I wonder if there would be any interest in a "Chautauqua-like" movement in rural America.

[Atticus]

For those who have never heard of Chautauqua, see: Chautauqua https://g.co/kgs/hUo1zx

It would have to either exclude all religious content or expressly require a diversity of religious thought.

I think there are a lot of people who might listen to a combination of local and guest speakers discuss issues like vaccinations, systemic racism, immigration and general explanations of how our government was designed to work.

I am sure there would be some protests and disruptions, but I don't think we should let hecklers veto a worthwhile educational program.

Comments?

[mopinko]

1. one of the worst things about this country is the idea that you are done learning

when you leave school.
i honestly cant imagine how that works, but it does seem to be the end product of the factory school process in too many cases.

[iemanja]

2. Rural America is very conservative these days

I don't know that they'd be interested, given the anti-education POV of many conservatives.

[Atticus]

5. Believe it or not, not all rural residents are conservative. There are Democrats, thinking

independents and even some old-fashioned "decent" Republicans who might sit still for a lecture in a social atmosphere.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

3. There are still some Chautauquas here and there.

[hlthe2b]

4. Yup... The Colorado Chautauqua in Boulder has been going strong since 1898.

[Atticus]

6. This is north of me, but is a remnant of what used to be a vibrant educational

network in Illinois. https://www.greatershelbyville.com/shelbyville-illinois-chautauqua-auditorium.html

[Tetrachloride]

7. Seminars at libraries, nature preserves,

museums, scientific and architectural firms are a suggested foundation.

I can’t think of a single time that i heard the word Chautauqua in spoken aloud. ( redundant grammar but it’s clearer).

This is a PR campaign. Some versions of PR have a way of turning sour.

[Klaralven]

8. So long as it is far from its roots in religious revivalism...

Chautauqua was founded in 1874 by inventor Lewis Miller and Methodist Bishop John Heyl Vincent as a teaching camp for Sunday-school teachers. The teachers would arrive by steamboat on Chautauqua Lake, disembark at Palestine Park and begin a course of Bible study that used the Park to teach the geography of the Holy Land.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chautauqua_Institution

That role is filled by any number of current day hucksters.

[Tomconroy]

9. There's a big Chatauqua summer community in

Western New York. I understand it's still quite popular.

[jmbar2]

10. I like the concept of Deliberate Democracy discussions

Here is a 2018 example on abortion.

Overview
http://hss.cmu.edu/pdd/iaia/F18/index.html

Discussion Guide
http://hss.cmu.edu/pdd/iaia/F18/DG.pdf