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The Saber-Tooth Curriculum

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This book is in the form of a narrative dialogue between a professor and a former student in a Tijuana bar over the course of a few days. This bar in Tijuanna is the last place the former student (now a failing salesman) expected to find the straight-laced processor slamming tequilla shots and lecturing on the "History of Paleothic Education". The professor's lectures explore the reasons why the education system, generally, and academia, specifically, have failed to innovate and evolve, by spinning an allegorical tale of the history of the educational curriculum in a paleolithic tribe. Funny, witty, entertaining, and a very fast read (I read it in around 3 hours), this book is a must read not only for those in academia, but for anyone that had, or has, to do dogmatic, antiquated, and non-sensical tasks in their school and/or workplace. A true gem

Don't let the 1959 date fool you. Or the reference to curriculum. We have yet to learn and employ the lessons this book provides in education, in the military, in the analysis of clinical trials, and in socal policy. (Aren't we about to build a multi-trillion dollar missile system to keep out knife-wielding terrorists?)

Paleolithic education will still be fashionable in the 21st century if educators of today are not going to do some reflections.

If you are looking for a fun and interesting commentary on the "evolution" of our current educational system, you will enjoy this book. It is tongue in cheek while hitting the mark about trends in the educational system. This book comments on everything from religion to marriage to economics to afterschool programs.

The characters Wayne and Peddiwell are wonderful, especially after they down several tequila daisies.

Mark Twain famously quipped that God made the fool for a model and then made the school board. His words ring true today from everything from pre-school to university, as does the biting satire in Saber-tooth Curriculum. In this short, funny book, the author uses the mythical prehistoric origins of public education as metaphor to attack the problems of education in the United States on several levels as a warning about the rising danger of Fascism and Communism in more efficient and economically viable methods of teaching.

Over time, this book has added an additional irony in that, despite decades of time passing, we face almost all of the same problems. Institutionalized Education's response to this book has ranged between ignoring and suppressing its stark warnings. Today, Barrack Obama and Congress prepare to push an education reform agenda that duplicates that of his predecessor George W. Bush. It will push the popular idea of blaming teachers for bad policies invented by self important over-paid bureaucrats and by politicians who refuse to deal with the real problems: education to meet the needs of our country and money embezzled from the classroom, by the tens of billions of dollars every year, to pay for so-called "education professionals" who teach no one, provide no support services, and maintain nothing. In the United States, as shown by the Saber-tooth Curriculum, we never learn.

This is an interesting book regarding the process of education. It was required reading for a class I took entitled "educational philosophy." There is a lot packed into this book regarding educational philosophy and academia. It is funny to read and very enjoyable. I had to laugh out loud at several spots in the book. The main characters are a professor and one of his former students having a dialogue in a bar in Tijuana while enjoying their tequila shots. The storyline is very unique and innovative.

Another great book to read is "Trilogy Moments for the Mind, Body and Soul." This book introduces the new "Epulaeryu" poetic form, and it's also filled with great inspirational poems to stimulate the mind, body and soul.