Dumbing us down... does gov't really want us to be intelligent?

CODave · 03-21-2004, 04:38 AM

Should we let the Federal Gov't educate our children? You know, it hasn't alway been that way. I think it is a big propaganda machine... a big let's keep the masses down thing. Radical idea...yes. Wrong? Investigate and decide for yourself. And consider... how are they doing? Or if you don't want to take the time and mental energy to check it out.... Maybe your mind has been numbed!

It worked! Baaa! Baaa! Baaa! (That's a sheep imitation)

If you have never heard of John Taylor Gatto...(Author of the book "Dumbing us down")
He climaxed his teaching career as New York State Teacher of the Year after being named New York City Teacher of the Year on three occasions. He quit teaching on the OP ED page of the Wall Street Journal in 1991 while still New York State Teacher of the Year, claiming that he was no longer willing to hurt children.

I found this website with video of his philosophy on education. I think you will need quicktime to view it.

If you are unable to view it there you can go directly to his website and read some of his ideas on compulsary education.

Thought provoking stuff...

CODave · 03-21-2004, 07:27 PM

Do you think teaching kids the 3 Rs is the primary focus of government education? Think again. They want control of your childrens minds.... It's the truth... but of course they won't come right out and tell you that.

It's really not about teaching it's about mind numbing.... to prepare us for the Big world awaiting us out there... to prepare us to be waitresses, truck drivers, office clerks, etc. etc. etc. Teach us how to move to the next class when the bell rings... ding.... Baaa! Baaa! Baaa!

Be good and don't raise a fuss. Don't think... just obey... obey... obey....[8D]

Did Clinton send his child to public school? Does any politician... think about it....they know better...

badshotbob · 03-21-2004, 08:46 PM

Dave - I have many extra rolls of tinfoil lying around if you need some.

Ahh, a man after my own heart. See, this is surprising to me to say the least - to see another fellow hunter/brother that knows, or at least suspects that our gov is not out for our best interest in the ways of teaching, leading, and controlling a mind. Brainwashing and mind control are taking place at many many levels, including our beloved public school systems. Why do you think that the gov has encouraged preschool to start at age 3? Get those kids out of the house as soon as possible to start the brainwashing. Both my kids attend public school because I don't have the luxury of home-schooling or private schools. They know what's up though - trust me. They can see right through most of the new age crap being taught in the public schools these days. For instance - diversity and no-losers is really big. They sing songs about being a humanitarian and a diverse culture. If you start to tie it all together, it really makes sense. For those two things I just mentioned: we need to be diverse so we can be acceptant of all the illegals and terrorists flooding this country daily to further destroy this nation to help us along to enslavement and finaly a one world order. (And that's just one angle to it - we didn't even talk about the morality issues that this being diverse is leading the kids.) If we are not teaching our kids to be diverse and tolerant of all walks of life, how are they going to know the difference between a good ol' American and a terrorist walking down the street, or the Mexican taking their jobs and getting perks from our gov? They won't know. That's the point. And this no-losers thing: field day at school used to be about competition, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place ribbons. Now, there are no placement ribbons, just one ribbon for all kids - a "participation ribbon". What's this teaching our kids? That there are no losers in life - do whatever you want and people should accept it. How is this preparing them for a "real" life out in the real world?

Anyway, good topic Dave, and it can stretch into many things in our daily lives and what is ultimately happening, or should I say where we are ultimately being led in this world.

CODave · 03-21-2004, 09:40 PM

Badshot... About your kids being in public school. The thing is, you are going to have to put in some extra effort to undo what the schools are trying to do. It sounds like you already are. But it's more than just morality and opinions. It's also a system of training. It dulls the mind. You are going to have to offer opportunities to stimulate your childrens minds outside of school. Expose them to opportunities... make them realise they can do things, big things with their lives. The difference in school is they tell you, you can do anything, but don't equip you. They give positive affirmation to you, even when you are doing poorly. I heard a quote once...

Affirmation without performance = dilusion.

Our kids think they are smart, are told they are smart and some are dumb as rocks.
(They are getting good grades though) A 12th grade education today is like a 7th grade education how many years ago? Dumming us down

I don't mean to sound so negative, but this is kind of a hot button for me.

I really recommend the book by Gatto Dumbing us down.

I saw him speak several years ago. The best lecture on education I have ever heard.
And I have an education degree. You can watch him on this site. You might need DSL to view it. I don't know. It is awesome... and if you have never heard him... its eye opening. He was an award winning teacher in the public schools for 30 years... An outside the box teacher... he knows.

He gives you some ideas as a parent with children in the system, what you can do.

Coastie · 03-22-2004, 03:37 AM

I agree that at some level there is an effort to keep our children ignorant of the truth. History is not taught as it should be, mathematics is a farce. Many kids gradute from High School and are unable to read at even a 4th or 5th grade level. I don't know where this is coming from but in my mind it is from the same source that wants to control firearms and other basic freedoms. As I write this, my wife is busy trying to get a non-denominational Christian school going in our area. A tough job. Home schooling is an option but many people are intimidated by it. There has to be a way to get the federal government out of the education business, they do far more harm than they do good.
Our children are as intellegent as those anywhere in the world, but our education system keeps them ignorant until they are old enough to learn for themselves. In most cases it is then too late since they are busy trying to earn a living with substandard tools and being re-educated, often times at the expense of their employer.

CODave · 03-22-2004, 03:52 AM

Coastie wish you the best on your efforts with the school... bless you. I HIGHLY recommend you visit the sites I have linked to in my posts. If you have broad band, you should visit the site with video... you will be spell bound by Gatto.

What is the educational format of the school... classical or what?

Are you familiar with Foundation for American Christian Education

Check out their curriculum. Something to consider.

Dave

Tazman · 03-22-2004, 04:49 AM

I have to say that I am thankful I live in Va. Our public schools don't do what many others do from what I read here. We still have Christmas in our schools and still say the pledge. They do still flunk kids, they call it holding them back, which I guess is a nice way of saying you FLUNKED, but it is better for the kid to be held back then just pushed on through the school conveyor system. Viriginia has bucked the Feds on more than one occasion, we just reached an agreement with the Feds on this "No child left behind" BS! The Feds were trying to tell Va. how and what to teach or they would hold back federal money, basically we told them to stick it and they knuckled under after we showed them the kind of job the public schools n Va. do educating our children. Heck they passed a law here in Va. last year that all public schools must display the "Ten Commandments"!

CODave · 03-22-2004, 04:58 AM

Obviously some schools ae better than others. I think the larger the city generally, the bigger the struggle to educate for a variety of reasons. I know I'm pretty radical here, don't expect many people to share my views really. If you have young children it is worth investigating the options.

Dave

Tazman · 03-22-2004, 05:18 AM

Dave believe me if our public schools were like others I have heard about around the country I would be looking elsewhere! I do not feel your feelings are radical at all, your feelings are the ones that more parents need to take to the polls and to thier school boards. For the most part the parents need to start stepping up to the plate, raising heck at school board meeting and electing representatives that feel the way they do about education. Remember the squeaky wheel gets the oil and right now we have a whole bunch of liberals being real noisy and as a result many of our public school systems are whacked!

fng · 03-22-2004, 10:04 AM

Dumbing us down is the direct result of what Glynn Custred calls "Radical Egalitarianism". The only way to achieve a truly egalitarian society (ie: pure socialism) is to first destroy anything sectarian and secondly to insure a "true equality" amongst all people - in everything from housing to I.Q.

Hence the reason for such crap as A.A. and all the freebie housing allowances etc.
But an even worse and more insidious practice that will surely create this egalitarian society at an even faster pace is the constant outsourcing of jobs.... when we're all flipping burgers we will truly be equal.