially for those of us who teach in them, we are being told that we are unlikely to contributing anything meaningful. (When I think of Harris's contributions to society I find myself thinking of Arlo Guthrie, in "Alice's Restaurant," being told that as a litterbug he wasn't moral enough to join the army.)

I wish I could say that I don't understand what Harris means by "meaningful," but unfortunately I suspect I understand all too well. Reflection, education, and research on anything to do with the human world are deemed meaningless unless they immediately make money. It's interesting that the humanities and social sciences are the traditional home of meaning, but Harris sees none there. From John Snobelin's early plans to create a crisis in education to Bill 160, this government has attacked education. But now the principle guiding its moves are clear: This is an attack on THINKING.

The Harris government would like to create an Ontario in which "unproductive" thinking is strongly discouraged. Critical reflection may be good for democracy, for justice, for a virtuous society, for a vibrant culture, but these are not the goals of this government. And Harris is short-sighted enough to believe that he can neglect those goals in favour of business, that business can flourish without any broad education.

I would like to ask you to write a letter, long or short, about the importance of education. For most of you who receive this message this is an easy and congenial form of protest, and one for which you can draw on your own thoughts on and experiences of education. If we each write a letter, and send or fax those letters to local and national newspapers, with copies to our MPPs and to Harris, the effect could be overwhelming.

In addition, I would like to ask you to circulate this message as widely as you can, to use the formal and informal networks that e-mail creates to send this request to friends, colleagues, and students across the province.

Thank you very much,

Sergio Sismondo
Assistant Professor
Philosophy and Sociology
Queen's University, Kingston