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Author Topic: Start a Free University in Your Town!!
Phillip Berger
recent-rabble-rouser
Babbler # 1330

posted 10 October 2001 03:45 PM      Profile for Phillip Berger     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
Ladies and gents, it is my opinion that with the country that I call home, Canada, being at war, and the website that I call good, rabble.ca/babble, being low on funding, there is no better time for free universities.

We have seen the ignorance and arrogance in our mass medias, and I know that alot of us are wishing that we had someplace we could go to be with others who also want to take a closer look at what makes this crazy world tick.

Not too long ago, another babbler, Wage Peace, called for a babble "think tank". I think this is a good idea, and one that the Free University of Toronto (or any other potential Free U) could accomodate.

That is essentially what the Free U is and has been for the year and a half it's been in existence: many think tanks - loosely formed, participatory, conversational gatherings of people brought together by a desire to get to the bottom of world issues, or just a desire to share their thoughts and feelings.

Under the topic, "Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec", there is more on the Free University of Toronto, specifically, and a course submission form, which I would encourage anyone who had an interest in teaching or facilitating a class to fill out and send to me, Phil Berger, at [email protected].

("Freeuniversity@hotmail was not taken!? What does that tell you?).

Keep in mind that I am not asking people to volunteer time to teach a *curriculum*, but rather a subject of *their own interest*. There is no set, official curriculum, and none of our instructors are required to hold official credentials, although we ask that they be punctual.

We do the rest: booking rooms in the University of Toronto campus, and informing instructors of room booking changes.

I have had my doubts about asking the Rabblers themselves if they wanted to hold Free U classes, but I can't see any harm in doing so.

And keep rabble up and running with your donations!!


P.B.


From: Toronto | Registered: Sep 2001  |  IP: Logged
Andre Paris
recent-rabble-rouser
Babbler # 1533

posted 12 October 2001 06:38 PM      Profile for Andre Paris     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
Is there a West Coast equivalent to this idea?
From: vancouver, bc, canada | Registered: Oct 2001  |  IP: Logged
Phillip Berger
recent-rabble-rouser
Babbler # 1330

posted 15 October 2001 05:36 PM      Profile for Phillip Berger     Send New Private Message      Edit/Delete Post  Reply With Quote 
As far as I know, there aren't ANY other broad-based, participatory, free education initiatives in Canada. I daresay anyone serious about reforming democracy is merely spewing rhetoric if they don't look at this as a number one priority (hint hint). Such people are time wasting alarmists and don't even deserve to be listened to, in my own opinion.


Phil


From: Toronto | Registered: Sep 2001  |  IP: Logged

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