The second great tragedy is in the nature of what is called “education.”  It is mainly rote learning, the ability to memorize phrases, concepts and other required data. Thinking is neither required nor expected. Critical analysis and evaluation of subject matter are not required. But the ability to absorb and recall is required. The brilliant scholar, then, is one who can readily quote authorities and remember well his bibliographical sources. So we have a generation of black scholars who continue to amaze students by mouthing the doctrines and viewpoints of their white teachers-like so many robots without minds of their own.

Chancellor Williams