Quote:
Originally Posted by Brush Okie
That is very true. If I were a tin hat guy I would think the govt is dumbing down the schools so they can control the population easier. The problem with that as well as other tin hat theories is that IMHO the govt i to inept to think that far ahead.
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Not exactly dumbing down - but public education policy has goals. Those goals shift over decades, but they can (and do) lend themselves to inculcation of specific values.
From PBS, we see some past purposes
LINK:
To prepare children for citizenship
To cultivate a skilled workforce
To teach cultural literacy
To prepare students for college
To help students become critical thinkers
To help students compete in a global marketplace
Notice that each of these items involves training in facts, behavior, and attitudes. For example, if we want a skilled workforce during an era of large factories, we want to train students to obey a schedule and to comply with instructions. If we want cultural literacy, we choose what elements of culture will receive emphasis - and which elements will quietly disappear.
Rhetorical question: Do we really want to develop lots of critical thinkers? Or do we want some who are content to follow the rules, flip the burgers, and pick up the garbage?
There is no tin hat needed to discern governmental involvement in the schools. It's known as educational policy. And you can be 100% sure it exists.