From N+1, Number Six, p. 12

It seems that intellectuals don't belong in the trenches of our education system. But, in fact, they do.

"So maybe--is this a crazy idea?--reading needs to be taught, and taught well, rather than sold. Instead of writing more well-intentioned books, why don't academics intervene directly in secondary school education? let's lend them out to state schools, public schools, and community colleges to teach for a few weeks a year. Morally, this is the equivalent of pro bono work in the legal profession. Let's reward junior professors for community teaching rather than for publishing articles in academic journals. An extra sabbatical year could be offered, during which professors would work closely with young readers. Maybe this experience could actually change the way intellectual think about literature. If a certain degree of literacy and appreciation for the complexity of great books (or just good novels) is as necessary for a healthy and free society as we've often heard or said it is, then maybe the only way forward is a Maoist-style culture revolution in reverse: INTELLECTUALS: INTO THE SCHOOLS!"