Did you spend 13 years (K to 12) in public education? What did you get from it?

Nope, not this foul mouth kid. Capt Jack, I spent 12 years in Parochial School with those freaking Nuns. Shit, the Military was nothing compared to them and their smart ass tactics. Believe me, I was going to hell every week. Well that's what they told me anyways.

I got a diploma... I had to teach myself taxes, investing, getting a loan, CPR, working in my car, working a computer... You know, the basics... But I needed to regurgitate Shakespeare's haikus....

I got a diploma from it.

Maybe not the answer your were looking for, but I spent from K to 12 in France at Public Schools. I would not change it for nothing in the world, especially how our final examination is done (the Baccalaureat). Focus is on self-development and critical thinking, tests are essays not multiple choice answers and no you cannot curve or makeup, because if you fail, well it's on you, no one else. Our teachers often told us "I don't care whether you pass or fail, it will not change my life, I have my diploma, now you have to get yours".
My parents told me there was a time when a French HS graduate accepted in College in the United States would skip "freshman year", having lots of credits transferred from the Baccalaureat, and starts off as a Sophomore.

This leftist socialist (me) got a free K-12 education in Missouri, a patriotic desire to serve from my Dad, a free ride to the MEPS St. Louis in 1987, an enlistment into the US Army, the Army College Fund, an ROTC / SMP slot, 1991 Jump School, a Commission, an Appointment as a GS13 Criminal Investigator after going to the USAR, a deployment to KFOR 3A and OEF 7, a Bronze Star, a Command, a wife, 2 healthy kids, a 3000pt USAR retirement, a FERS Disability Retirement, 70% Disability, a 2nd Bachelors courtesy of VA Voc Rehab. Get bent.

"Leftist indoctrination"?

Really?

I wonder, can anyone ever ask a question without injecting partisan politics into the discussion?

Having said that, I watched the video on the Facebook page, and was struck by the contradiction inherent in the group. I came from a very conservative upbringing. One that taught me to accept without questioning. I was required to accept whatever my elders told me. That applied to church, discussions at the dinner table about politics, life lessons, everything. I didn't meet true questioners until I started surrounding myself with more liberal and progressive minded people. Don't get me wrong, there are those within the liberal ranks that also require "blind obedience", but they are far more tolerant of questioning than their conservative counterparts.

The whole concept of public education was opposed by the conservatives of the time. The original concept was that everyone received the basics, and came out of school able to read, write, and perform basic mathematics. Through the years, public education expanded to include much more, such as instruction in the physical and life sciences, more advanced mathematics, and reading at a higher level than what was needed to read a menu or a job application. What was lost in this transition was a focus on vocational subjects. When I attended high school, we were given classes in basic drafting, woodworking, metal working, welding, and, yes, even car repair. We even had the option to attend a vocational school during our last 2 years. These days, all vocational subjects are taught outside of the high school, at these specialized centers that teach only vocational subjects.

I received a great deal from my public education, but not just from the classroom. I learned how to socialize with other people. I learned the importance of physical activity through sports. I learned that to get ahead of others required more discipline. There was no "indoctrination" in my high school, liberal or conservative. I see none in my daughter's school, where she attends the 6th grade. I saw none in my son's school that he graduated from in 2010.

The current educational standards, and the subsequent "teaching to the test", were instituted by a conservative President, and have done more harm to our public education system than anything any liberal President has ever suggested. Indoctrination is a conservative tool to control the masses, not a liberal tool. For evidence of that, simply look at the most conservative institutions in existence, organized religion.

To answer the question more succinctly, one gets out of there education what one puts into it. If you simply marked time through your K-13 years, then you came out with nothing to show for it, if you put real effort and time into those years, then you came out with a real education, ready to hit the streets running.

I think the correct question should be "Did you spend 13 years (K to 12) in public education? What did you put into it?"

***End of Rant***

I spent only my high school years in public school. I didn't notice the "leftist" indoctrination as it was a small rural school in the early 90's. My daughter has been in private school for the last three years K-2 and can write cursive and read at a 5th grade level. The class sizes are smaller and the teachers are evaluated on performance and not tenured educators.

I actually got a well rounded education from one of the top school districts in the Country....Brookline Mass. Not like today, that's for sure. Yes K-12

My education was "Rightist" - not "leftist" indoc. I was taught that the races need to be kept separated lest we be "sullied" by bad blood. I was taught that ONLY White history was to be taught and NOTHING of note was ever invented by anyone of color. I was taught that homosexuality was a crime of nature, a mental condition, and that all gays were pedophiles. I was taught that all the dirty N-bombs, Spics, Jews, and Bow-benders (Native Americans) were lesser human beings. I was taught that women are to be subservient and submissive. I was taught that all drugs were bad, but it was not only acceptable, but ENCOURAGED to get shit-faced drunk as frequently as possible.

Yeah, I was indoctrinated, all right. It took YEARS to break that mindset.