Education Portal

[the Analogist]

When I was writing my last "musing" I called attention to just how difficult it is for a totally clueless person to do any kind of research into education without being totally lost and badly limited.

I hate journalism as a rule, because its usually at its best a leftist whining about something somebody else should do. /rant

Anyway, realizing that problem could quite easily be solved by US, I thought I would post my idea.

I'm imaging a web portal that we build, the purpose of which is to guide a totally clueless parent/person through EVERY* educational philosophy that is out there.

The basic format of the portal, crudely imagined by me, offers three options (1) read about the different philosophies, (2) read from the critics, and (3) read about the critics

I don't know how to present it exactly, but I imagine a manageable list (on the left) where you can mouse over an type like "conventional schooling" or "unschooling" and you would then see THE MOST OBJECTIVE AND UNCRITICAL DESCRIPTIONS EVER. If you click on that philosophy and hard-select it you can then mouse over the names of critics (on the right) and read relevant critical responses to the objective descriptions.

We could include ourselves as critics if we so desired, but I like the idea of having a list of major names whose writing we would quote relevant passages from and introduce the viewer to as well. We have to think like xcriteria, of ourselves as catalysts, that the web surfer hits our website and then spins off into their own thinking and research.

I would love to actually do some of the research here because I have come upon a fair amount in my time spent mostly with my 1.9 days worth of John Taylor Gatto (a great primary AND secondary source). I want to list a few just to give you guys an idea of where I am coming from, and see how much new stuff I would be introducing you to.

John Dewey, d. most of us should know him
Noam Chomsky, some of us know about him. Actually still alive, and went to an actual Dewey-ite school as a child. Actually responds to e-mails.
John Taylor Gatto, big time critic, written a ton of books. highly critical. goes on a lot of relevant tangents in his lectures.
Dan Greenberg, I know the sudbury idea has spread beyond him, but he seems to be fairly comprehensive in his one interview I posted here under "School Talk".
Howard Zinn, d. the guy who wrote "A People's history of the United States", who said about history that if you don't know it, you are more easily swayed by people since you have no way to check up on what people are saying.
Alfie Kohn. Haven't read much, but he seems pretty active, possibly accessible.

I also like that we would make public and accessible some of the shadowy or unknown research and writing John Taylor Gatto has quoted. I have looked up a few of them to confirm that he is not crazy. We need to explain as objectively as possible the philosophy behind universal forced schooling. It may not even be necessary for readers to check out the critics, some of this shit is just infuriating to read

Principles of Secondary Education by Alexander Inglis
This is worth quoting for the purposes of education as enumerated by one of THEM. I did actually get this from the library a few years back.

Managers of Virtue by David Tyack
This was the book which apparently said childhood had been deliberately extended by 4 years. I have yet to look into this book.

Properous Illiterates by Allen Bruce Manning
A PhD thesis which according to Gatto advises employers to prefer illiterates since they are better workers who tolerate less pay and are dutiful.

Propoganda by Edward Bernays
Chomsky has talked a bunch of this book. Essentially he argues the case for why it is important for the elites to control the masses. (great example in their defense, that Donald Trump could become the next president of the US). Also, according to Gatto, the compulsory school agenda didn't start up until Andrew Jackson left office. Gatto suggested that Jackson caused the 1%-ers to be worried about another Jackson getting elected.

Public Opinion by Walter Lippman
Chomsky talks a lot about this book. Some interesting ideas are found here. I believe the idea of "necessary illusions" is from here. Lippman is said to be the mentor of Bernays. "Manufacture of consent" is a phrase from Lippman.

I like linking to or in some way directing people towards those schools Gatto calls "elite private boarding schools" since they seem important and do offer a rather same but different approach to schooling. I've actually got a super wealthy super distant relative who goes to Groton.

*When it comes to alternative education there is a sea of writing written by way too many people. We need to focus on the BIG NAMES. As for advocates of the mainstream, they seem to be obscure 1%-ers whom only academics and various researchers are aware of. Including them I think will be crucial since we can let their words speak for them and for us.

I want this debate to be purposeful and geared towards bringing something like this into being. I know I am very inclined to promote my own ideas, but that is not helpful to the ignorant & curious just looking for some answers. Those people matter, and this website is not really geared towards them... yet

[SoulRiser]

Cool idea. I can give you edit access to the wiki if you want, and you can start constructing it there and maybe people will help. I'll link to it prominently as well later.

[the Analogist]

Oooh yes. I would love to make that my new big project!

I think I may want to just shelve the idea that any such endeavors will make me a living and just accept the job I have, which does pay well.

Thanks!

[the Analogist]

For anybody curious, I've been super busy and have since decided this will be a small book I will try to get published.

These are the 8 people I plan to quote as of now:
John Taylor Gatto
Noam Chomsky
Dan Greenberg
John Dewey

(The villains)
Edward L Bernays
Edward L Thorndike
Alexander Inglis
David Tyack