Posted on May 2, 2016
Did you spend 13 years (K to 12) in public education? What did you get from it?
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Sadly, Leftist indoctrination replaced education in public schools ever since the establishment of the U.S. Department of Education. However, it wasn't a really new concept. Some form of indoctrination has prevailed in public schools even before then. Those of us who served received our first practical education after enlisting. For many, it comes after getting that first job.
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Education
Politics
Policy
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 27
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Leftist indoctrination? Sadly, Right Wing Conservatives have successfully influenced textbooks, placing imaginary creationist ideas on par with peer reviewed, logic-based science. The Republican dominated Texas School Board, being the largest single buyer of textbooks, used its power and influence to successfully replace the word "slave" with "immigrant worker" in textbooks nationwide! McCarthyism still thrives in a system where the day begins with a nationalist pledge that effectively requires students to acknowledge an ancient sky god. So much for "Leftist indoctrination."
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SSG (Join to see)
The easiest way to get rid of something, is to convince everyone it's broke. Does public education face a lot of challenges? Yes, the quality of teachers is frequently aligned with the salary they are being paid, and classrooms with 30+ students are not ideal for learning. That said, expecting public schools it to fix all the problems caused by broken homes, lack of economic opportunity, and a culture that celebrates wealth, sex and power above all else isn't realistic.
It's no secret that conservatives are intent on destroying public education and replacing it with private schools that are not legally prohibited from pushing religious and political indoctrination.
It's no secret that conservatives are intent on destroying public education and replacing it with private schools that are not legally prohibited from pushing religious and political indoctrination.
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SSG (Join to see)
SSgt John S. - I attended both public and private schools growing up. IMO, there are thee main things which impact school performance:
1. The importance Parents and Children place on a good education.
2. The quality of the teachers.
3. The ratio of teachers to students.
There are other important factors, however IMO these are the big three. Fix these three and you've fixed public education. The first and most important is a huge problem and it isn't something that can be fixed by throwing money at the problem. Passionate teachers can have some impact on the problem, however there are not any easy fixes. The second is a money issue, are the best and brightest willing to teach or is accepting half or one quarter of the salary they could earn as an engineer, a businessperson or a medical professional asking to much? The third is also related to money, are schools willing to hire enough teachers to provide students the attention they need?
Private schools have two main advantages over public schools, one is that Parents are traditionally more engaged if they are paying thousands of dollars each year for a private school. The second is that student to teacher ratios are usually better. Outside of that, I never really saw any difference.
1. The importance Parents and Children place on a good education.
2. The quality of the teachers.
3. The ratio of teachers to students.
There are other important factors, however IMO these are the big three. Fix these three and you've fixed public education. The first and most important is a huge problem and it isn't something that can be fixed by throwing money at the problem. Passionate teachers can have some impact on the problem, however there are not any easy fixes. The second is a money issue, are the best and brightest willing to teach or is accepting half or one quarter of the salary they could earn as an engineer, a businessperson or a medical professional asking to much? The third is also related to money, are schools willing to hire enough teachers to provide students the attention they need?
Private schools have two main advantages over public schools, one is that Parents are traditionally more engaged if they are paying thousands of dollars each year for a private school. The second is that student to teacher ratios are usually better. Outside of that, I never really saw any difference.
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I personally went to private (Catholic school), but many of my close friends went to public school. From what they told me, they have learned basic education, and much common knowledge. They say they have also picked up a lot of street smarts in public school.
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I DID serve 13 years time in the Public school system. Like anything else in life, one gets out of something, proportional to the effort one puts into it. I understood it wasn't the teachers job to "teach" me everything I needed to know, but rather to guide me in obtaining the basic knowledge I needed to be a critical thinker. It probably helped that I grew up in a largely Jewish community that tended to place a high value on such learning processes.
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I was in public schools the whole way through, and I came out of it just fine. Of course, I did a lot of learning outside the schools on my own initiative, I wasn't afraid to stand up for my own beliefs and opinions on various subjects, and I wasn't stuck with less-than-stellar teachers for all those years. Once my kids are old enough to go to school my plan is to take them wherever they will get the best education. In some places that means public school, in other places it's private school, and in other places homeschooling is the way to go. In an effort to put them ahead of where I was once I got my high school diploma I do intend for them to know the basics in some sort of technical skill. They don't have to pursue a job or career in it, but I want them to know it as a backup in case their dream job/higher education falls through.
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CPT Jack Durish
Ultimately, we're all responsible for our education. You came out "just fine" because you took responsibility. Sadly, many don't and their numbers are increasing
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SGT Aaron Atwood
I had good parents and some good teachers that taught me to take said responsibility. I know what you mean in your second sentence. When I was PTAD with local recruiters I noticed many potential poolees couldn't even pass the practice ASVAB. I had no trouble with it, and I did not by any means consider myself the brightest bulb in the bunch.
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I attended great schools but for all that I still got about six years of education forced into 12.
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CPT Jack Durish
Today, many college graduates can't read above a 3rd grade level. I know. My first book was written and published for that audience. So, you were lucky to get six years.
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A basic education that provided a foundation to learn what was really important. Most of my in-depth education was from military technology schools, research and many, many correspondence courses. Glad you didn't add in the Pre-K boondoggle. It has been proven by a number of studies that at grade three, all students were at the same level. I would be surprised if the primary education has more than three days per day devoted to the three Rs, which is so important to our children in life. Most of them could not function without an electronic device. Give them a pencil, paper and their own minds and they are lost.
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MCPO Roger Collins
CPT Jack Durish - I am constantly helping my Grandsons with their homework. That isn't easy when you consider I have to translate CommonCORE. To traditional math. I constantly tell them use the organic computer in their heads.
Both are A/B students, with school provided IPADS (read taxpayer). The rest of the curriculum gives little content to the information presented. That, I also do. The old Navy Instructor Training never left me.
Both are A/B students, with school provided IPADS (read taxpayer). The rest of the curriculum gives little content to the information presented. That, I also do. The old Navy Instructor Training never left me.
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CPT Jack Durish
new math by tom lehrer
MCPO Roger Collins - It's so simple that only a child can do it. Basically, it's a variation on New Math (late 1950's) designed to teach the theory of math, not just rote memorization. Sadly, few children need to learn math theory. Simple rote memorization is sufficient for most adult needs. For example, accounting is little more than adding and subtracting debits and credits with occasional simple multiplication and division to work out or apply percentages. Economists (a rare breed) need math theory.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIWaJ0sy03g
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIWaJ0sy03g
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CSM Charles Hayden Passed 7/29/2025
Gee Captain Don, you are showing your age. I agree, no kindergarden for me either. Capt (Join to see)
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Capt (Join to see)
I do not know when our school district started Kindergarten. I left home at age 17, 4 months after graduating H.S.
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CSM Charles Hayden Passed 7/29/2025
The first grade is where the entire 'student body' would say the Pledge of Allegiance in the school yard before the first class. I do recall walking up to the blackboard in the front of the classroom while having a small problem! :)
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Capt (Join to see)
CSM Charles Hayden Passed 7/29/2025 - We didn't have a whole school meeting. But, we said the Pledge throughout my 12 years. Heck, we even had a Bible verse read. And to the best of my knowledge none of us ever went to prison.
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I was lucky and had a good JROTC instructor that came to my high school the year I started my freshman year. He was adamant that we learn skills that would help us in the real world whether we joined the military or not. He taught us financial aid for two months out of the year (every year), public speaking, and encouraged us to challenge ourselves with AP classes. It was because of that one instructor that I learned my work ethic and discipline.
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