Science Forums 2

[lemit]

Theory5.

Is the Wilde quote from "The Artist As Critic?" I haven't read that essay in 40 years, but it informs much of my thinking about art, literature, thought, and learning.

The decisions of school boards, in my limited experience, are generally informed by fear. Anyone who has ever been victimized by Zero Tolerance has possibly noticed the scent of hormones in the air.

There are two ways of approaching bureaucratic fear. You can make the mildest of threats and watch the emanating waves that seem to defy nature and grow as they leave their source.

Or, you can corporately provide a comfort level that school boards rarely feel. They will be in your debt and in your corner forever.

Therefore, the solution to the capture of influence by corporations is not to make the school boards afraid. That will likely make them panic and crash into each other, thus nullifying any benefits their fear could have generated.

Instead, if you offer your own insulation, they will scurry into it like nesting mice. As with mice, paper is excellent nesting material. If you offer them posters, pamphlets, handouts, and--publicly, for school programs--paper money, they will love you and do whatever you want.

In other words, and to the surprise of nobody, corporations know Machiavelli. Other people should learn him to approach a school board (or any other public body).

Trust me. And trust yourself. Don't let the scent of anger fill your board meeting. You know where that will lead.

--lemit