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shesus · 08-22-2007, 11:16 AM

I'll admit that I'm not knowledgeable on the government stance for fascism. So, I'm not going to comment on that except to say that something is going on in this country and it's creeping in so that one day we're going to wake up and say, "What the fuck...when did this happen?"

My expertise is education and John Gatto is one of the people I admire. He was voted teacher of the year for NYC. In his speech, he denounced public education for the ruin is has caused our younger generation. His book Dumbing Us Down is one that I have read on several occasions and used as a reference for my Master's thesis paper.

If you look at the history of schools, it was set up on a bell system (like factories). It's very formal telling the kids what they should know by a certain grade. There is little room for deviating from the curriculum and the testing is too much for the poor little guys sitting in desks 6+ hours a day. One of my favorite stories is about a 4th grade boy that was taking his 6th standardized test of the year. I believe it was in February. For the extended response, he ignored the question and filled up every line on the 3 page answer sheet with "This is a waste of time, I want to learn from my teacher."

Schools are dropping the ball and there is a thread already about how students are not taught to think. They are taught to sit, listen, respond, and read. Philosophy and creativity are missing components. Look at Plato's Republic. The first step to a perfect society is the elimination of art, thinking, and individuality. I see this happening daily in the public schools.

As for what I could tell you to put your mind at ease. Home school, charter school, or private school the kids. I left the public sector because I didn't believe in what I was doing anymore. I was a piece of the system and the system was failing. You have to do your part to educate and culture the young people in your life. Stand up and do your part to help a small population of the people if you feel that you must.

I hope this helped a little bit. It's a rabbit hole going through educational policy. I enjoy reading about it, but it's a big mess once you get to the underbelly of it.

08-22-2007, 11:16 AM	#2 (permalink)
shesus Fancy Location: Chicago	I'll admit that I'm not knowledgeable on the government stance for fascism. So, I'm not going to comment on that except to say that something is going on in this country and it's creeping in so that one day we're going to wake up and say, "What the fuck...when did this happen?" My expertise is education and John Gatto is one of the people I admire. He was voted teacher of the year for NYC. In his speech, he denounced public education for the ruin is has caused our younger generation. His book Dumbing Us Down is one that I have read on several occasions and used as a reference for my Master's thesis paper. If you look at the history of schools, it was set up on a bell system (like factories). It's very formal telling the kids what they should know by a certain grade. There is little room for deviating from the curriculum and the testing is too much for the poor little guys sitting in desks 6+ hours a day. One of my favorite stories is about a 4th grade boy that was taking his 6th standardized test of the year. I believe it was in February. For the extended response, he ignored the question and filled up every line on the 3 page answer sheet with "This is a waste of time, I want to learn from my teacher." Schools are dropping the ball and there is a thread already about how students are not taught to think. They are taught to sit, listen, respond, and read. Philosophy and creativity are missing components. Look at Plato's Republic. The first step to a perfect society is the elimination of art, thinking, and individuality. I see this happening daily in the public schools. As for what I could tell you to put your mind at ease. Home school, charter school, or private school the kids. I left the public sector because I didn't believe in what I was doing anymore. I was a piece of the system and the system was failing. You have to do your part to educate and culture the young people in your life. Stand up and do your part to help a small population of the people if you feel that you must. I hope this helped a little bit. It's a rabbit hole going through educational policy. I enjoy reading about it, but it's a big mess once you get to the underbelly of it. __________________ Whatever did happen to your soul? I heard you sold it Choose Heaven for the weather and Hell for the company