I don't know who Mr. Kirchman is, nor do I need to wonder what EJ would have thought of the item below. I would mention that, having received my Ph.D. in 1980, I do everything I can not to be counted as an 'educator' in the US sense even though I do earn a living by teaching at a university. An historian, a theologian, a student of religion, yes; a counselor, a cynic, yes; a disappointed idealist, yes. But an _educator_? Isn't this a bit of the Parent-Teacher Association, a bit on the overly wholesome and highly commercial side...or do I misunderstand? I'd be grateful for any clarification concerning what messages of this kind signify in the context of this list--or have I once again failed to comprehend the postmodern world? Aren't educators those people who get included in expensive computer-generated directories marketed at $50 a copy as a way of advertising on reference shelves how important they are? I'm not important in that way, alas. "I'm good enough, I'm smart enough, and...." On Fri, 20 Mar 1998 pub@ge.net wrote: > Being a Better Educator > Dear educator: > > Today, more than ever, we need innovative new solutions to > educational problems. > > "Kevin Kirchman's book Aspirations is an answer > to education questions such as 'How do we teach > students to think for themselves, fulfill their > potential, be creative, gain self esteem, and be > ready for this productive world?' > > "His book is a must for all educators from pre-school > through graduate school. I wish his book had been > available during my 42 year teaching career." > Norma Silver > Retired teacher, Fort Lee, NJ > > Introducing, > Aspirations: The Rational Foundations of Achievement. > > The reason it is possible to have an entirely new perspective on > educational issues is because the theory behind education, called > epistemology, or the theory of knowledge, has _not_ been an empirical > science. > > Epistemology is to education what physics is to engineering-- > but until the basis was discovered for _principles_ of understanding, > there could be no science, and no applications that would radically > transform educational practices. > > That is until now. > > "If knowledge of the humanities is subjective, that is, only > valid for the person who holds it, of what value is > education? > > "Knowledge is not subjective. There are some conceptual > models that are better--more accurate and enlightening-- > than others." > Aspirations > > Aspirations will show you why, and teach you precisely how to tell the > difference. > > "[Aspirations] lays out the foundations of clear, critical > thinking, that can help us to better understand ourselves, > others, and the world around us. In the final analysis, we are > all decision makers. Don't make many more important decisions > before you read and grasp Aspirations." > Frank L. David > Co-Principal, Business Learning Centers > Murrieta, CA > > Perhaps the last earthly frontier, the mind, has been finally > penetrated by this wonderful new book. Aspirations won't give > you old ideas about the mind that you've seen before. It's > radically new. > > Aspirations shows how, because of an old philosophical problem, > educators are unwittingly discouraging idea forming habits that > occur through the mental process of induction, or generalization. The > book shows how these inductive concepts are the basis of all abilities > and character. > > Deterring concept formation has the effects of hindering > individuality, stifling general competency and causing people to be > more dependent upon the ideas formed by others (being less able to > form them themselves). The book presents a new solution to this > dilemma which describes the mental events that occur during concept > formation that can be practiced and made habit. > > Aspirations makes it clear that if you are less able to form > concepts of your own, you necessarily have to borrow those formed by > others. This discourages individuality, creativity, and self-reliance. > It is also the basis for a host of psychological problems, from > prejudice and intolerance to low self-esteem. > > Set within the context of human intellectual history, Aspirations stands > out as a unique and controversial contribution to our understanding of > ourselves. > > Fascinating reading. A journey deep into the corners of the > mind and down the paths of civilization’s philosophical > development. > > The author of Aspirations, Kevin Kirchman, a Cornell University > educated Artificial Intelligence scientist, lecturer and businessman, > has actually utilized his new understanding of innovation to develop > original perspectives on > > * deduction, or what reasoning is > * induction, the basis of all innovation and creativity > * character formation > > and these new ideas genuinely will aid you not only in teaching > better mental habits, but in improving your own. > > "[Aspirations] is a self-motivational book for intelligent > people." > Stan Irwin > The Producer of the Tonight Show > with Johnny Carson for 15 years > > Rarely in human history is a book produced which has as important > implications. Rarely is a book offered which gives us such hope and > inspiration. > > Aspirations will soon be promoted nationally by Rogers & Cowan, > America’s largest public relations firm. Be the first to learn and > apply these revolutionary new insights. Already hundreds of Universities > have purchased the book, as well as educators and teachers at all > grade levels. > > Table of Contents: > 1 Introduction > 2 The Problem -- Why Educational Philosophy is > Psychologically Debilitating > 3 Concepts -- The Key to Understanding the Mind > 4 Descriptive Concepts -- The Foundation of Clear > Thinking > 5 Creating Ideas -- Concept Formation is Induction > 6 Character -- The Conceptual Origins of Personal > Qualities > 7 Motivation -- A Theoretical Defense of the > Principles of Achievement > 8 Reasoning -- A New and Practical Overview > 9 Goal Setting and Decision Making -- Giving > Yourself a Purpose > 10 Deduction -- The Connection Between Logic and > Common Sense > 11 Reasoning Well -- Applying the New Science of Logic > 12 The Principles of Induction -- New Solutions > to a Classical Challenge > 13 Conceptual Modeling -- Coming Up with the Best > Concepts > 14 Teaching Induction -- Overcoming the Fear of > Abstractions > 15 Philosophical Clarifications -- Understanding > the Breakthrough and Replacing Outdated > Technology > 16 The New Science of Logic -- Clearing the Way for a > Revolution in Rationality > 17 Historical Background and Philosophical Comparison -- > Putting the Conceptual Model Theory Into > Perspective > > If, after receiving "Aspirations", you are not completely > satisfied, return it for a prompt and full refund. > > Only $18.95 plus $3.50 postage and handling (overseas an > additional $2.00) For orders of 2 or more, p&h is free for the > additional books. > > ORDER Aspirations NOW by calling USA > > International 1 310 289-2394 > or faxing to 1 310 854-1840 > > any time with your credit card details. > > Or, Mail Check, Money Order, or Credit Card details to: > Breakthrough Publishing, Inc. > 291 S. La Cienega Blvd., Suite 107 > Beverly Hills, CA 90211 USA > > YES! __ I would like ____ copies of Aspirations * $18.95 = __________ > + $3.50 (overseas an additional $4.00) > = __________ > > Name ________________________________________ > Title __________________ > Organization_________________________________ > Mailing Addr ________________________________ > _____________________________________________ > City ___________________ State ______________ > Post Code ____________ > Country ___________________________ > > VISA ___ MasterCard ___ American Express ___ Discovery ___ > (Sorry, BanCard not accepted) > > Card # __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ > __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ > > Expiration Date __________ > > Signature _________________________________ > > > >
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