If we are going to save our society and our children, we need to give up the idea that public (government) schools can somehow be reformed. They were created and relentlessly adapted to control and indoctrinate the population. The only reason you and I are capable and allowed to discuss this is that, not only are the would be controllers grossly inept, but sufficient numbers of each generation are immune to their propaganda that the spark of liberty still persists.
Alan: I can understand how you might come to that conclusion, but I'd say that it's a bit negative. Further, to give up on US public schools means to give up on 60± million children. IMO that is unfathomable.
John: Before there were government schools, children were being educated. Read the letters by farm boys to their mothers during the Civil War. 99% of high school graduates today could not read the cursive writing, let alone write the words. So long as parents and children are chained to the tax funded government monopoly, there will be no progress.
Unfortunately from an outsider it seems that the purpose of public education is really just to employ teachers and administrators. I listen to my local school board meetings and it’s a lot of jibber jabber, very little action. Meanwhile the amount of administrators keeps growing, and teachers keep quitting. It’s a complete broken system that needs to be rebuilt from the ground up, it’s beyond reform.
Jim: Certainly some of what you say is true. IMO the main reason is that most parents do not take the trouble to find out WHAT their kids are being taught. The COVID-19 fiasco exposed this ugly underbelly to many people, which is why things like home-schooling has exploded. As some have said: we get the education system we deserve. Taking meaningful action (like I've proposed) will entitle us to deserving much better.
Critical thinking and good decision making are in opposition of the current goals of education: prepare for full participation in the economy as a obedient worker in an authoritarian hierarchical organization and a good consumer, preparation of citizens (who will comply with govt narratives, the enemies list de jour to the point of killing and dying, consent to govt domestic and foreign policy dictates), and willingly pay taxes - all without too much domestic unrest. It used to be said the purpose was to prepare workers for industrialization, but the objectives have evolved considerably since the industrial revolution, or perhaps become more apparent. There is nothing Left or Right about this, it’s universal.
If we are going to save our society and our children, we need to give up the idea that public (government) schools can somehow be reformed. They were created and relentlessly adapted to control and indoctrinate the population. The only reason you and I are capable and allowed to discuss this is that, not only are the would be controllers grossly inept, but sufficient numbers of each generation are immune to their propaganda that the spark of liberty still persists.
Alan: I can understand how you might come to that conclusion, but I'd say that it's a bit negative. Further, to give up on US public schools means to give up on 60± million children. IMO that is unfathomable.
John: Before there were government schools, children were being educated. Read the letters by farm boys to their mothers during the Civil War. 99% of high school graduates today could not read the cursive writing, let alone write the words. So long as parents and children are chained to the tax funded government monopoly, there will be no progress.
Unfortunately from an outsider it seems that the purpose of public education is really just to employ teachers and administrators. I listen to my local school board meetings and it’s a lot of jibber jabber, very little action. Meanwhile the amount of administrators keeps growing, and teachers keep quitting. It’s a complete broken system that needs to be rebuilt from the ground up, it’s beyond reform.
Jim: Certainly some of what you say is true. IMO the main reason is that most parents do not take the trouble to find out WHAT their kids are being taught. The COVID-19 fiasco exposed this ugly underbelly to many people, which is why things like home-schooling has exploded. As some have said: we get the education system we deserve. Taking meaningful action (like I've proposed) will entitle us to deserving much better.
Another excellent piece, in today's edition, thanks again for all you do.
Rich: I appreciate your support!
Critical thinking and good decision making are in opposition of the current goals of education: prepare for full participation in the economy as a obedient worker in an authoritarian hierarchical organization and a good consumer, preparation of citizens (who will comply with govt narratives, the enemies list de jour to the point of killing and dying, consent to govt domestic and foreign policy dictates), and willingly pay taxes - all without too much domestic unrest. It used to be said the purpose was to prepare workers for industrialization, but the objectives have evolved considerably since the industrial revolution, or perhaps become more apparent. There is nothing Left or Right about this, it’s universal.
I agree with the fact that critical thinking and our current K-12 curriculum are in opposition.