Actually, it might seem unduly harsh to say that the US education system was deliberately set up to produce the results we see.  If the Gentle Reader prefers, than I submit Jerry Pournelle's Iron Law of Bureaucracy (see Wikiquote) as a way out of the apparent malice:

Pournelle's Iron Law of Bureaucracy states that in any bureaucratic organization there will be two kinds of people: those who work to further the actual goals of the organization, and those who work for the organization itself. Examples in education would be teachers who work and sacrifice to teach children, vs. union representatives who work to protect any teacher including the most incompetent. The Iron Law states that in all cases, the second type of person will always gain control of the organization, and will always write the rules under which the organization functions.

While the above may still seem to be somewhat malicious, I will carry the point further and remind everyone that it is better not to ascribe to malice what may just as easily be ascribed to incompentence.  Or, for that matter, the Law of Unintended Consequences.

6/27/2006 7:18:42 AM UTC      Comments [0]Trackback

One of my favorite Microsoft programmers is Harry Pierson.  Harry blogs, and his blog is very worthwhile to read, for programmers.  Occasionally also for non-programmers.  One of Harry's recent blog entries had to do with schooling.  He wrote, in Against School, that

I've long had issues with the education system (I'd say "of this country" but it's fairly universal) but I couldn't ever articulate them. I've been known to say stuff like "a diploma is evidence of attendance, not intelligence" and "never let school stand in the way of your education". I got better at understanding the problem after reading The Third Wave. Toffler points out the need for an industrial society to have a mass education system to turn children into factory workers. But Toffler doesn't really get into the downside of the mass education approach the way Gatto does. Note to self, pick up Gatto's book The Underground History of American Education.

Which is a wonderful sentiment.  The entire entry and its links are worth following up on. 

Incidentally, Mrs. Pierson, who is by training a school teacher (ironically enough), also blogs as The Techie Wife.  Her blog happens to be one my frequent stops on the Information Superhighway as well.  Harry and she have two cute kids and Mrs. Pierson's true tales of domesticity are fascinating.  Due to the subject of education coming up on Harry's blog, Mrs. Pierson (I'm sure she has a first name  but I can't remember if I've ever seen it written) felt compelled to get up on her Education Soap Box.  She writes:

My husband has had an education chat going on his blog for some time. Many people are touting that the current school system, well the Uited States Education system on the whole really, was designed after an indistrialization model thereby creating a society of working class obedient people. It was designed to teach people to follow, not lead. Designed to create a class of people that could be lead by the few who could either afford a better private education or somehow because of their brain and tenacity rise out of the trenches of the public school system and lead anyway.

Which restates her husband's case.  She then goes to describe her history as a teacher, and it is clear that she is passionate and devoted to the profession.  All of which is very very admirable -- and I would have wanted such a teacher as she to teach my children, that is certain.  Unfortunately, I didn't often get that kind.

But though she restates Harry's position, Mrs. P never actually answers it.  She describes the many problems in the nation's public schools, and in the end seems to hold parents (and society) responsible for not holding up their end of the task of education, and for expecting the school system to take over their own responsibilities.  This is an old charge, and The Techie Wife is not the first to raise it.

But what is going on here, anyway?  Educational saints like Horace Mann and others back in the 19th century worked tirelessly to that very end of taking the responsibility for education away from parents, to place it into the secure, reliable hands of the state.  And over time, the state education authority has continued the fight to make parents more and more bystanders with regard to their children's education. 

Take one example, that of sex education.  Supposedly, parents said to the schools: "You teach the kids sex ed, we are too busy working and dont have time! Teach them wrong from right while you are at it, ok? I am busy."

But is this what happened?  I know my parents weren't lobbying the school board to teach me sex ed.  My Dad told me the essentials somewhat before the elementary school put me and my classmates through some gender-segregated sessions concerning The Period.  I remembered about that, but I don't remember if they talked about wet dreams with the boys (I doubt it).  They certainly did not make a single mention of the sex act.  It was too early for that.  I don't mean that it was too early for us, age-wise, but too early for society.  That had to wait until our day.  If you want to change the culture, radical steps are the wrong way to go. 

This gradual taking over was not occurring because parents or society were getting lazy and expecting school to do it for them, but because social mechanics and engineers wanted to "fix" society.

Think I'm blowing smoke?  Check out:

The Educational System Was Designed to Keep Us Uneducated and Docile

In which it is written:

In 1888, the Senate Committee on Education was getting jittery about the localized, non-standardized, non-mandatory form of education that was actually teaching children to read at advanced levels, to comprehend history, and, egads, to think for themselves. The committee's report stated, "We believe that education is one of the principal causes of discontent of late years manifesting itself among the laboring classes."

and:

The famous philosopher and educator John Dewey wrote in 1897:

Every teacher should realize he is a social servant set apart for the maintenance of the proper social order and the securing of the right social growth.

Read the entire referenced article in which these appear.

Mrs. Pierson is one of a greatly admirable group of professional educators who really do want to make a difference, and if given the chance WILL make a difference.

But the system is deliberately set up to foil the efforts of the most dedicated professionals; this is why the system "works" the way it does.  And why it will continue to function in the exact same way.

6/27/2006 4:51:11 AM UTC      Comments [1]Trackback

I am in Seattle all this week for training.  The subject matter is ASP.NET 2.0, and I am taking two classes.  After the first day I can say that this class is going to be very worthwhile.  It is not lecture format, but hands on.  I have learned a lot today.  I am looking forward to tomorrow!

6/27/2006 2:45:53 AM UTC      Comments [0]Trackback

It looks like fun for the entire week next week!

I'll be spending the entire week in-training at NetDesk.  Two classes, both on ASP.NET 2.0, and the class will be in Seattle.  I'll be away from work, but able to post here still, so I hope to record my experiences both in class and out of class.

6/26/2006 3:35:46 AM UTC      Comments [0]Trackback