|
|
|
By: John Scolaro The Clemente Course in the Humanities, which is a rather intriguing approach to poverty and those trapped in its claws, is now about two years or more old, as age goes. What I mean by this is that the idea of a college-level course of study in the humanities for the multi-generational poor of Orlando and Central Florida was initiated that long ago based on an interview with Earl Shorris, founder of The Clemente Course, I heard on National Public Radio early one morning enroute to the West Campus where I teach in the Department of Humanities. I knew then that Valencia Community College could not ignore the view Shorris expressed when he said that the radical nature of the humanities will help the poor find their own way out of poverty. It has! In fact, this novel approach to poverty has gained the support of our president, Dr. Sanford C. Shugart, along with a broad-based corps of colleagues and friends of the college, since its inception last October. Part 2 of The Clemente Course in Moral Philosophy and Literature began about two weeks ago at the following two site locations: The Wells'Built Museum of African-American History and Culture in Parramore and The Women's Residential and Counseling Center (WRCC) on East Colonial Drive. The course is taught by Professors Elizabeth Eschbach and David Sutton of Valencia's East Campus. They are both exceptionally competent scholars in their own right, and are experts in the use of the Socratic Method of dialogue as a major component of their pedagogy. Their students are empowered by this and respond in kind. I know, especially since one of my functions as the project's Director is to attend every class. What we are actually doing in the courses, if you really want to know, is to introduce our students to the powerful ideas derived from the great literature of antiquity. This is helping our students rediscover their own unlimited potential, deepen their self-confidence and self-esteem, and open a door or two which most social service agencies, as Shorris contends, never think about doing because their work is to keep the poor in their place. The poor, Shorris says, are encased in a 'surround of force'. This prevents them from transcending poverty. We believe, like Shorris, that there is another way. This way gives fundamental importance to what we, as educators, say we have always believed: namely, that knowledge IS power! Do we really believe this as much as we say we do? Our initiative these days in our work with Orlando's multi-generational poor, under the umbrella of Valencia Community College and with the support of other colleagues and friends of the project, is driven by Earl Shorris' Riches for the Poor (1997/2000). This signal publication tells the story of The Clemente Course in the Humanities and elaborates the rationale which drives it. It is a provocative book that you will not be able to dismiss or ignore once it is in your hand. Also, in order to help us inform others about The Clemente Course, a web site has been designed and is periodically updated with the help of our West Campus Technology Center's Manager, Angelique Smith. You may, of course, access this interesting site anytime @ http://valenciacc.edu/clemente for further information about The Clemente Course, or to make a contribution to the project or to assist us as a volunteer. So far, we think that the project is worth continuing. To that end, we are now in the process of gaining college support to implement The Clemente Course as a college-level, credit course of study in the humanities for Orlando's multi-generational poor in order to augment the college-level, non-credit course of study which is now offered. We are hopeful that the college, as well as other colleagues and friends of the project, will continue to support this intriguing endeavor and experiment in the humanities. John Scolaro Professor of Humanities/West Campus and Project Director of The Clemente Course in the Humanities To read more Valencia news, access our Web site at www.valenciacc.edu.
|
