Nockian Notes

My study of Albert Jay Nock has come to a close.  Though Nock wrote about eighty years ago, his critique of American educational theory applies today.  Below is an assortment of particularly timeless ideas:

• The new system focuses on training, not education—professional knowledge, not formative knowledge.  Nock does admit that the university system is admirably well-organized for training!  It simply is not educational.  Therefore, it’s not a university.

• Nock questions the assumption that “a big school is a great school.”  Are we judging by quantity or quality?

• He critiques “grab-bag education.”  In traditional education, students had to stretch themselves to complete a proscribed program.  Nowadays, the curriculum stretches to fit the students, including those who are incapable of harder courses.  Nock is flabbergasted at the number and variety of easy electives offered at institutions of higher learning.  I suspect he would not approve of my Organic Gardening, Jogging, and Swahili electives!  (To tell the truth, I’m beginning to wish I had taken Latin, Ethics, and some other courses.)

• In a liberal university, the burden of education used to rest fully upon the student; now it’s up to the faculty to help “get us through” quickly.

• Our system leaves little room for discipleship-style education, i.e. students who go to study under a diversely talented great man (common in the Middle Ages).  Now the university program itself tends to carry more importance than the professor you seek.  And professors have to be specialists; they don’t need a grasp of the Great Tradition.

• Bad news: There’s no way to fix the university problem.  Because of strong interests attached to the current system, our society will not relinquish the bad theories.  Nock's little book is rather pessimistic, don’t you think?

• Good news: The Great Tradition stands alone.  We can’t hurt the liberal tradition by our neglect; we can only benefit ourselves in seeking it.  Listen to this… “We can do nothing for the Great Tradition; our fidelity to it can do everything for us.  Creatures of a day, how shall we think that what we do or leave undone is of consequence to that which abides forever?” (155)