Although the women of the United States are confined within the narrow circle of domestic life, and their situation is, in some respects, one of extreme dependence, I have nowhere seen woman occupying a loftier position; and if I were asked... in which I have spoken of so many important things done by Americans, to what the singular prosperity and growing strength of that people ought mainly to be attributed, I should reply, To the superiority of their women.

--Alexis de Tocqueville, Democracy in America

Monday, August 16, 2010

Back to School Videos

Remember, School is not Education.

From Noah Webster's 1828 dictionary:

EDUCA'TION, n. [L. educatio.] The bringing up, as of a child, instruction; formation of manners. Education comprehends all that series of instruction and discipline which is intended to enlighten the understanding, correct the temper, and form the manners and habits of youth, and fit them for usefulness in their future stations. To give children a good education in manners, arts and science, is important; to give them a religious education is indispensable; and an immense responsibility rests on parents and guardians who neglect these duties.

Our school system today is based on Soviet-style school to work programs. You hear over an over again how we need to "educate" kids for the ever changing workforce - in reality, training them to be widgets in a large machine. Kids are frustrated that they aren't learning the things in life that really matter: man's relationship to God, the true nature of humanity as recorded by history, the genius that every individual possesses at some level, etc.




Here's a brief run-down on the Prussian foundations of our education system:



Here's a substantial Gatto interview that lays it all out. Get out your notebooks and take notes!
Here Gatto takes on family disintegration, Pre-K, eugenics, Prussian history, the importance of imagination in innovation and wealth creation, the wearing down of traditional American education, Darwin's influence, Plato, Calvin, Spinoza, and how our American economy was transformed by Rockefeller and Carnegie.
Remember his tome, The Underground History of American Education, is available for free on my sidebar.

2 comments:

  1. I'll have to come back tomorrow to watch the last two videos. The first was very insightful. I really took notice when he said (and I can't remember the exact words) - that there is a master who should plan the lessons, and the teacher who should then teach them, and when that gets turned around - we have the sorry mess we see today in our schools - agendas, bias, and hate (I took great liberty with that).

    I have a couple of friends that I will send this link to.

    Excellent republicanmother. Your posts are always so good and so productive. They serve a real purpose.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks for dropping by, Maggie - my mission in blogging is to get at the "head of the snake".

    For centuries, rulers have understood the minds of the young are the most valuable asset. This is why God says that children should be instructed by their parents "when you get up, when you eat, when you go to sleep" Deut 6. He intends for true learning and growth to occur through the family, but man's way seeks to cut the family out of the process. This is a big part of the current state of family disintegration.

    ReplyDelete

Related Posts with Thumbnails