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FRYandBENDER · 03-27-2008, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pluto

What do you mean by government schools?

Perhaps following leaders was once a survival trait. That is, groups organized thusly were more likely to survive than groups whose members all pretty much went their on way. Look how strong Nazi Germany became when the whole country blindly followed one leader type.

I only meant to say that I do not think that government schools really prepare children for life as an adult the way they should. I do not think that they teach people to think for themselves and as such most of the people I know look at our politicians as actual leaders which, as far as I'm concerned, they are not. To me, a leader is someone who, by example, makes the people themselves feel like they can accomplish anything. They inspire people to look for the best within themselves. Our so called leaders today pound quite a different philosophy into our heads. On the right you have those who tell us that we should count on the government to keep us safe and that Jesus can help us find peace. On the left are those who tell us that the government is responsible for our well being and that it is their duty to take care of us. This is not leading. When I hear a democrat tell me about universal health care I don't feel like there is a leader who is inspiring me to be the best that I can be. I feel like there is a baby sitter who is there to feed and change me. I think that this line of thinking is at least partially due to our government run education. I was government educated and I did not really care to study what was going on around me until I started reading and learning on my own. My friends who still do not care are the same friends that do not do any outside reading or learning. I think that there is a reason why we have so many apathetic citizens who care only about television and sports, and who do not care about what our policy makers are doing. I was talking about politics and such with a friend of mine the other night when another friend interupted and said that he didn't give a shit about politics or what they, the politicians do. It is a sad thing, at least to me.

But basically that is it. I think government schools have prepared us to be nice little subjects who do not question authority or think for ourselves. That is why we have such an appalling excuse for leadership these days.

There is a book by John Taylor Gatto called The Underground History of American Education which I am still trying to fact check and research that offers a pretty grim picture of how our cumpulsory school system is working. But like everything else, check it out for yourself and see what you think.