How to Construct Society: The Lens of Science Fiction

Below is my rough outline for one of this term's HSSP classes. If you have recommendations for books - especially, but not only Science Fiction - please reply!

Books I already am considering include Sandkings (George R.R. Martin), Always Coming Home (U.K. LeGuin) and City (Clifford Simak).

How to Construct Society: The Lens of Science Fiction

Sometimes, understanding one's own society or culture requires looking at it from the perspectives of another. Science Fiction, at its best, can provide a tool for such examination, for checking assumptions and questioning conclusions. We will read and discuss a number of works in an effort to apply that tool, both with regard to the society we have and to the society we may wish.

March 5: Introduction, Book Selection, What is Society?
March 12: Primitive? Advanced? What is progress?
March 19: Human vs. Animal
March 26: Human vs. Alien
April 2: Human vs. Human
April 9: No Class – Beyond IQ Conference
April 16: Can we design society or does it just happen?
April 23: Can we change society from within? From without?
April 30: What tools do we need to shape or reshape society? How do we acquire or develop these tools?
May 7: Conclusions, What is Society?

The Role of Schools, The Role of Teachers, The Role of Counselors

Below is the tentative syllabus for my other Spring HSSP class at M.I.T. Again, any feedback on suggested readings, gues speakers, etc. would be welcome. Thanks! (Questions are also welcome.)

The Role of Schools, The Role of Teachers, The Role of Counselors

In our current world, the roles of schools, teachers, and counselors are different than they were just a decade or two ago. How much should they occupy of what has been considered the province of the family? Where are the boundaries, both between these and between these and the home? As schools start bringing in families and governments move to send home to parents reports on things like a child's weight, it is time to pause and reflect a bit on their mission. Join us in that reflection.

The schedule below is tentative and flexible. During some weeks, we will have visitors with varying perspectives and jobs. Feel free to suggest topics, readings, articles, books, and visitors.

March 5: Introduction, Who are you and why are you here?
March 12: What was it like back then?
March 19: What are the roles defined as?
March 26: Is it like that across the board?
April 2: What other models are out there?
April 9: No class – Beyond IQ Conference
April 16: Creating Job Descriptions
April 23: Job Descriptions, Cont.
April 30: Training
May 7: Down the road – the future of schools, the future of the professions