My statement about the individual and the state was not a commentary on individualism versus the state or collectivism. It was added as an afterthought when I was fatigued and I was thinking only in terms of whether the state should be deciding the direction of the individual’s life on the basis of some imagined expertise rel…
My statement about the individual and the state was not a commentary on individualism versus the state or collectivism. It was added as an afterthought when I was fatigued and I was thinking only in terms of whether the state should be deciding the direction of the individual’s life on the basis of some imagined expertise relative to curricular content and values. I’m sorry if I wasn’t clear.
I agree with you and have stated here many times, I believe, that socialization is a primary function of schooling. It is, however, a function which has been performed extremely poorly for the reasons I have often outlined. When students have no autonomy, when they feel put upon, bullied, oppressed, or ignored, or when their peer interactions are superficial and distorted by competition and myriad restriction, socialization is perverted.
“Behavioral impairments”??? Are they “learning disabilities”, impairments, lack of social skills, and problems which students bring which require amelioration??? Or, are they problems created and exacerbated by the school? Are they disabilities because they inhibit authentic learning, or are they instead reactions to extreme frustrations, abuse, the physical restraint of bodies needing movement, exercise, and deep breathing and the denial of learning opportunities which are organic and logical? Control and behavioral training are for pigeons and lab rats. Some of us were taught all to well what the schools wanted us to learn.
Mr. Solomon,
My statement about the individual and the state was not a commentary on individualism versus the state or collectivism. It was added as an afterthought when I was fatigued and I was thinking only in terms of whether the state should be deciding the direction of the individual’s life on the basis of some imagined expertise relative to curricular content and values. I’m sorry if I wasn’t clear.
I agree with you and have stated here many times, I believe, that socialization is a primary function of schooling. It is, however, a function which has been performed extremely poorly for the reasons I have often outlined. When students have no autonomy, when they feel put upon, bullied, oppressed, or ignored, or when their peer interactions are superficial and distorted by competition and myriad restriction, socialization is perverted.
“Behavioral impairments”??? Are they “learning disabilities”, impairments, lack of social skills, and problems which students bring which require amelioration??? Or, are they problems created and exacerbated by the school? Are they disabilities because they inhibit authentic learning, or are they instead reactions to extreme frustrations, abuse, the physical restraint of bodies needing movement, exercise, and deep breathing and the denial of learning opportunities which are organic and logical? Control and behavioral training are for pigeons and lab rats. Some of us were taught all to well what the schools wanted us to learn.