In this episode Dan and Ed explore the origins of public education and the original intent of those who worked to create "One Nation" out of myriads of different cultures. They explore the concept of “Americanization” which, through the 1940s, was a large part of what schools focused on. By the mid-1990s forces began to rise out of other philosophies that worked to divide American by ripping apart communities and their most important heart, the public schools. The so-called “reformer’s” written goal is to starve and kill public schools. Dan and Ed discuss the rise of charter or partial schools, their original intent, and the way many are now being used to destroy communities, re-segregate by race and color, create wealth for individuals and corporations, and weaken the education our children deserve. This episode provides powerful insights into many of the issues that currently face the United States and Europe as topics such as national identity and isolationism shape and drive political discourse.
Our education programs are damaged by external forces that have by-passed professional teachers, and the needs of children, to force standardization and forms of inculcation on education.
Luckily, most teachers are doing what is right for kids. Most teachers are protecting children from the guaranteed failure and humiliation which is part of the education reform movement.
This episode gives parents and teachers another look at the reasons for the Opt Out movement.