Save Mathematical Summer School
Many concerned citizens in the U.S. think homeschooling should be regulated or restricted to prevent the collapse of civilization. Civilization will collapse, of course, if all kids are not required to learn each concerned citizen’s pet subject. More regulation is the only way to avert this disaster.
“What are you afraid of?” they ask. “If you’re not doing anything wrong, this will only be a minor inconvenience for you.”
Well, I am afraid. I don’t want the state telling me what and when I must teach my kids. These sorts of rules can go horribly wrong. Alexandre Borovik at Mathematics Under the Microscope has an awful story to tell about state interference in education gone awry.
It starts with his description and pictures of Professor Ali Nesin’s Mathematical Summer School in Sirince, Turkey, near the ruins of Ephesus. The school is a sort of summer camp for Turkish undergraduate students. They get no grades and no diploma. They do get to learn, and that is why they are there. Reading it made me want to go back to school.
Then it becomes absurd. Local authorities shut down the school, cordoning blackboards off behind police lines. The school moved into tents, and are now being evicted from the forest. Apparently Prof. Nesin is facing criminal charges including “Education without permission”.
I don’t know details of the case, and I don’t know Turkish law. But why on Earth would it be illegal to educate someone without permission in a civilized country?
Oh, I guess that would help save civilzation from all of those madrassas that are popping up around the world.
And it would help save civilization from all of those godless secularists who are undermining societies values.
Lots of good reasons.
Do you really want to save civilization? Then keep education free (and I don’t mean free like jails are free). Helping to save the Mathematical Summer School could be one way to start.
Read Prof. Borovik’s posts. If you read Turkish (I don’t), read this article chronicling the events. Consider signing the petition/letter here.
[...] Save Mathematical Summer School [...]
Mathematical Village (Matematik Köyü) at Freedom of Science
August 9, 2007 at 6:18 pm
I haven’t checked out your links yet, and I’m not implying a link or anything, but… I learned very recently that Turkey is considered the center of the latest creationist, anti-evolution teaching in the Islamic world. In fact, the US is second only to Turkey with respect to anti-evolution beliefs, which is pretty depressing to contemplate, of course! Maybe if we try really hard, we can beat out Turkey and take 1st place in science illiteracy worldwide! Go USA.
Lynn
August 10, 2007 at 1:11 am
I really don’t know why they have laws like this, and per this update it seems that the “education without permission” law is just being used as an excuse.
Allegedly there were zoning violations, and local authorities were upset but could not shut the school down for these allegations. But lucky for them, there was another law floating around — against educating without permission — that they could use to come down harder on him.
The alleged zoning violations may have been a cover for some even more minor disagreement. I wouldn’t be shocked. But even if they are completely valid this response seems far out of line.
I’d guess that Turkey’s laws restricting education are part of the secular state’s way of defending itself against against the real threat of fundamentalism. I think this example shows why laws like this are a bad idea.
Your point — that Turkey is the center of creationist teaching in the Islamic world — shows how these laws could backfire on the secular state in an even worse way. If the fundamentalists do gain political power, I doubt they will wipe these laws off the books. They will use them to enforce their view on their opponents.
And these poor kids just want to learn some Math.
Rolfe Schmidt
August 10, 2007 at 6:33 am
//I’d guess that Turkey’s laws restricting education are part of the secular state’s way of defending itself against against the real threat of fundamentalism.//
I think it’s illegal to homeschool in Germany for the same reason. Maybe these are good reminders that secularists can be uncompromising reactionaries, too.
Poor kids, stuck in the middle, like always.
Lynn
August 10, 2007 at 11:37 pm
No educator should ever be stopped, arrested or put to jail under the cover of any religion (Islam, Christianity, Judaism, Hindu, etc.), Communism or Capitalism. Those who shut people’s mouth or try to control their minds are wicked forces on earth.
Professor Jay M. Jahangiri, Kent State University, Ohio, U.S.A.
August 10, 2007 at 11:52 pm
Lynn: There may be more of a link to religious fundamentalism in this case than I first thought. Professor Nessin’s father, Aziz Nesin, was politically active and fought against religious fundamentalism. Apparently he was arrested more than once, and a mob tried to kill him.
Regarding the German laws, I think you’re right. If I’m not mistaken, the laws restricting homeschooling were put in place in the 1930’s when the regime really needed some protection (hmmm… who was in power then?)
Profesor Jahangiri: Thank you for your comment, and thank you for stating things so unambiguously. When people in power shut down an educator, it seems that their power is not justified and they want to keep that hidden. Either that or they despise the people as unable to decide what is right for themselves. In either case I agree with you, this leads to wickedness. I hope goodness will prevail.
I’m still shocked that a Math school would suffer like this. What could be more politically and religiously neutral?
Rolfe Schmidt
August 11, 2007 at 7:03 am
I found a little more background on the law being enforced here. Here’s a juicy quote:
So it looks like this is a law against fundamentalist religious schools, which is being enforced on Prof. Nesin who seems to be against religious fundamentalism.
Why would anyone be afraid of a little more regulation?
Rolfe Schmidt
August 12, 2007 at 6:33 am