Sublime
An inspiration engine for ideas
This begins with what our children are taught in school. Today, they are not taught the history or nature of progress. History classes focus on wars and empires; science classes teach concepts and frameworks; the story of technology and economic growth falls between the cracks. Steven Johnson, popular author of dozens of books on the history of... See more
Jason Crawford • The Progress Agenda
Diane Ravitch in her magisterial review, The Death and Life of the Great American School System: How Testing and Choice are Undermining Education.
Gary Thomas • Education: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions)
We permit the state to ascertain the universal educational deficiencies of its citizens and establish one specialized agency to treat them. We thus share in the delusion that we can distinguish between what is necessary education for others and what is not, just as former generations established laws which defined what was sacred and what was... See more
Ivan Illich • Deschooling Society
A great rant on @slatestarcodex ‘s recent post on why schooling is mostly a waste of time:
“Now that we've established that education is just daycare, let's discuss why.
Over 30 years ago a group of parents decided to start a public school in my area. I thought they were mad. I already knew... See more
Michael Strongx.comAt Sudbury, kids will play, mill around, imitate adults, ask lots of questions, and slowly, over time, they become competent, without being formally instructed very much.
Johann Hari • Stolen Focus: Why You Can't Pay Attention--and How to Think Deeply Again
In general, schools today have become places where we actively discourage thinking that is not predefined, approved, and stamped by the larger social system of the day; as such, schools reinforce a reward system based on consumption, acquisition, and status increases
Leyla Acaroglu • System Failures: The Education System and the Proliferation of Reductive Thinking
In 1859, 12‑year‑old Thomas Edison sold newspapers and candy on the Grand Trunk Railroad to fund his chemistry experiments.
Today, 12-year-olds wait on permission to go to the bathroom.
We always recommend John Taylor Gatto’s Dumbing Us Down to anyone interested in reading about how schools... See more
Socratic Experiencex.com