By Bruce Porter
The teacher is engaged not simply in the training of individuals,
but in the formation of the “proper” social life….
In this way, the teacher always is the prophet of the “true” God
and the usherer-in of the “true” Kingdom of God.
-Atheist John Dewey-
Socialist “Father” of Public Education
(With socialist ‘code words’ emphasized in quotes)
I often hear well-meaning people say that it is important that children be properly “socialized.” Usually this comes up in conversations when I tell them my 13-year-old daughter is being home-schooled (as were my two older children).
I understand that most people who raise such concerns are speaking about the need for children to be able to get along with other children in a group setting. This is, of course, perfectly reasonable. A well-rounded education certainly does not consist of merely being able to regurgitate facts and perform math computations. As humans, we are intrinsically ‘wired’ to interrelate with people in a wholesome and mutually beneficial circumstances. Social skills like sharing, compassion, empathy, and a sense of responsibility for others (outside ourselves) well-being is indisputably an important part of a well-rounded personality.
I usually answer that my daughter is probably over-socialized, in that she regularly spends time in group settings like dance classes, our home-school co-op, and our House Church (click for info). At 13, she is comfortable in conversation with all ages, regularly shares her things with friends, and has a caring, compassionate attitude toward her world.
Not only this, but she tested-out last year (using the Iowa Skills Exam) several grades ahead of the national average in every subject, and is even doing college-level work in several subjects in spite of the fact that she was only in the 7th grade. This usually ends the discussion, since most public school children cannot make such boasts. It’s not that their children are less intelligent than my little girl. It is more a statement about the state of government education.
With regard to the “socialization” issue however, I must now restrain myself. If I really opened up and said what I think about the dismal state of ”government education,” and the “Educrats” that run it, I would lose all sense of polite decorum and begin ranting and howling with blood squirting out of my eyes and ears (like the madman most liberals assume that I am). I will therefore withhold any such ranting, control my emotions, and try to calmly deal with this issue in a restrained tone worthy of a National Public Radio interview on “All Things Considered.”
I will only allow myself this one indulgence into the ‘rant zone:’ Children are not being “socialized” in public schools. They are being BRAINWASHED into MARXIST SOCIALISM! More than this, whatever “socializing” they are experiencing with regard to politeness, decorum, and ethical or moral behavior, well, I am a product of the public school system. I can confidently say that I decided early-on not to let this negative schooling life-experience get in the way of my subsequent education. (Apologies to Mark Twain) There, I got it off my chest!
The latest outrage is the increasing practice of exposing younger and younger children to “socialist” propaganda in films, assemblies, and anti-conservative rants by teachers who are following Dewey’s injunction to act as prophets ”…of the ‘true’ God and the usherer-in of the ‘true’ Kingdom of God.” Really folks, I didn’t make this up! 1
A WHOLE NEW LEVEL OF INDOCTRINATION:
Recently, a 20-minute video surfaced called “The Story of Stuff,” narrated by Annie Leonard, and commissioned by the Tides Foundation. 2 Tides is a non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization that provides funding for “progressive” groups. For those unfamiliar with the term “progressive,” this is a sanitized, politically-neutral word for “Marxist.”
Children across the nation are being shown this video, and thus far, little notice has been made of it since it’s a cutsie, cartoonish, cheerful, and disarmingly clever presentation of anti-capitalism under the cover of “saving the earth.” I have found some rebuttals to the video, and I urge you to take time to watch the videos below. Share this link with your friends, particularly those with children in public schools, and warn them of the danger.
- http://tinyurl.com/m5yygq Out-of-control teacher reinstated after anti-US rant by: David Huntwork March 11, 2006 ↩
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tides_Foundation ↩
Tags: Child Indoctrination | Deception | Politics | Schools | Socialism
