Valedictorian Speaks Out Against Schooling (mirror)

Valedictorian Speaks Out Against Schooling in Graduation Speech

The following speech was delivered by top of the class student Erica Goldson during the graduation ceremony at Coxsackie-Athens High School on June 25, 2010

Full text here:
http://www.lewrockwell.com/pr/valedictorian-against-schooling.html

There is a story of a young, but earnest Zen student who approached his teacher, and asked the Master, "If I work very hard and diligently, how long will it take for me to find Zen? The Master thought about this, then replied, "Ten years." The student then said, "But what if I work very, very hard and really apply myself to learn fast -- How long then?" Replied the Master, "Well, twenty years." "But, if I really, really work at it, how long then?" asked the student. "Thirty years," replied the Master. "But, I do not understand," said the disappointed student. "At each time that I say I will work harder, you say it will take me longer. Why do you say that?" Replied the Master, "When you have one eye on the goal, you only have one eye on the path."

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Valedictorian
• Speaks
• Out
• Against
• Schooling

[newbetterandhappy]

If she keeps on talking like that, she'll be labeled a terrorist by Haliburton and its subsiduary, Washington.

[SJamesGray]

It's refreshing to see more young people taking up the good fight.

[lcs1956]

What's wrong with indoctrination? What do you want, a country with 300 million non-conformists?

[Zachdudeio2]

Should I run away so to get away from school? I've been asking myself for a while now.

[futboleroR10]

I should of had a speech like that. Too bad I ditched school so much I wasnt allowed to attend my graduation ceremony haha. This girl is right. It feels good to see someone speaking out her beliefs unlike most people that just think of it and follow along like robots.

[BacchanalianJ]

Good message, but her tone doesn't really fit what she's saying. It's not important at all, but it just sticks with me. If you aren't interested in what you're saying, it doesn't sound very interesting. I apologize for the semantics.

[imthiskid246]

woah did she read charles eisenstein???!

[TheTraveller09]

well done miss the future is brighter with you in it

[planktonicorganism]

wow. brave lass.

[woodsofodin]

It's amazing and yet heartrending to hear some one who realizes what the educational system has done to her speak about it.

I remember many of us (students) saying things like, "I like learning, but I hate school" or "School is just a comformity factory." Too bad many of us didn't have the ability to articulate these thoughts beyone presenting them in such cliches. But then, no one would have cared. The goal of "school" is not to teach but to indoctrinate.

[pazomblez]

when they say jump...