Public Education is Anti-Intellectual

I would like to see a discussion on this subject so comments are appreciated, apologies for the interruption, at any rate I was rambling.

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• Susan
• Jacoby
• The Age of American Unreason
• Education

[ambdukias66]

anti intellectualism is more a societal problem than an educational system one. for evidence of that, just look at what t.v. shows, movies, books and music are popular.

[jewfroisshaven]

@ambdukias66 i have noticed this to, how do you think education factors into this? are we all just getting dumber?

[DrRonPaul]

Great video, keep seeking the truth kid!

[jewfroisshaven]

@DrRonPaul thanks

[perdondaris]

Is this a joke? Has this man ever been to a private Catholic school? In Catholic schools they have a saying: "The nail that sticks up gets hammered down." Private schools can kick you out if you have unpopular views. School teachers and students with liberal, atheist or protestant views are kicked out of private schools because private schools have no public accountability. They are just like corporations: my way or the highway.

[GeneralEAwesome]

@jewfroisshaven - Our current educational system is loosely based upon the Prussian model of education. After the Germanic states unified in 1871, the government wanted a system that would suit them. This system had to be good at indoctrination - it had to encourage nationalism, imperialism and it was designed to numb critical thinking. It was supposed to teach them to become government pawns. Our current governments are only conspiring to do this in the slightest, now it is simply inherited.

[Pdrum2]

@ambdukias66 Only difference is that Jefferson didn't believe in coercive education.

[Pdrum2]

Actually the problem is that the department of education sets the curriculum so the teacher has to teach it irrigardless it usually wipes out the informed competent teachers, they don't encourage critical thinking, what's to expect when its public schools

[Pdrum2]

I agree with,you, I don't agree with the evolution view but I do agree that people aren't prepared for the real world its very unrealistic sitting filling in rediculous bubble sheets, and postmodernism now reigns so people are encourage to make up reality

[ambdukias66]

@jewfroisshaven we've had public education easily available for well over 100 years. ben franklin and thomas jefferson were strong advocates for public education.

the dumbing down we're experiencing is a fairly recent phenomena more closely linked to changing societal attitudes, i think.

[jewfroisshaven]

@ambdukias66 it seems this is connectable to education as we are handed a "public education"

where previously it had to be sought out. So what some would say intelligence is owed to us. no worries, i had a cold a few weeks ago

[ambdukias66]

@ambdukias66 or at least it seems that way. it seems like too many people either think things are owed them, the good of the community is someone elses responsibility, are lazy and/or are selfish. when the world revolves around self, there's no need for intellectual exploration.

i'm not sure if any of that makes sense, i'm a bit tired, fighting a cold.

[ambdukias66]

@jewfroisshaven i don't think we're getting dumber as a whole, i think the divide between those that reason and those that don't is getting larger. kind of like how the divide between the haves and the have nots is expanding in americas economy.

though i think our current educational system is in need of some big changes, i don't think it's what is causing the so called 'dumbing down' of america. i don't know, maybe it's just that personal responsibility has become a thing of the past.