Abstract
This chapter employs micro-and macro levels of analyses to provide a broad overview of the foundational role of higher education in shaping the future of nations, societies, and individuals, reinforcing values and strengthening the social fabric. The function of scripts as pathways for an individual’s future is detailed, as is how higher education may be used to change the script of one’s life. The discussion of individual scripts is applied to the shaping of societies and nations. Key values that provide a common grounding for decisions in uncertain times are also discussed.
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Notes
- 1.
The conceptualization of human dignity and human rights used in this chapter finds expression in the UN’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights, founding documents of the United States, and works of philosophers during the Enlightenment Period (some directly referenced throughout this chapter), among many writings of a religious, historical, and political nature around the world. The United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, crafted in 1948 in the wake of the events of World War II, forms the basis of the concepts of universal human rights and values discussed in this work. http://www.un.org/en/documents/udhr/index.shtml.
- 2.
The effort of women to secure the right to vote in U.S. elections was an 80 year effort: 1840–1920¸ culminating in the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/naw/nawstime.html
- 3.
This observation has been bolstered by recent research by Dr. J. David Hacker of the history department at SUNY-Binghamton, published in Civil War History, 57 (4), 307–348. 2011.
- 4.
Shelby County, Alabama V. Holder, Attorney General, et al. http://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/12pdf/12-96_6k47.pdf
- 5.
Section 4 of the 1965 Civil Rights Act required states and jurisdictions with a history of racial discrimination to secure clearance from the U.S. Justice Department or a federal court in Washington, D.C. before changing voting procedures. The 5–4 ruling by the Supreme Court specifies that Congress legislate the terms of such clearance using current data. Texas, one of the affected states, moved immediately to enact more restrictive voting procedures, which many point out adversely impact minority and elderly populations. http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/26/us/supreme-court-ruling.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0; http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/supreme-court-stops-use-of-key-part-of-voting-rights-act/2013/06/25/26888528-dda5-11e2-b197-f248b21f94c4_story.html. As of this writing, the application of this ruling in affected states is being litigated in federal courts.
- 6.
Dr. David Helfand details the rigidities inherent in the structure of higher education: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZQe73IXZtU&feature=share&list=PL98356CD352B01730
- 7.
The late sixteenth century Roanoke Colonies in (present-day (NC) did not survive.) http://encyclopediavirginia.org/Roanoke_Colonies_The#start_entry
- 8.
Declaration of Independence. http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/declaration_transcript.html
- 9.
For example: John Adams attended Harvard College; Thomas Jefferson, George Wythe, and James Monroe attended the College of William and Mary; James Madison attended The College of New Jersey (now Princeton University).
- 10.
Quoted by McCullough (2001, p. 103).
- 11.
See Johansen (2009).
- 12.
See Scharmer and Kaufer (2013).
- 13.
See Fast Company’s Anya Kamemetz, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6MLLkmXee0
- 14.
See The Institute for the Future’s Dr. Jane McGonigal’s conceptualization: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dE1DuBesGYM, as well as the SuperStruct games. http://janemcgonigal.com/play-me/
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DiPadova-Stocks, L.N. (2015). Higher Education Shaping the Unscripted Future: The Imperative to Affirm Human Values in Transformative Times. In: Dailey-Hebert, A., Dennis, K. (eds) Transformative Perspectives and Processes in Higher Education. Advances in Business Education and Training, vol 6. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-09247-8_12
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