Comments on: How the Public School System Crushes Souls http://www.steve-olson.com/how-the-public-school-system-crushes-souls/ On a Quest for Personal Freedom Mon, 12 May 2008 11:31:24 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3 By: Rose http://www.steve-olson.com/how-the-public-school-system-crushes-souls/#comment-90265 Rose Sat, 19 Apr 2008 06:09:51 +0000 http://www.steve-olson.com/how-the-public-school-system-crushes-souls/#comment-90265 Steve, I love your subject matter. Much of what you say rings true with me. I, too, had school experiences like yours and your wifes. I counted the days until I could graduate and get on to a real life. I have learned so much more since I got out! I do agree that our public school system is extremely behind the times. I have been doing a lot of research on this matter lately and have read several of the books on your list. It is a huge institution and institutions are made of individuals and unfortunately there are lots of individuals that think that the past was better and are unwilling or unable to accept the changes that are necessary to keep our public or private school institutions from falling further into the pit of despair that they are currently in because of that inability to change with the times. It's been happening for too many years. Education isn't about going to a school building and being around hundreds of other students and neither is socialization. That is mass babysitting. I don't believe it is the teachers fault, the parents or the children's. Our society is so stuck on traditions. Like seeing value in reading but seeing playing video games as a bad thing. Tradition tells us that a child sitting in a corner reading a book is a good thing while that same child sitting in a corner playing a video game is determined to be wasting their time. That child is most likely using many of the same skills with both forms of media. It is time for us as individuals to begin changing peoples ideas of what learning really is. The more individuals that recognize the value in new ideas in learning the possibility that those that don't see any alternative other than large institutions for education will at least begin to receive some benefit from the "time" spent there. Rome wasn't built in a day and we certainly couldn't end the use of educational institutions. Our world is too full of people and so many other institutions revolve around our schools. Helping individuals change, one by one, by making them aware of the alternatives by wonderful articles like yours that make people think about what they have always assumed was the "right" way to do things is an excellent beginning to change. Steve, I love your subject matter. Much of what you say rings true with me. I, too, had school experiences like yours and your wifes. I counted the days until I could graduate and get on to a real life. I have learned so much more since I got out!

I do agree that our public school system is extremely behind the times. I have been doing a lot of research on this matter lately and have read several of the books on your list. It is a huge institution and institutions are made of individuals and unfortunately there are lots of individuals that think that the past was better and are unwilling or unable to accept the changes that are necessary to keep our public or private school institutions from falling further into the pit of despair that they are currently in because of that inability to change with the times. It’s been happening for too many years.

Education isn’t about going to a school building and being around hundreds of other students and neither is socialization. That is mass babysitting. I don’t believe it is the teachers fault, the parents or the children’s. Our society is so stuck on traditions. Like seeing value in reading but seeing playing video games as a bad thing. Tradition tells us that a child sitting in a corner reading a book is a good thing while that same child sitting in a corner playing a video game is determined to be wasting their time. That child is most likely using many of the same skills with both forms of media. It is time for us as individuals to begin changing peoples ideas of what learning really is. The more individuals that recognize the value in new ideas in learning the possibility that those that don’t see any alternative other than large institutions for education will at least begin to receive some benefit from the “time” spent there.

Rome wasn’t built in a day and we certainly couldn’t end the use of educational institutions. Our world is too full of people and so many other institutions revolve around our schools. Helping individuals change, one by one, by making them aware of the alternatives by wonderful articles like yours that make people think about what they have always assumed was the “right” way to do things is an excellent beginning to change.

]]> By: Asia'h Epperson Fan http://www.steve-olson.com/how-the-public-school-system-crushes-souls/#comment-87992 Asia'h Epperson Fan Sun, 06 Apr 2008 13:09:53 +0000 http://www.steve-olson.com/how-the-public-school-system-crushes-souls/#comment-87992 Just to further my point yesterday, America has probably one of the better public school systems when compared to third world and many of the developed countries. Yes it is not perfect and there is crime but that is a consequence of society degenerating to the extent it has and not the public school system that is at fault. Just to further my point yesterday, America has probably one of the better public school systems when compared to third world and many of the developed countries. Yes it is not perfect and there is crime but that is a consequence of society degenerating to the extent it has and not the public school system that is at fault.

]]> By: Asia'h Epperson http://www.steve-olson.com/how-the-public-school-system-crushes-souls/#comment-87827 Asia'h Epperson Sat, 05 Apr 2008 16:29:34 +0000 http://www.steve-olson.com/how-the-public-school-system-crushes-souls/#comment-87827 There are a few positives that come out of a public schooling system. Granted there are a lot of negatives and hopefully this will get better. Don't really believe that but no harm in hoping. The only positive I can think of is Public school prepares you for tougher challenges in life and you are better off handling pressures and every day situations a little better. Thanks There are a few positives that come out of a public schooling system. Granted there are a lot of negatives and hopefully this will get better. Don’t really believe that but no harm in hoping. The only positive I can think of is Public school prepares you for tougher challenges in life and you are better off handling pressures and every day situations a little better.

Thanks

]]> By: 我希望我从未相信过的十件事情 - _第九维_正传 http://www.steve-olson.com/how-the-public-school-system-crushes-souls/#comment-87785 我希望我从未相信过的十件事情 - _第九维_正传 Sat, 05 Apr 2008 12:39:54 +0000 http://www.steve-olson.com/how-the-public-school-system-crushes-souls/#comment-87785 [...] 阅读我的后续文章：公立学校系统如何扭曲人的灵魂？ [...] […] 阅读我的后续文章：公立学校系统如何扭曲人的灵魂？ […]

]]> By: Mark Williams http://www.steve-olson.com/how-the-public-school-system-crushes-souls/#comment-76831 Mark Williams Wed, 06 Feb 2008 23:42:30 +0000 http://www.steve-olson.com/how-the-public-school-system-crushes-souls/#comment-76831 My experience exactly. Social, self-esteem and career scars just from going to school. My son had the same experience the one year he attended public school at the blue ribbon school nearby. My daughter never went to school until she went to college. She found the other students in her art school were timid and uncreative. I would encourage all parents to take a more unschooling approach: provide learning materials and learning opportunities for their children, and let the children decide which ones they want to take up and master. My 26yo son now owns his own business and owns his own house full of people renting from him, and goes no vacation two months per year. My experience exactly. Social, self-esteem and career scars just from going to school. My son had the same experience the one year he attended public school at the blue ribbon school nearby. My daughter never went to school until she went to college. She found the other students in her art school were timid and uncreative.

I would encourage all parents to take a more unschooling approach: provide learning materials and learning opportunities for their children, and let the children decide which ones they want to take up and master. My 26yo son now owns his own business and owns his own house full of people renting from him, and goes no vacation two months per year.

]]> By: Killing Creativity | jenn.wiked.org http://www.steve-olson.com/how-the-public-school-system-crushes-souls/#comment-72504 Killing Creativity | jenn.wiked.org Mon, 21 Jan 2008 17:48:08 +0000 http://www.steve-olson.com/how-the-public-school-system-crushes-souls/#comment-72504 [...] was reminded of an article I had read last April by Steve Olsen, How the Public School System Crushes Souls. Steve writes, “I know there are oodles of success stories from government schools. I [...] […] was reminded of an article I had read last April by Steve Olsen, How the Public School System Crushes Souls. Steve writes, “I know there are oodles of success stories from government schools. I […]

]]> By: Amy http://www.steve-olson.com/how-the-public-school-system-crushes-souls/#comment-69640 Amy Thu, 10 Jan 2008 01:33:14 +0000 http://www.steve-olson.com/how-the-public-school-system-crushes-souls/#comment-69640 As a public school teacher, I completely see where you're coming from. The school system is sucking the life right out of me. In my 7th period class, I have 7 special ed students in a class of 28, who desperately need one-on-one instruction, that I cannot provide. They sit there, frustrated, and therefore, will disrupt the class, which makes it even more difficult for me to teach. I've asked for help, stating my concerns for these students, but as it appears, they will be just 7 more that will fall through the cracks. I try to make every student feel worthwhile, and they know that I truly care, but I am unable to assist them in ways that are necessary because of all of the paperwork and bureaucratic nonsense, and the money issues that no one seems to want to solve (gee, wonder where all that money's going?). I have no choice but to send my own children to public school because of the exorbitant amount of tuition for private schools in my area. *sigh* I am one of those who is constantly bucking the system, pushing for change. I actually lost a job because I was standing up for the rights of the students. Imagine that. Thanks for your article. As a public school teacher, I completely see where you’re coming from. The school system is sucking the life right out of me. In my 7th period class, I have 7 special ed students in a class of 28, who desperately need one-on-one instruction, that I cannot provide. They sit there, frustrated, and therefore, will disrupt the class, which makes it even more difficult for me to teach. I’ve asked for help, stating my concerns for these students, but as it appears, they will be just 7 more that will fall through the cracks. I try to make every student feel worthwhile, and they know that I truly care, but I am unable to assist them in ways that are necessary because of all of the paperwork and bureaucratic nonsense, and the money issues that no one seems to want to solve (gee, wonder where all that money’s going?). I have no choice but to send my own children to public school because of the exorbitant amount of tuition for private schools in my area. *sigh* I am one of those who is constantly bucking the system, pushing for change. I actually lost a job because I was standing up for the rights of the students. Imagine that.
Thanks for your article.

]]> By: jeremy http://www.steve-olson.com/how-the-public-school-system-crushes-souls/#comment-65140 jeremy Sat, 22 Dec 2007 17:31:16 +0000 http://www.steve-olson.com/how-the-public-school-system-crushes-souls/#comment-65140 i agree one hundred percent. I attended a public school from kindergarten to the sixth grade and I absolutely hate it. I hated the fact that my parents sent me there and didn't see the bigger picture that I had seen. Of course my parents totally agreed with the system since they thought that it was important for kids who didn't have the money to attend a private school or any other system. They grew up in the Philippines so they thought that this was beneficial for the kids. But they will never understand what I had to go through, along with my brother and sister. It really does offer a challenge. I too was "different" in that sort of sense and I just didn't belong. After sixth grade I transferred to a private school for seventh and the eighth grade. I loved it so much. I found the BEST friends ever, as opposed to when I was in a public school where I had little. It was a Catholic school and I LOVED it so much. I still miss everyone. Now I'm in high school as a sophomore at a Catholic school and I think I definitely made the right choice. If I continued my educational career at a public school I would be a TOTALLY different person that I am now. I will never send my children to a public school after what I experienced. i agree one hundred percent. I attended a public school from kindergarten to the sixth grade and I absolutely hate it. I hated the fact that my parents sent me there and didn’t see the bigger picture that I had seen. Of course my parents totally agreed with the system since they thought that it was important for kids who didn’t have the money to attend a private school or any other system. They grew up in the Philippines so they thought that this was beneficial for the kids.
But they will never understand what I had to go through, along with my brother and sister. It really does offer a challenge. I too was “different” in that sort of sense and I just didn’t belong. After sixth grade I transferred to a private school for seventh and the eighth grade. I loved it so much. I found the BEST friends ever, as opposed to when I was in a public school where I had little. It was a Catholic school and I LOVED it so much. I still miss everyone. Now I’m in high school as a sophomore at a Catholic school and I think I definitely made the right choice. If I continued my educational career at a public school I would be a TOTALLY different person that I am now. I will never send my children to a public school after what I experienced.

]]> By: OmegaWolf747 http://www.steve-olson.com/how-the-public-school-system-crushes-souls/#comment-62081 OmegaWolf747 Sun, 09 Dec 2007 20:52:15 +0000 http://www.steve-olson.com/how-the-public-school-system-crushes-souls/#comment-62081 I wish I had never gone to government schools. That's all I can say. I hated the conformity, the rules, the bullying. Every ounce of my being was attacked day after day, without cessation. I am somewhat dysfunctional nowadays in terms of how I relate to other people. I suspect everyone of going against me behind my back. I blame government schools for this 100%. I wish I had never gone to government schools. That’s all I can say. I hated the conformity, the rules, the bullying. Every ounce of my being was attacked day after day, without cessation. I am somewhat dysfunctional nowadays in terms of how I relate to other people. I suspect everyone of going against me behind my back. I blame government schools for this 100%.

]]> By: SoulRiser http://www.steve-olson.com/how-the-public-school-system-crushes-souls/#comment-61870 SoulRiser Sat, 08 Dec 2007 17:29:43 +0000 http://www.steve-olson.com/how-the-public-school-system-crushes-souls/#comment-61870 Excellent post. May I publish it on my website? You will of course get full credit and a link to your site :) I find it annoying when trying to talk to teachers about the problems with school. They always seem to require "proof" that things need to be changed. Yet they follow the system without any proof that it even does what they claim it to do. "It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary depends on his not understanding it." - Upton Sinclair Excellent post. May I publish it on my website? You will of course get full credit and a link to your site :)

I find it annoying when trying to talk to teachers about the problems with school. They always seem to require “proof” that things need to be changed. Yet they follow the system without any proof that it even does what they claim it to do.

“It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary depends on his not understanding it.” - Upton Sinclair

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