LLLV18 8-13-2018 James B Conant and Larry on Excellence
“Each honest calling, each walk of life, has its own elite, its own aristocracy based on excellence of performance.” James Bryant Conant.
I have used the above quote many times over the last 50 or so years. In its full context, it takes on meaning for the man or woman who demonstrates excellent performance in what some consider the “lower” professions. Here’s the full statement:
“Each honest calling, each walk of life, has its own elite, its own aristocracy based on excellence of performance. There will always be the false snobbery which tries to place one vocation above another. You will become a member of the aristocracy in the American sense only if your accomplishments and integrity earn this appellation.”
I agree, personally and biblically with Professor Conant. However, here’s one that makes you wonder:
"Public education is a great instrument of social change. Through it, if we so desire, we can make our country more nearly a democracy without classes. To do so will require the efforts of us all teachers, administrators, taxpayers, and statesmen. Education is a social process, perhaps the most important process in determining the future of our country; it should command a far larger portion of our national income than it does today."
James Bryant Conant.
This last quote from Professor Conant leads to a currently observable fact in the world of education. The only way you will have a level playing field is to lower the standard of excellence while raising below par excellence to a pseudo level of excellent performance.
This deceit is true in strange places, such as your local supermarket. What used to be considered a “choice” cut of meat, is now raised to “prime.” Meat currently dubbed “choice” is a lower grade. Performance in the classroom is glaringly less than excellent across the board.
“American Exceptionalism” has become a term of derision in some quarters, as has the concept of Christian Excellence. When we resurrect Christian Excellence, we may have a chance at raising the level of American Exceptionalism to a higher bar.
Hebrews 12:1 “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,” (NKJV)
Copyright © 2018 Larry Lilly
Excellent IT Work Oral Deckard
“Each honest calling, each walk of life, has its own elite, its own aristocracy based on excellence of performance.” James Bryant Conant.
I have used the above quote many times over the last 50 or so years. In its full context, it takes on meaning for the man or woman who demonstrates excellent performance in what some consider the “lower” professions. Here’s the full statement:
“Each honest calling, each walk of life, has its own elite, its own aristocracy based on excellence of performance. There will always be the false snobbery which tries to place one vocation above another. You will become a member of the aristocracy in the American sense only if your accomplishments and integrity earn this appellation.”
I agree, personally and biblically with Professor Conant. However, here’s one that makes you wonder:
"Public education is a great instrument of social change. Through it, if we so desire, we can make our country more nearly a democracy without classes. To do so will require the efforts of us all teachers, administrators, taxpayers, and statesmen. Education is a social process, perhaps the most important process in determining the future of our country; it should command a far larger portion of our national income than it does today."
James Bryant Conant.
This last quote from Professor Conant leads to a currently observable fact in the world of education. The only way you will have a level playing field is to lower the standard of excellence while raising below par excellence to a pseudo level of excellent performance.
This deceit is true in strange places, such as your local supermarket. What used to be considered a “choice” cut of meat, is now raised to “prime.” Meat currently dubbed “choice” is a lower grade. Performance in the classroom is glaringly less than excellent across the board.
“American Exceptionalism” has become a term of derision in some quarters, as has the concept of Christian Excellence. When we resurrect Christian Excellence, we may have a chance at raising the level of American Exceptionalism to a higher bar.
Hebrews 12:1 “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,” (NKJV)
Copyright © 2018 Larry Lilly
Excellent IT Work Oral Deckard
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