ISSN 2225-7063
76
International Journal of Science
intellectual/psychological/emotional, sociological, and the existential. In these four dimensions of life, quality is understood more than meeting predetermined expectations. Quality is also intimately defined by a student’s ability to effectively transcend the self, connect with other people at a transpersonal level, and experience competency, other people, and life at an ineffable level. The meaning of educational quality through the lens of TQ theory furthermore addresses the eight behaviors conducive to experiencing and eliciting educational quality which are defined by the acronym of C.A.P.A.C.I.T.Y. These behaviors are: C A P A C I T Y
Care for others Autotelic Prepared Alliance with others Choice I/You-Us Training Yearn to succeed
If we are to educate the young citizens of America to be positive contributors to a sane society it is critical all dimensions of living and the eight behaviours of C.A.P.A.C.I.T.Y are embraced in an understanding of educational quality that is nurtured and developed though educational praxis from an early age. The meaning of educational quality as regurgitating static information, seeking domination and superiority over others, and of constant interpersonal competition leads to a narcissistic and violent notion of the purpose of education and uses of intelligence. Without a life-affirming, need-fulfilling, and performance enhancing understanding of the meaning of quality coupled with a search for ‘truth’ and ‘beauty’ in the world, we Americans are more likely being led toward a society which embraces a destructive simulacrum of democracy. It is in the embrace of simulacrums over authenticity that a society puts its sanity at risk. The critical question for we Americans is, “How can we improve the sanity of our society?” The answer to this question starts with each individual exploring the implications of asking, researching and answering questions of the kind, ‘How do I improve what I am doing and enhance my positive influence?’ and holding themselves publicly accountable for clarifying and living as fully as possible their meanings of quality and intelligence in a humanistic, transpersonal, and democratic manner in their living praxis. International Journal of Science | No.2