alt.education

Anarcissie wrote:
> In article <47d3a97e$1@news.vsnet.ch>,
> "Dominique Kuster"
> wrote:
>
>> "A primary purpose of the educational system is to train school children
>> in good citizenship, patriotism and loyalty to the state and the nation
>> as a means of protecting the public welfare," the judge wrote, quoting
>> from a 1961 case on a similar issue.
>>
>> Funny, I thought the primary purpose was to bring interesting knowledges.
>
> There is some propaganda along those lines, but
> in general it's not the way it's discussed in the
> media, by politicians, or among educators. The
> primary purpose of education is usually held to
> be the production of a skilled, obedient work
> force who are also a body of "good citizens",
> that is, people who go along with the system,
> believe official doctrine, and do as they're
> told by the authorities.
>
> In short, they think the purpose of education
> is training for work, and indoctrination.

Is this mainly an USA'ian thing, or is this common? There is very little
in the way of indoctrination in my kids schools, and there wasn't much
when I went to school. There is some, but it was pretty mild. Children
in Canadian schools have much stronger rights than in the USA from what
I've read in the newspaper. And we aren't obsessed with sports. There is
very little "jock" culture.

Alex r