ABSTRACT
Everyone stared at the department chair in amazement. Jaws simply dropped. Soon the room was filled with a nearly chaotic mixture of sounds of anger and disbelief. It wasn't the first time she had informed about what was "coming down from on high." Similar things had occurred before. Conservatism by its very name announces one interpretation of its agenda. Other interpretations are possible, of course. One could say, somewhat more wryly, that conservatism believes that nothing should be done for the first time. There is some strength to such a conception of cultural capital. However, it assumes that the fundamental role of educational institutions is the distribution of knowledge to students, some of whom are more "able" to acquire it because of cultural gifts that come "naturally" from their class or race or gender position. Thus there is a complex relationship between the accumulation of economic and cultural capital.
