SansPretense

Due in part to several questionable “lessons” being introduced by either text book publishers or teachers in the last couple of months. I read the stories in the news, but in searching for the links, I found that Michelle Malkin links to all of the ones that caught my eye and more. Her “related posts” section made this easier than googling, so I am including a Michelle Malkin link dump at the end of this post. I present here part I of a series of essays exploring the relationship between education and indoctrination. This first part will deal with education, while the next part will deal with indoctrination, the primary reason for this series. I will expand on my own thoughts on educational theory throughout, with commentary on relevant current events in a later section.

Part I: Empowerment through education

There are numerous reasons to pursue an education as as individual. Economically, our society has placed high value on those individuals who have a achieved a higher level of education. That means an education is worth money - especially if one knows how to use it. Financial success, of course, leads to an increase in independence and general well-being that is truly empowering on many levels. Yet, this is not the most empowering aspect of an education, and, though it is a good reason to get one, the better reason is much deeper.

During the pre-Civil War era of US history, it was illegal for anyone to provide an education to a slave. There was a reason for this: teaching a slave even the basics of reading and writing gives it the ability to communicate and exchange ideas (both taking in ideas and expressing new ones). Without delving into why written communication is a greater risk to the slave owner than verbal communication, the greater exchange of ideas leads to an ability to process and think through more ideas. In other words, the more the mind learns, the better it learns more. This presented a real danger to the slave-owner, as with learning comes awareness, and that includes awareness of injustice. Can you imaging the reaction of a literate slave who gets his hands on some of the pamphlets that were produced during the American Revolution? The agricultural tool decides that he is a real human being with the same God-given right to liberty as everyman. Now, no longer part of the collective of illiterate slaves, he finds his individuality, and that empowerment allows for the inspiration of other individuals to find their own.

The primary difference isn’t that the slaves materialistic condition is any different, but that his mind is no longer confined by the shackles of ignorance. Now, instead of having to trust the information and opinions presented to him by others, the slave now has the tools to sift through the information, questioning what he is told, and seeking more. Here is where the slave meets a cross-roads. He can choose how to use his education, for better of for worse. Hopefully, he won’t cherry pick his knowledge, making sure what he accepts and dismisses is used to build up his defenses, reinforcing his own narrow outlook on the world, and supporting whatever utopian fantasy he chooses.

This literal example of education as a means to combat slavery is very much still applicable today, although in a different manner. Today, we fight not against the institution of slavery, but against the social injustices that are perpetuated by ignorance, against large corporations that have gained control over huge aspects of our information access, and against the never-ending struggle of the government and political forces to sway the uneducated. In our everyday lives, education even adds a level of protection against individuals who seek to abuse their power or our trust. From the violent spouse to the sexual harassing employer, being educated and knowledgeable of your legal rights, able to recognize the abuse, not in a position of dependency (e.g., without job skills to make a change), and having the sense of self to correct the situation are all aspects that can be gained from an education. No, an education is not the only part of the equation, but the sense of identity that comes from being a free-thinking person goes a long way to empowering an individual.

The ability to organize one’s thoughts and a broad collection of facts and skills in a manner that allows a proper, realistic understanding of the world around us separates an educated person from the uneducated. Unfortunately, years and years of schooling cannot free all of the chains that we are burdened by. Everyone has their biases and emotional insecurities. Sometimes these interfere with the logical flow of thought that education is supposed to train. By exploiting these insecurities, people can be re-enslaved by their own fears or by other people. This is the sad reality we face, and it is the weak spot of the human mind that is exploited by the propagandist seeking to indoctrinate students for their own ends.

Continued in part II…

The Michelle Malkin link dump, as promised, explaining some of the more recent and controversial education activities:
California teachers vs. traditional marriage
First graders take school field trip…to teacher’s gay wedding
Reason #99,999,988 to homeschool: Obama-fied textbooks
College credit-for-Obama students scheme killed
Fact-checking the liberal fact checkers: The truth about that sex-ed bill