Abstract
THE ‘educated electorate’ dreamed of by the liberal statesmen of two generations ago is still to seek; the great mass of voters to-day are probably no better qualified than their ancestors of Gladstone's day to form independent judgments of the merits of rival candidates for election to Parliament. A similar deficiency stultifies democratic government on the other side of the Atlantic. The problem how to help the masses to achieve that critical thinking postulated by democratic theory was discussed in a stirring address delivered on July 26 at the University of Minnesota by Dr. J. W. Studebaker, United States Commissioner of Education. Attention was directed in the address to a remarkable experiment now in operation in Des Moines, Iowa, where the local education authority has inaugurated a public forum for adults. Its objectives are, (1) exchange of information and points of view, (2) development of tolerance and open-mindedness and (3) development ojf critical intelligence. It is recognised that the leader of such a forum must be a man of eminence in the academic world, with both the theoretical and practical knowledge of current affairs which would command respect and, above all, “that serene detachment which alone can guarantee clarity of judgment”. The basic conception of the forum is educational with emphasis upon critical thinking as opposed to the emotional appeal and obscurantism of the demagogue. Such forums, Mr. Studebaker thinks, ought to be found in every city and village throughout America; and he forecasts support by the Federal Government for schemes for establishing them. University extension discussion classes in Great Britain were started with similar aims, but failed to attract as participants more than a minute proportion of the electorate. It will be interesting to see whether Mr. Studebaker's suggestions fructify.
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An Experiment in Political Education. Nature 136, 749 (1935). https://doi.org/10.1038/136749b0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/136749b0