INSIDE DOUGLAS COLLEGE / FEBRUARY 20, 1990 TRUSS SSRURG 15 RRPN R RRRT Ri SAE N T Allow me to comment on one part of your otherwise uplifting ar- ticle on plans for the new Thomas Haney Centre, in your February edi- tion. This is the part where you speak about the “interesting cur- riculum challenge” to the College, arising from the fact that local high- school graduates “will be among the most computer-literate in B.C.” since their whole school curriculum is to be “based on an individualized instructional approach.....making extensive use of computer-based learning.” Now this may be self-evidently a “good thing” to many readers, but I must confess that my heart sank as I read further through this piece, knowing that I would have to do more “de-programming” in my own classes at Maple Ridge in Letter to the Editor order to fit students for eventual university transfer. Let me make just a couple of points. In the first place, I never found anything especially wrong with the old students at this campus; in fact there were often the most lively. Secondly, we should be asking our- selves as an institution whether we have an independently-derived educational philosophy; or whether, as I suspect, we are will- ing to be driven by the narrow logic of a computer mania that now starts in grade school, aided by myopic school-board officials, cowed or merely lazy teachers, and an army of software hucksters. Thirdly, only a little reflection is needed to conclude that a learning mode cannot be called “individual- ized instruction” if a student works long hours in a style dictated by a KCTS 9 (Seattle) will be presenting the following special four-part NOVA miniseries THE GENIUS THAT WAS CHINA. Tuesday, March 13 at 7:00 p.m. Rise of the Dragon: China in the 13th century was the richest, most power- ful, most technologically advanced civilization on earth. NOVA looks at how China achieved what it did, and what in Chinese politics, culture and economy kept it from doing more. Tuesday, March 20 at 7:00 p.m. Empires in Collision: NOVA examines the extraordinary transformation that propelled Europe outward into the world from the 15th to 18th cen- turies, while China remained the insular middle kingdom. Tuesday, March 27 at 7:00 p.m. Threat from Japan: East and West came into direct conflict over trade and power in the 19th Century. The West won. NOVA explores how Japan was later able to master Western methods, while China was not. Tuesday, April 3 at 7:00 p.m. Will the Dragon Rise Again: NOVA covers China’s long road to economic and technological equality with the West, punctuated by frequent setbacks such as the 1989 massacre of pro-democracy demonstrators in Beijing. @ software program that is used simultaneously by hundreds of thousands of other North American students, and that relies ultimately on discredited be- haviourist motivational and learn- ing theory - all of this is a complete perversion of the humane meaning of “individual instruction”. As a small token effort on my part to help rob this mode of its spurious glamour, let me conclude by recommending to you and your readers one introductory book on all of this, by Harvard Ph.D. Frank Smith, entitled Insult to Intelligence: The Bureaucratic Invasion of Our Classroom (Arbor House, New York, 1986). Sincerely, Terry McCann Sociology-Anthropology Dept. Therapeutic Recreation continued from page 6 B.C. Wheelchair Association. Speak- ing highly of the curriculum and instructors at Douglas College, Devereux points out that the pro- gram was conducive to developing close relationships among classmates, which in turn helped in professional development. “At Douglas College, you work as a tight group,” he says. “This helps students develop their group and communication skills.” The deadline for applications for fall enrollment is April 1st. En- rollment is limited, so apply early. For more information about the Therapeutic Recreation Program, cali 527-5129. m Note: This is the first in a series of articles highlighting some of the programs at Douglas College.