Quote:
Originally Posted by Griff
I went to a horrible public school. We were trained to have low expectations, keep our mouths shut, and stay in line. Based on the present conformation of American society, I'd say these lessons were well learned in many places.
Individual teachers, administrators, and philosophers do care about children, but the system's purpose is to create fodder for corporations and cannons. It is a creaky system left over from the first half of the last century when mass society demanded a uniform product of minimum standards. Much like our army we're geared to fighting the last war. Even now the national standards craze further consolidates power and stifles innovation. Our inflexible system is creating inflexible people.
It is true that parents will avoid being responsible for their children no matter what system is in place. The question for me is, who bears ultimate responsibility for children? Euros believe in socialism and public schools are the backbone of that system, unfortunately some of us see that system as another form of slavery.
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My experience is different. Public schools were more flexible whereas the private (read Roman Catholic) schools were of the grind 'em down and form them into drones, regimen.
Living in the suburbs, bordering on rural, public school was local and for High School, bussed to the city. They had three High Schools, Classical, Commerce and Trade. The names pretty well describe the schools goals but it worked. Then when it was my turn, my town and the next town, built a regional High School, which I had to attend or go to private(RC) school.
Now instead of three choices with three distinct paths, there was Public/Private school that was college prep or skate. Either you were going to college or they didn't give a shit ....as long as you weren't disruptive. Here's your diploma. You can't support yourself? We're always looking for bus drivers and crossing guards.
A halfway decent system should realize that some students can't or won't go to college, and provide alternatives. But hey, don't blame me....I just pay thousands every year, I have no input.
