Hacker News Reader

Comment by HSO | Hacker News Reader

One of the biggest lies I never believed is that school is for education.

It is for many things but education (not indoctrination or brainwashing) is not one if them. Thankfully I realized this very early.

View on HN

I always say it as something quite benign: a state-sponsored daycare. Where else would we put our kids if not for school?

The same place before widespread public schools: fields and factories.

Why would we do that when we can use machines?

Who oils the machines?

Oiling machines.

That are local US problems. Some 3rd world countries were sticking to the idea even while going through the periods of economic disaster.

Is there a conspiracy of the local school board?

Yes, of course. It's visible in many subtle ways. One example is uniforms. Another is how "social studies" now stands where "history" once stood. Nearly 20% of high school graduates are illiterate. A highs school diploma signals something, but it's not being educated.

Some amount of education does occur, but it's incidental to social indoctrination, keeping parents' wages high by forcing kids out of the job market, etc.

> Nearly 20% of high school graduates are illiterate

That's America's choice to have a failing system, not a universal property of schooling.

A universal property of state run schooling is that schools are literal prisons for children and for many people is the only place they'll experience violence first hand. The finer details will vary by location.

I've been to multiple prisons for children to visit people, they aren't like schools. Also, many children are sent to adult prison and those aren't like school either.

Both public and private schools can be places where people experience violence, but many more people experience violence at home first.

Rein it in, minuteman.

Students are not free to leave and will literally be thrown in a cage for truancy if they do. They don't choose the curriculum, don't get to choose who they work with, and are frequently submitted to dehumanizing treatment like having to ask permission to use the restroom.

What more could you ask for in a prison?

I bet you also think taxation is theft and Ayn Rand is a great author.

I hope you never see a real prison. I'm serious about this. They are horrifying.

Sure, just like I hope you never see a real slave. I am serious about this. It's horrifying.

By the way, what do you call a well-treated slave?

Me too? I also hope that I never encounter slavery in real life?

It does happen, and if I did meet someone that was forced into slavery, I would hope that I could find help?

If anything I was defending public school? What the hell are you talking about?

Here's a real prison. Notice how much more freedom the prisoners have compared to students in school.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MauMiCL7G9Y

Very few countries jail children for simple truancy. Most will let you opt out of the system if you can prove you're maintaining standards in the process and not homeschooling for abusive purposes.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com