Elias Ishak: Compulsory schooling destroys our humanity

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      If a man is behind bars, we call him a prisoner; yet when a man is involuntarily behind walls, and is also told what to do as well as what to think, but is generously allowed to walk to and from home, we call him a student.

      Fellow citizens, it is time that we begin to question our institution of compulsory schooling. As Thomas Paine once said, “a long habit of not thinking a thing wrong, gives it a superficial appearance of being right, and raises at first a formidable outcry in defense of custom”, but there is a plain reason why most people today dislike compulsory schooling, in one way or another. It was intended to constrain the family, entrepreneurialism, overproduction, reproduction, and to destroy our humanity, consciousness, and free will. This is documented, and not merely the opinion of this author. This fact can hardly be understood without an understanding of psychology, of operant conditioning, the overjustification effect, and so on.

      Primary and secondary schools were voluntary until not long ago. The enforced study period was at first only a few weeks, but has since then incrementally increased so that it now encompasses what is most of the year. Most people considered them to be a waste of time, some, a babysitting service, yet the pioneers of North America are one of the most literate, innovative, and educated people in the history of mankind. Indeed, there was widespread protest when the compulsion laws were undemocratically foisted upon this continent in the early 19th century, and some commentators compared the new phenomenon with a prison or factory. It was, and still is, as is on record, modeled after the framework of fascist Prussia. Look it up. Modern schooling has become so religious, though, and urban civilization has lost its spirit of liberty to such an extent, that such comparisons, such a reference, baffle even otherwise critical thinkers.

      The consequence of nearly 200 years of indoctrination and propaganda is that most people are today under the false impression that the system is liberal, necessary, and even educational. What is so educational about memorizing hundreds of unconnected details only to forget them after a pointless test? Does a dozen years of intellectual submission actually result in an education? And what is so liberal about the premise that we are all so incompetent or lazy that no one can accomplish nor learn anything without a state curriculum imposed by the force of law? Is it so necessary to prevent parents from letting their children play outside all day? The attitude of our times appears to be so shamefully totalitarian that perhaps not many people would be bothered if the state enacted new legislation to extend compulsory schooling into the rest of summertime, for our own good, of course.

      I feel compelled to offer my candidacy in the upcoming Burnaby school board election. I should like to see whether I can make a difference of some substance in spite of the inertia of the status quo. I would fulfill my duties independent of any party, and I will do everything in my power to see that public schooling is, once again, voluntary, a policy which would naturally precipitate the correction of all the other issues in due course.

      Compulsory schooling has ruined, not improved, class mobility, and the state in effect now has a monopoly on certification of nearly all professionals. What a disgrace. Society would not collapse if we redeemed our independence. Do we prefer equality in slavery to inequality in freedom? That is the question.

      Comments

      48 Comments

      Mikey

      Sep 19, 2014 at 2:31pm

      If a person gives another poison, then he is arrested, right? So when a bartender gives an alcoholic drink, shouldn't he go to jail too?

      If a bear poops in the woods, it is natural, but if a baby runs around screaming, without a diaper and poops on the sidewalk, shouldn't all the disgusted bystanders just accept it is natural?

      My point is, all these comparisons (including the jail-school comparison) do not hold up. Yes, some children do not like being in school, but a lot of them do. Where do critical thinking skills develop, if not in school?

      Look at how the southern US is scrubbing evolution from textbooks because they don't believe it. Unfortunately, the affected students will not be presented true facts simply because of some misguided beliefs of parents. An uneducated population that does not understand the world and history, that cannot think critically for themselves, is a major threat to society. Dare I say, that is how some of the worst dictators have risen to power - because they have passionately appealed to feelings and beliefs, not reason or logic.

      Finally, while it is true that lots of unimportant facts are learned and quickly forgotten in school, it is more about learning how to think than remembering all the facts.

      Sorry Elias, you do not have my vote. This is scary stuff you are proposing.

      Forest

      Sep 19, 2014 at 2:37pm

      This is a fantastic example of what happens when someone is educated via the Internet. LOL!!!

      Elias Ishak

      Sep 19, 2014 at 3:39pm

      Hello Mikey,

      It appears as though you have implied that children who do not like being in school should be kept there because "a lot of them do." That is quite an outlandish suggestion. Do you not care about the feelings of children who do not wish to be kept in school against their will? I think it quite ironic that you deplore dictators throughout history despite your own attitude.

      I have no idea what you are saying about pooping babies and bartenders, but most people are not in fact learning to think critically in public schools. Most students in my class, upon graduation, when asked by teachers, told them that they had learned "nothing," and there is no evidence, anyhow, that students are learning critical thinking skills in schools. And some teachers I've spoken with admit that their assignments and tests are pointless and that they would prefer to have the freedom to teach however they are so inclined, without grading, which most are willing to agree are meaningless.

      Your view of education is in agreement with B.F. Skinner, who wrote that "Education is what survives when what has been learned has been forgotten," but that is an inhumane and benighted view of education, and the degradation of society has been more influenced by such views than by any particular dictator. We the people have been to blame, to a greater extent, for what we allowed to happen throughout the twentieth century, and continued obedience to the State and big tax-exempt foundations is not the proper path for a free and civilized humanity.

      Forest, your comment is a wonderful example of what happens when someone is not educated at all.

      Your friend,
      Elias Ishak

      Jane Pfannenschmidt

      Sep 19, 2014 at 4:05pm

      I admire your platform because it is based on choice and freedom. Educated people know learning never ends. I am still learning. My grandchildren are enjoying a combination of homeschooling, internet k-12 and being taught by example and parenting. Exposure to real life and play are so important. I wish you much success but right now I get the feeling that people have placed teachers above us all and schools are sacred.

      Elias Ishak

      Sep 19, 2014 at 5:18pm

      Thank you Jane. ... Did you notice Mikey's comment?: "This is scary stuff you are proposing." ... I can not for the life of me understand why people are so afraid of choice and freedom. ...

      I agree, schools have become the sacred churches of the new State religion, whose doctrine obviously includes cowardice, dependence and obedience to authority. Even the teachers complain, I've spoken with dozens of them, employed and retired.

      RUK

      Sep 19, 2014 at 11:37pm

      Ah, the libertarians.

      Elias would have the children be free to make decisions whether or not to get an education - that is, to be free to embark on a course that quite plausibly fetters their life choices to manual labour, or perhaps medical experimentation.

      That's why we don't let them make that decision. We don't let them operate heavy machinery either. I suppose that outrages your idealism.

      It's quite true that individual children are more intelligent than many adults - my kids can run circles around me. In that sense, an individual testing regimen would be more fair than somewhat arbitrary group cutoffs for adulthood. Personally, for example, I am fundamentally opposed to people being able to vote in elections unless they have written a short essay explaining their competence and knowledge of the issue upon which they are voting, but, because that is impractical, I concede the universal franchise. But I digress.

      Certain parental actions unavoidably smack of compulsion. We force our children to wear clothes in public, to chew with their mouths closed, to void their bladders in designated areas, and to undertake a certain amount of standardized education that gives most of them a common basis upon which to take further study or to embark upon a vocation.

      It has as much to do with sacredness as the convention that green equals go and red equals stop. Why don't you try to argue with that? After all, it's sooooo arbitrary.

      Interesting idea

      Sep 20, 2014 at 2:38am

      I find this idea of voluntary education very interesting. It does, however, appear somewhat idealistic and impractical in our modern society. The current education system also has its merits. With globalization, 7 billion human beings, a more complex world and specialized knowledge, we want to ensure that training in some areas is standardized with quality certified and comparable across populations. On the other hand, non-standard education seems to be better suited for promoting creative and innovative activity. I do agree that our education system can benefit from more flexibility. Some middle ground, a less radical change to the current system would have a better chance to succeed and to appeal to more people in my opinion. Nevertheless, I wish you the very best of luck, Elias. Your ideas are very refreshing in the current debate about education.

      Elias Ishak

      Sep 20, 2014 at 3:24am

      Is it so idealistic today to have parents make educational decisions on behalf of their own children? ... The point is that you can have the most enlightening book in the world, but if you hit someone on the head with it, that is not an education, that is a Brave New World. ...

      Is not the failure to provide nutritious and healthful food, which is essential to brain development, apt to fetter the life choices of children as well? But should we accordingly institute compulsory cafeterias and propagate the idea that parents are incapable of planning and guiding the diet of their children? Do you not see how absurd your philosophy really is? And if you can modify this analogy owing to some fault in its portrayal, I dare you to do so.

      Not too long ago one could "read law" under the guidance of a lawyer and then write an exam in order to be inducted by the professional association. Incidentally, there was no compulsory schooling, but the literacy rates in North America were higher than they were today; the decline in literacy is correlated with the institution of compulsory schooling laws. Today, though, you must first sacrifice your mind on the altar of this new Church. The fact that the State has monopolized professional certification is not a justification for diminishing our liberty, Sir, it is a reason to defend it against this very encroachment.

      ex-haney guy

      Sep 20, 2014 at 8:56am

      What a bunch of Fraser Institute-esque crap. Elias, this is first incorrect, sorry but people who are not natural learners just don't on their own "naturally". They are children, they have always needed teaching, their brains aren't developed enough for reason-child soldiers are a good example. Throwing out a few quotes from some behaviourist psychologist doesn't make your arguement right; even if it's superficially logical. It's fake, like the credibility of opinions of the school grads-yep didn;t learn anything,eh?
      Right, so if you need a lawyer do you want some "forced to go to school, and university" type, or some one who learned on their own; who followed their heart, who wasn't "locked up" in school to defend you? Maybe you do; maybe your critical thinking would decide on the "free-thinking" person.

      One

      Sep 20, 2014 at 11:54am

      Compulsory Brainwashing is what is destroying humanity