Public Education

[NYC_SKP]

1. "afford individual students with the opportunity for upward economic mobility"

Wow.

While I imagine that the superintendent's belief in the purpose of education would garner a lot of nods of agreement, in urban and rural settings, it makes me cringe.

First, I cringe because I know that if that's the goal then nearly all schools are failing.

Secondly, I shake my head that "upward", "economic", and "mobility" are key terms.

From this, I read: "Create a society of dumb consumers who want nothing more than to have more money", never mind public service or the environment or just being a good citizen.

I'm not a bit surprised, however. These words and his expression of the purpose are at the heart of our unsustainable, profit-based, corporate-led economy and society.

We're you to ask for an honest answer based on what many schools actually do, the purposes and functions of public education as it is practiced today include these goals:

--"Teach" conformity and obedience; punish individuality;

--Punish and then remove undesirables;

--Perpetually move the goalposts and justify unnecessary and overpaid positions;

--Bring in funding;

--Lather, rinse, repeat.

All of these result in a severely uninformed populace, but one that more willingly serves the powers that be.

NB: I speak as a former public school teacher and administrator who saw far more corruption by school leaders and mistreatment of students in general than one can imagine.

And I similarly thank madfloridian for her passion and contributions to our community.