The Hoover Institution hosted "Education 20/20: Arthur Brooks and Adam Meyerson" on Thursday, April 11, 2019 from 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM EST.
Our Education 20/20 speaker series continued on April 11, featuring two eminent conservative thinkers: Arthur Brooks, president of the American Enterprise Institute (AEI); and Adam Meyerson, president of the Philanthropy Roundtable.
Arthur Brooks argues that progressive proposals to equalize the distribution of economic gains-such as "free college" and universal basic income-respond to a misguided framing of the core problem. We need to close the "dignity gap," not just seek to help people by expanding the welfare state. That means focusing on building a society in which more people are-and know that they are-needed members of their communities. This includes resisting the cultural glorification and commodification of higher education by taking more seriously the value of apprenticeships and high-quality career and technical education. Doing so will restore the dignity of education and work to citizens across the country and build a shared American prosperity.
Adam Meyerson explores the dire state of civics education in today's America, including a dangerous shift from foundational knowledge towards left-leaning activism; the erosion of time and attention paid to civics and history in schools, caused in part by governmental accountability pressures; and the adoption of curricula that take a pessimistic, Zinn-ian view of America. Skeptical that government can or should solve these problems, Meyerson contends that philanthropy and the private sector need to step in. Donors are already partnering with great organizations that work with teachers, students, and other adults, such as iCivics, the National Constitution Center, and the Bill of Rights Institute. Philanthropy must continue to support such work while coordinating these efforts towards larger, shared goals.
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