School Sucks: Higher Education For Self-Liberation
Summary: We need 150 monthly subscribers! If you are employed and you listen to the show and enjoy the videos, please consider making a commitment of $6.00 per month, or about $.20 per day. When we launch the new site, you have access to a bonus content section that will be updated weekly. Please click here to sign up. $6.00/Month Subscribe! You can help the show grow by committing to one of these monthly subscription levels (demonstrating how inflation affects the price of another source of knowledge). It is greatly appreciated! A New Book!(in 1960) $3/ mo A New Book! (in 1972) $6/mo A New Book! (in 1981) $9/mo A New Book! (in 1995) $15/mo A New Book! (Today) $25/mo Angel Investor $999.99/mo Contact Brett, leave comments and view shows by series: schoolsucksproject.com In my 10+ years of teaching, "school sucks" is perhaps the most common phrase I've heard students use to describe their feelings about public education. But this seemingly bitter and reductive slogan is actually quite clever. When taken literally, "school sucks" is perhaps the most accurate and astute synopsis of the system I've ever heard. Here's why... 1. The twelve-year process of an American public education has a dramatic effect on the mind of a child. When we first enter school at age six, many of our best personal attributes are already in place. We are curious, innovative, unique, creative and hopeful in ways that we will rarely be able to replicate throughout the rest of our lives. But over time, school sucks those essential attributes out of too many of us...and replaces them with predictability, obedience and apathy. 2. The public school system sucks off the productive capacity of hard-working people. The system is coercively funded through taxation. In other words, whether public education succeeds or fails (spoiler alert: it fails) at providing real education to the public, the cost goes up every year. There are no refunds. The END of Public Education? 1. END: It's over, irrelevant, useless, needs to be done away with. Does more harm than good. 2. END: (As in means to an end) We'll also explore the true intentions behind the system, which have very little to do with real education. There is substantial evidence that its failure to educate is no accident. Above all, this is a show about what one might do about these problems...
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Or at least the story of how I tried... Topics: -How would mental illness be addressed in a voluntary society? -How is it being addressed today? -Condominium collectivism and authoritarianism -SSRIs and depression -positive social media campaigns -FBI terror setups This is an edited version the 4-4-13 live show. School Sucks is live on UStream Thursdays at 6:30pm EST. Co-Hosts: Cory Look Closer: The Appeal To Authority (Defined) http://yourlogicalfallacyis.com/appeal-to-authority Terrorist Plots, Hatched by the F.B.I. - http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/29/opinion/sunday/terrorist-plots-helped-along-by-the-fbi.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0 Rich Paul is facing 81 years rather than become an FBI informant - http://www.examiner.com/article/rich-paul-is-facing-81-years-rather-than-become-an-fbi-informant
Or at least the story of how I tried... Topics: -How would mental illness be addressed in a voluntary society? -How is it being addressed today? -Condominium collectivism and authoritarianism -SSRIs and depression -positive social media campaigns -FBI terror setups This is an edited version the 4-4-13 live show. School Sucks is live on UStream Thursdays at 6:30pm EST. Co-Hosts: Cory Look Closer: The Appeal To Authority (Defined) http://yourlogicalfallacyis.com/appeal-to-authority Terrorist Plots, Hatched by the F.B.I. - http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/29/opinion/sunday/terrorist-plots-helped-along-by-the-fbi.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0 Rich Paul is facing 81 years rather than become an FBI informant - http://www.examiner.com/article/rich-paul-is-facing-81-years-rather-than-become-an-fbi-informant
My conversation with Jeff Bliss, the Duncanville High School sophomore who spoke out against the spirit-crushing and mind-numbing monotony of public schooling. Covered: -Jeff Bliss imposters? -The history and agenda of public school -John Dewey -Ron Paul and media manipulation -John Taylor Gatto -the proper Alex Jones dosage -collectivism and using "we" -the futility of reform -the GED and college Bumper Music: Geto Boys, "G Code (Instrumental)" Look Closer: Jeff Bliss Video: Texas High School Student Demands An Education - http://www.policymic.com/articles/40959/jeff-bliss-video-texas-high-school-student-demands-an-education http://TragedyandHope.com - http://www.tragedyandhope.com/ A SHORT ANGRY HISTORY OF AMERICAN FORCED SCHOOLING - http://4brevard.com/choice/Public_Education.htm The Underground History of American Education, by John Taylor Gatto (Chapter 12 - The Daughters of the Barons of Runnemede, Section 15 - The General Education Board And Friends) - http://www.johntaylorgatto.com/chapters/12o.htm
My conversation with Jeff Bliss, the Duncanville High School sophomore who spoke out against the spirit-crushing and mind-numbing monotony of public schooling. Covered: -Jeff Bliss imposters? -The history and agenda of public school -John Dewey -Ron Paul and media manipulation -John Taylor Gatto -the proper Alex Jones dosage -collectivism and using "we" -the futility of reform -the GED and college Bumper Music: Geto Boys, "G Code (Instrumental)" Look Closer: Jeff Bliss Video: Texas High School Student Demands An Education - http://www.policymic.com/articles/40959/jeff-bliss-video-texas-high-school-student-demands-an-education http://TragedyandHope.com - http://www.tragedyandhope.com/ A SHORT ANGRY HISTORY OF AMERICAN FORCED SCHOOLING - http://4brevard.com/choice/Public_Education.htm The Underground History of American Education, by John Taylor Gatto (Chapter 12 - The Daughters of the Barons of Runnemede, Section 15 - The General Education Board And Friends) - http://www.johntaylorgatto.com/chapters/12o.htm
Topic: A long-awaited and frequently-requested discussion with Dan Carlin, the host of the Common Sense and Hardcore History podcasts. Some of what we discussed: -What happened to the media? -Narrow-casting -Dan's transition from radio to podcasting, how did that happen? -The process for producing Hardcore History -Is history shaped more by philosophy/prevailing ideologies or by accidents/wildcard events? -The dreaded Nazi questions: could happen here? Is it happening here? -An American way to fascism? -Civil Libertarianism vs total libertarianism (personal and economic) -Can we expect to maintain civil liberties with stricter economic controls? -What kinds of people are attracted to political power? -The problems with and politics of American schooling Bumper Music: Monophonics "Goliath" Look Closer: Dan Carlin's Site - http://www.dancarlin.com/
Topic: A long-awaited and frequently-requested discussion with Dan Carlin, the host of the Common Sense and Hardcore History podcasts. Some of what we discussed: -What happened to the media? -Narrow-casting -Dan's transition from radio to podcasting, how did that happen? -The process for producing Hardcore History -Is history shaped more by philosophy/prevailing ideologies or by accidents/wildcard events? -The dreaded Nazi questions: could happen here? Is it happening here? -An American way to fascism? -Civil Libertarianism vs total libertarianism (personal and economic) -Can we expect to maintain civil liberties with stricter economic controls? -What kinds of people are attracted to political power? -The problems with and politics of American schooling Bumper Music: Monophonics "Goliath" Look Closer: Dan Carlin's Site - http://www.dancarlin.com/
Recorded live 5-9-13. The one-year anniversary of the School Sucks Live Show Topic: This live show was recorded immediately after my 90-minute discussion with Dan Carlin (coming soon), and the gears of my brain were really turning in different ways. I wanted to discuss methods and theories for examining and interpreting history. Often history is a story told through the "Great" Man Theory, opposed to the Trends and Forces Theory. Reflecting on a series of shows I did about the Nazis, I realize that there is considerable synthesis between the two. This conversation is derailed by silliness a couple of times and also contains non-live portions. Bumper Music: "Airplane" Widespread Panic Look Closer: Ergot Poisoning - the cause of the Salem Witch Trials - http://customers.hbci.com/~wenonah/history/ergot.htm Aspergers and SSRIs? - http://www.wrongplanet.net/postt121964.html Napoleon's Hemorrhoids: And Other Small Events That Changed the World - http://books.google.com/books/about/Napoleon_s_Hemorrhoids.html?id=UG4VmgEACAAJ Dan Carlin - Hardcore History - http://www.dancarlin.com/
Recorded live 5-9-13. The one-year anniversary of the School Sucks Live Show Topic: This live show was recorded immediately after my 90-minute discussion with Dan Carlin (coming soon), and the gears of my brain were really turning in different ways. I wanted to discuss methods and theories for examining and interpreting history. Often history is a story told through the "Great" Man Theory, opposed to the Trends and Forces Theory. Reflecting on a series of shows I did about the Nazis, I realize that there is considerable synthesis between the two. This conversation is derailed by silliness a couple of times and also contains non-live portions. Bumper Music: "Airplane" Widespread Panic Look Closer: Ergot Poisoning - the cause of the Salem Witch Trials - http://customers.hbci.com/~wenonah/history/ergot.htm Aspergers and SSRIs? - http://www.wrongplanet.net/postt121964.html Napoleon's Hemorrhoids: And Other Small Events That Changed the World - http://books.google.com/books/about/Napoleon_s_Hemorrhoids.html?id=UG4VmgEACAAJ Dan Carlin - Hardcore History - http://www.dancarlin.com/
A one-take recording of a message to Jeff Bliss and students like him everywhere: schooling is not education Jeff Bliss Video: Texas High School Student Demands An Education Read More here... Video:
A one-take recording of a message to Jeff Bliss and students like him everywhere: schooling is not education Jeff Bliss Video: Texas High School Student Demands An Education Read More here... Video:
Logic is about understanding reality in a non-contradictory way and how can we see things for what they are. Metaphysical Laws 1.Identity 2.Causality 3.Non-Contradiction Topic: A conversation about the importance of defining terms, checking premises and monitoring emotions in the pursuit of truth. -Common logical errors -Free Will vs. Determinism -The Trivium and "pre-packaged" grammar -Pentagon media manipulation -Are humans logical? Look Closer: Free Will: Why Sam Harris needs to read more Philosophy - http://aphilosopherstake.com/2012/07/29/free-will-why-sam-harris-needs-to-read-more-philosophy/ Compatibilism - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compatibilism Logical Fallacies Handlist http://web.cn.edu/kwheeler/fallacies_list.html Is Neuroscience the Death of Free Will? By EDDY NAHMIAS - http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/11/13/is-neuroscience-the-death-of-free-will/ Free Will - Ayn Rand Lexicon - http://aynrandlexicon.com/lexicon/free_will.html 130: Logic Saves Lives (Introduction) – Empowerment and Self-Defense - http://schoolsucksproject.com/130-logic-saves-lives-introduction-empowerment-and-self-defense/ Corbett Report - Episode 239 – Logic Is Not Enough http://www.corbettreport.com/episode-239-logic-is-not-enough/
Logic is about understanding reality in a non-contradictory way and how can we see things for what they are. Metaphysical Laws 1.Identity 2.Causality 3.Non-Contradiction Topic: A conversation about the importance of defining terms, checking premises and monitoring emotions in the pursuit of truth. -Common logical errors -Free Will vs. Determinism -The Trivium and "pre-packaged" grammar -Pentagon media manipulation -Are humans logical? Look Closer: Free Will: Why Sam Harris needs to read more Philosophy - http://aphilosopherstake.com/2012/07/29/free-will-why-sam-harris-needs-to-read-more-philosophy/ Compatibilism - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compatibilism Logical Fallacies Handlist http://web.cn.edu/kwheeler/fallacies_list.html Is Neuroscience the Death of Free Will? By EDDY NAHMIAS - http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/11/13/is-neuroscience-the-death-of-free-will/ Free Will - Ayn Rand Lexicon - http://aynrandlexicon.com/lexicon/free_will.html 130: Logic Saves Lives (Introduction) – Empowerment and Self-Defense - http://schoolsucksproject.com/130-logic-saves-lives-introduction-empowerment-and-self-defense/ Corbett Report - Episode 239 – Logic Is Not Enough http://www.corbettreport.com/episode-239-logic-is-not-enough/
Picture: Did George Orwell have it too? Recorded live 4-25-13 with Osborne and Tony (the School Sucks Project webmaster). Topic: Our discussion grows out of an Aspergers questionnaire we all took before the show. Tony and I both scored in the Aspergers range and Osborne came in just below it. We spend the show going through the questions and evaluating our related patterns of behaviors and thoughts. Bumper Music: "Uptown Anthem (Instrumental)" Naughty By Nature "Airplane" Widespread Panic "Lonestar" Norah Jones Look Closer: Is Asperger's Overdiagnosed? - http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/aspergers-diary/201202/is-aspergers-overdiagnosed Aspergers and SSRIs? - http://www.wrongplanet.net/postt121964.html Asperger’s History of Overdiagnosis - http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/01/opinion/aspergers-history-of-over-diagnosis.html?scp=1&sq=asperger&st=cse Felder and Silverman's Index of Learning Styles - http://www.mindtools.com/mnemlsty.html The Nature of Educational Systems and Their Psychological Effects on the Learner, by Wes Bertrand, 2000 - http://logicallearning.net/learnerdrivened.html Self-regulated Learning - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-regulated_learning I Had Asperger Syndrome. Briefly. By BENJAMIN NUGENT - http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/01/opinion/i-had-asperger-syndrome-briefly.html?scp=2&sq=asperger&st=cse&_r=0 SSRI Stories - http://ssristories.com/ Carb Nite! - http://carbnite.com/
Picture: Did George Orwell have it too? Recorded live 4-25-13 with Osborne and Tony (the School Sucks Project webmaster). Topic: Our discussion grows out of an Aspergers questionnaire we all took before the show. Tony and I both scored in the Aspergers range and Osborne came in just below it. We spend the show going through the questions and evaluating our related patterns of behaviors and thoughts. Bumper Music: "Uptown Anthem (Instrumental)" Naughty By Nature "Airplane" Widespread Panic "Lonestar" Norah Jones Look Closer: Is Asperger's Overdiagnosed? - http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/aspergers-diary/201202/is-aspergers-overdiagnosed Aspergers and SSRIs? - http://www.wrongplanet.net/postt121964.html Asperger’s History of Overdiagnosis - http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/01/opinion/aspergers-history-of-over-diagnosis.html?scp=1&sq=asperger&st=cse Felder and Silverman's Index of Learning Styles - http://www.mindtools.com/mnemlsty.html The Nature of Educational Systems and Their Psychological Effects on the Learner, by Wes Bertrand, 2000 - http://logicallearning.net/learnerdrivened.html Self-regulated Learning - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-regulated_learning I Had Asperger Syndrome. Briefly. By BENJAMIN NUGENT - http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/01/opinion/i-had-asperger-syndrome-briefly.html?scp=2&sq=asperger&st=cse&_r=0 SSRI Stories - http://ssristories.com/ Carb Nite! - http://carbnite.com/
Author, sociologist and outspoken youth advocate Mike Males joins me share his insights on the social, political and cultural problem of blaming, shaming and framing youth. I have referenced his work several times in the past, and it was a pleasure to have him on the show. Questions/Discussion topics: -Genesis and purpose of your work: -Have you examined this problem of scapegoating youth in other cultures? -Trends you've noticed? Ebbs and flows? Is this attack on youth getting more intense? -Is a lot of this problem attributable to the win-lose environment of politics? -The generalized fear of change -The selfish and myopic Baby-boomers -Loss of empathy for their child self -"age-dualism" -How does your political outlook inform your work? -profitability of institutionalized youth -Do you see Individualism /self-interest as dirty words? -Lowering the voting age? What is the call to action for young people, towards a solution? What is the call to action for concerned adults? Bumper Music: "Wandering Child" Government Mule Look Closer: National Youth Rights Association - http://www.youthrights.org/ Youth Facts - http://youthfacts.org/ CIRCLE - http://www.civicyouth.org/ The Scapegoat Generation: America's War on Adolescents - http://www.amazon.com/The-Scapegoat-Generation-Americas-Adolescents/dp/1567510809
