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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School: Don't try this at home! "...the truth is that you can't homeschool. You can't. Nobody can do school but school. However, the good news is that you are not supposed to do school. You are supposed to do life." - Laurette Lynn Topic: Laurette Lynn joins Osborne and me to discuss her new book, Don't Do Drugs, Stay Out of School. This show provides a good introduction and some elaboration on the topics Laurette and I frequently discuss on our shows. This is the full 11-8-12 live show. School Sucks is live on the Liberty Radio Network and UStream Thursdays at 10pm EST. Look Closer: Laurette's Website http://www.laurettelynn.com/ Gatto: The Underground History of American Education http://www.johntaylorgatto.com/chapters/index.htm
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: Today's show is a personal exercise to help me let go of a long-standing resentment against comedian and political commentator Bill Maher. Cory, Osborne and I analyze several clips from his HBO show, Real Time With Bill Maher, primarily focusing on two fallacies: composition and division. Many tangents result! Composition: This fallacy is a result of reasoning from the properties of the parts of the whole to the properties of the whole itself--it is an inductive error. Division: This fallacy is the reverse of composition. It is the misapplication of deductive reasoning. One fallacy of division argues falsely that what is true of the whole must be true of individual parts. Source: Logical Fallacies Handlist "The process of forming and applying concepts contains the essential pattern of two fundamental methods of cognition: induction and deduction. The process of observing the facts of reality and of integrating them into concepts is, in essence, a process of induction. The process of subsuming new instances under a known concept is, in essence, a process of deduction." -Ayn Rand, Introduction to Objectivist Epistemology (p28) This is an edited version the 11-1-12 live show with additional non-live segments. School Sucks is live on the Liberty Radio Network and UStream Thursdays at 10pm EST. Bumper Music: "Kickstart My Heart" Motley Crue Look Closer: Logical Fallacies Handlist http://web.cn.edu/kwheeler/fallacies_list.html Hasty Generalization http://web.cn.edu/kwheeler/fallacies_list.html#hasty_generalization_anchor Logical Fallacies Basics http://onegoodmove.org/fallacy/toc.htm Logical Fallacy: Tu Quoque http://www.fallacyfiles.org/tuquoque.html Ayn Rand Lexicon http://aynrandlexicon.com/ HBO: Real Time With Bill Maher http://www.hbo.com/real-time-with-bill-maher/index.html
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: Today's show is a personal exercise to help me let go of a long-standing resentment against comedian and political commentator Bill Maher. Cory, Osborne and I analyze several clips from his HBO show, Real Time With Bill Maher, primarily focusing on two fallacies: composition and division. Many tangents result! Composition: This fallacy is a result of reasoning from the properties of the parts of the whole to the properties of the whole itself--it is an inductive error. Division: This fallacy is the reverse of composition. It is the misapplication of deductive reasoning. One fallacy of division argues falsely that what is true of the whole must be true of individual parts. Source: Logical Fallacies Handlist "The process of forming and applying concepts contains the essential pattern of two fundamental methods of cognition: induction and deduction. The process of observing the facts of reality and of integrating them into concepts is, in essence, a process of induction. The process of subsuming new instances under a known concept is, in essence, a process of deduction." -Ayn Rand, Introduction to Objectivist Epistemology (p28) This is an edited version the 11-1-12 live show with additional non-live segments. School Sucks is live on the Liberty Radio Network and UStream Thursdays at 10pm EST. Bumper Music: "Kickstart My Heart" Motley Crue Look Closer: Logical Fallacies Handlist http://web.cn.edu/kwheeler/fallacies_list.html Hasty Generalization http://web.cn.edu/kwheeler/fallacies_list.html#hasty_generalization_anchor Logical Fallacies Basics http://onegoodmove.org/fallacy/toc.htm Logical Fallacy: Tu Quoque http://www.fallacyfiles.org/tuquoque.html Ayn Rand Lexicon http://aynrandlexicon.com/ HBO: Real Time With Bill Maher http://www.hbo.com/real-time-with-bill-maher/index.html
Catallaxy describes a "self-organizing system of voluntary co-operation" -Friedrich Hayek Topic: A doctoral candidate named John, who currently teaches in Hawaii, calls in to the after-show to discuss education as a self-organizing system. He references a TED Talk by Sugata Mitra and some interesting outcomes from the One Laptop Per Child project in Ethiopia. Excerpt: "We left the boxes in the village. Closed. Taped shut. No instruction, no human being. I thought, the kids will play with the boxes! Within four minutes, one kid not only opened the box, but found the on/off switch. He'd never seen an on/off switch. He powered it up. Within five days, they were using 47 apps per child per day. Within two weeks, they were singing ABC songs [in English] in the village. And within five months, they had hacked Android. Some idiot in our organization or in the Media Lab had disabled the camera! And they figured out it had a camera, and they hacked Android." This is a portion the 11-1-12 After School (Sucks) Special. School Sucks is live on the Liberty Radio Network and UStream Thursdays at 10pm EST. Look Closer: Ethiopian kids hack OLPCs in 5 months with zero instruction http://dvice.com/archives/2012/10/ethiopian-kids.php Sugata Mitra: The child-driven education http://www.ted.com/talks/sugata_mitra_the_child_driven_education.html Catallaxy http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catallaxy
Catallaxy describes a "self-organizing system of voluntary co-operation" -Friedrich Hayek Topic: A doctoral candidate named John, who currently teaches in Hawaii, calls in to the after-show to discuss education as a self-organizing system. He references a TED Talk by Sugata Mitra and some interesting outcomes from the One Laptop Per Child project in Ethiopia. Excerpt: "We left the boxes in the village. Closed. Taped shut. No instruction, no human being. I thought, the kids will play with the boxes! Within four minutes, one kid not only opened the box, but found the on/off switch. He'd never seen an on/off switch. He powered it up. Within five days, they were using 47 apps per child per day. Within two weeks, they were singing ABC songs [in English] in the village. And within five months, they had hacked Android. Some idiot in our organization or in the Media Lab had disabled the camera! And they figured out it had a camera, and they hacked Android." This is a portion the 11-1-12 After School (Sucks) Special. School Sucks is live on the Liberty Radio Network and UStream Thursdays at 10pm EST. Look Closer: Ethiopian kids hack OLPCs in 5 months with zero instruction http://dvice.com/archives/2012/10/ethiopian-kids.php Sugata Mitra: The child-driven education http://www.ted.com/talks/sugata_mitra_the_child_driven_education.html Catallaxy http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catallaxy
Topic: Mark Edge and Ian Freeman, the hosts of Free Talk Live, join Osborne, Cory and me for a discussion about punishments and rewards, and peaceful parenting. The primary question driving our conversation: do incentives work? But is that really the right question? This is an edited version the 10-25-12 live show. School Sucks is live on the Liberty Radio Network and UStream Thursdays at 10pm EST. Bumper Music: "Damn Right I Got the Blues" Buddy Guy "Revival" Allman Brothers Look Closer: Free Talk Live http://www.freetalklive.com/ Street Giraffe http://www.wiseheartpdx.org/post/128 An Introduction to Nonviolent Communication http://happinesscounseling.com/NVC_Intro.pdf Punished by Rewards? A Conversation with Alfie Kohn http://www.alfiekohn.org/teaching/pdf/Punished%20by%20Rewards.pdf Parenting from Your Heart, by Inbal Kashtan http://www.naturalchild.org/guest/inbal_kashtan.html 10 Principles of Unconditional Parenting http://rainbowrecognizer.hubpages.com/hub/10-Principles-of-Unconditional-Parenting Secrets of Happy Parents Radio Show MP3: Unconditional Parenting with Alfie Kohn, author of Unconditional Parenting http://www.ahaparenting.com/radio-shows/unconditional-parenting The Argument From Morality...Or, how we will win, by Stefan Molyneux http://www.lewrockwell.com/orig6/molyneux7.html A Brief History of Ethics (Part 1) - Freedomain Radio http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AxmRYKnCDRg "How to Win Political Arguments" Stefan Molyneux from Freedomain Radio Speaks in New Hampshire http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UD_1nbahAts
Topic: Mark Edge and Ian Freeman, the hosts of Free Talk Live, join Osborne, Cory and me for a discussion about punishments and rewards, and peaceful parenting. The primary question driving our conversation: do incentives work? But is that really the right question? This is an edited version the 10-25-12 live show. School Sucks is live on the Liberty Radio Network and UStream Thursdays at 10pm EST. Bumper Music: "Damn Right I Got the Blues" Buddy Guy "Revival" Allman Brothers Look Closer: Free Talk Live http://www.freetalklive.com/ Street Giraffe http://www.wiseheartpdx.org/post/128 An Introduction to Nonviolent Communication http://happinesscounseling.com/NVC_Intro.pdf Punished by Rewards? A Conversation with Alfie Kohn http://www.alfiekohn.org/teaching/pdf/Punished%20by%20Rewards.pdf Parenting from Your Heart, by Inbal Kashtan http://www.naturalchild.org/guest/inbal_kashtan.html 10 Principles of Unconditional Parenting http://rainbowrecognizer.hubpages.com/hub/10-Principles-of-Unconditional-Parenting Secrets of Happy Parents Radio Show MP3: Unconditional Parenting with Alfie Kohn, author of Unconditional Parenting http://www.ahaparenting.com/radio-shows/unconditional-parenting The Argument From Morality...Or, how we will win, by Stefan Molyneux http://www.lewrockwell.com/orig6/molyneux7.html A Brief History of Ethics (Part 1) - Freedomain Radio http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AxmRYKnCDRg "How to Win Political Arguments" Stefan Molyneux from Freedomain Radio Speaks in New Hampshire http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UD_1nbahAts
Topic: Wes Bertrand joins me to discuss Nathaniel Branden's book, Breaking Free. Wes is currently doing on series on this book on Complete Liberty Podcast. "Do you believe you're worthless? Ineffectual? Mediocre? Helpless? Nathaniel Branden, best selling author of The Six Pillars of Self-Esteem introduces a revolutionary method to show you how repressed feelings and forgotten past experiences may have shaped your current sense of self. Breaking Free introduces 22 key questions designed to break down repressive barriers. Questions such as: Were you taught to be an independent thinker, or encouraged to be obedient? Were you free to express your fears openly, without fear of punishment? Did your parents' behavior towards you make you feel guilty? Were you taught to have a healthy and positive attitude toward sex and toward your own body? Through dramatized case studies, Branden reveals how responding to these key questions can expose you to new ways of thinking about yourself and your past. Breaking Free will liberate you from your inhibitions and allow you to have a greater sense of yourself and your true potential.." -GoodReads.com Complete Liberty Episode 165 - Breaking Free, part 1 Complete Liberty Episode 167 - Breaking Free, part 2 Complete Liberty Episode 170 - Breaking Free, part 3 Complete Liberty Episode 171 - Breaking Free, part 4 Complete Liberty Episode 172 - Breaking Free, part 5 This is an edited version the 10-18-12 Ustream-only live show. School Sucks is live on the Liberty Radio Network and UStream Thursdays at 10pm EST. Bumper Music: "Be Good, Johnny" Men At Work "Can We Start Again" Tindersticks Look Closer: Complete Liberty Podcast http://completeliberty.com/ NathanielBranden.com http://www.nathanielbranden.com/ An Introduction to Nonviolent Communication http://happinesscounseling.com/NVC_Intro.pdf Happiness Counseling Resource Page http://happinesscounseling.com/happiness-resources/ You Made It Weird Podcast With Pete Holmes http://www.nerdist.com/podcast/you-made-it-weird/
Topic: Wes Bertrand joins me to discuss Nathaniel Branden's book, Breaking Free. Wes is currently doing on series on this book on Complete Liberty Podcast. "Do you believe you're worthless? Ineffectual? Mediocre? Helpless? Nathaniel Branden, best selling author of The Six Pillars of Self-Esteem introduces a revolutionary method to show you how repressed feelings and forgotten past experiences may have shaped your current sense of self. Breaking Free introduces 22 key questions designed to break down repressive barriers. Questions such as: Were you taught to be an independent thinker, or encouraged to be obedient? Were you free to express your fears openly, without fear of punishment? Did your parents' behavior towards you make you feel guilty? Were you taught to have a healthy and positive attitude toward sex and toward your own body? Through dramatized case studies, Branden reveals how responding to these key questions can expose you to new ways of thinking about yourself and your past. Breaking Free will liberate you from your inhibitions and allow you to have a greater sense of yourself and your true potential.." -GoodReads.com Complete Liberty Episode 165 - Breaking Free, part 1 Complete Liberty Episode 167 - Breaking Free, part 2 Complete Liberty Episode 170 - Breaking Free, part 3 Complete Liberty Episode 171 - Breaking Free, part 4 Complete Liberty Episode 172 - Breaking Free, part 5 This is an edited version the 10-18-12 Ustream-only live show. School Sucks is live on the Liberty Radio Network and UStream Thursdays at 10pm EST. Bumper Music: "Be Good, Johnny" Men At Work "Can We Start Again" Tindersticks Look Closer: Complete Liberty Podcast http://completeliberty.com/ NathanielBranden.com http://www.nathanielbranden.com/ An Introduction to Nonviolent Communication http://happinesscounseling.com/NVC_Intro.pdf Happiness Counseling Resource Page http://happinesscounseling.com/happiness-resources/ You Made It Weird Podcast With Pete Holmes http://www.nerdist.com/podcast/you-made-it-weird/
Picture: Immanuel Kant and his shadow 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: Wes Bertrand (Complete Liberty Podcast) joins me to discuss what he calls the fallacy to rule them all - the stolen concept. "When modern philosophers declare that axioms are a matter of arbitrary choice, and proceed to choose complex, derivative concepts as the alleged axioms of their alleged reasoning, one can observe that their statements imply and depend on “existence,” “consciousness,” “identity,” which they profess to negate, but which are smuggled into their arguments in the form of unacknowledged, “stolen” concepts." -Ayn Rand, Introduction to Objectivist Epistemology (p59–60) This is an edited version the 10-18-12 Ustream-only live show. School Sucks is live on the Liberty Radio Network and UStream Thursdays at 10pm EST. To watch the full, unedited video show, click here. Bumper Music: "Cypher(Instrumental)" Duke West Lake "Head Over Heals" Tears For Fears Look Closer: Complete Liberty Podcast http://completeliberty.com/ The Self-Refuting Idea http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-refuting_idea Logical Fallacies Basics http://onegoodmove.org/fallacy/toc.htm Ayn Rand Lexicon http://aynrandlexicon.com/ The Stolen Concept, by Nathaniel Branden http://www.nathanielbranden.com/the-stolen-concept/
Picture: Immanuel Kant and his shadow 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: Wes Bertrand (Complete Liberty Podcast) joins me to discuss what he calls the fallacy to rule them all - the stolen concept. "When modern philosophers declare that axioms are a matter of arbitrary choice, and proceed to choose complex, derivative concepts as the alleged axioms of their alleged reasoning, one can observe that their statements imply and depend on “existence,” “consciousness,” “identity,” which they profess to negate, but which are smuggled into their arguments in the form of unacknowledged, “stolen” concepts." -Ayn Rand, Introduction to Objectivist Epistemology (p59–60) This is an edited version the 10-18-12 Ustream-only live show. School Sucks is live on the Liberty Radio Network and UStream Thursdays at 10pm EST. To watch the full, unedited video show, click here. Bumper Music: "Cypher(Instrumental)" Duke West Lake "Head Over Heals" Tears For Fears Look Closer: Complete Liberty Podcast http://completeliberty.com/ The Self-Refuting Idea http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-refuting_idea Logical Fallacies Basics http://onegoodmove.org/fallacy/toc.htm Ayn Rand Lexicon http://aynrandlexicon.com/ The Stolen Concept, by Nathaniel Branden http://www.nathanielbranden.com/the-stolen-concept/
Picture: From school to self-education...and so much more The show is on hiatus until the end of the month. In the meantime, here is an unreleased live show from a couple months ago. Topics: -Cognitive Bias -Sidney Roc from Gaming and Liberty Podcast calls in to discuss behaviorism and gaming -Cory and I discuss the difference between schooling and education -Cory and I discuss our work frustrations -Transitioning from school to self-education This is an edited version the 8-2-12 show After School (Sucks) Special. School Sucks is live on the Liberty Radio Network and UStream Thursdays at 10pm EST. Bumper Music: "A Man of Many Words" Buddy Guy and Junior Wells Look Closer: The Underground History of American Education: A Schoolteacher's Intimate Investigation Into The Problem Of Modern Schooling http://johntaylorgatto.com/underground/ Tips on Nurturing Your Child’s Curiosity http://www.zerotothree.org/child-development/social-emotional-development/tips-on-nurturing-your-childs-curiosity.html How I Would Unschool My Kids http://www.jamesaltucher.com/2012/07/how-i-would-unschool-my-kids/ Help John Taylor Gatto: Enter the coupon code: "SCHOOLSUCKS"
Picture: From school to self-education...and so much more The show is on hiatus until the end of the month. In the meantime, here is an unreleased live show from a couple months ago. Topics: -Cognitive Bias -Sidney Roc from Gaming and Liberty Podcast calls in to discuss behaviorism and gaming -Cory and I discuss the difference between schooling and education -Cory and I discuss our work frustrations -Transitioning from school to self-education This is an edited version the 8-2-12 show After School (Sucks) Special. School Sucks is live on the Liberty Radio Network and UStream Thursdays at 10pm EST. Bumper Music: "A Man of Many Words" Buddy Guy and Junior Wells Look Closer: The Underground History of American Education: A Schoolteacher's Intimate Investigation Into The Problem Of Modern Schooling http://johntaylorgatto.com/underground/ Tips on Nurturing Your Child’s Curiosity http://www.zerotothree.org/child-development/social-emotional-development/tips-on-nurturing-your-childs-curiosity.html How I Would Unschool My Kids http://www.jamesaltucher.com/2012/07/how-i-would-unschool-my-kids/ Help John Taylor Gatto: Enter the coupon code: "SCHOOLSUCKS"
Topic: Cory, Osborne and I discuss a new documentary film about psychopathy, power and society... "Every meaningful change starts with awareness. In our culture, we not only praise psychopaths in the highest positions of power, but in many cases, they became our role models. Challenge your beliefs! We have delved into the world of psychopaths and heroes and revealed something crucial about us." - I Am Fishead, documentary film About I Am Fishead: It is a well-known fact that our society is structured like a pyramid. The very few people at the top create conditions for the majority below. Who are these people? Can we blame them for the problems our society faces today? Guided by the saying "A fish rots from the head." we set out to follow that fishy odor. What we found out is that people at the top are more likely to be psychopaths than the rest of us. Who, or what, is a psychopath? Unlike Hollywood's stereotypical image, they are not always blood-thirsty monsters from slasher movies. Actually, that nice lady who chatted you up on the subway this morning could be one. So could your elementary school teacher, your grinning boss, or even your loving boyfriend. The medical definition is simple: A psychopath is a person who lacks empathy and conscience, the quality which guides us when we choose between good and evil, moral or not. Most of us are conditioned to do good things. Psychopaths are not. Their impact on society is staggering, yet altogether psychopaths barely make up one percent of the population. Read more... This is an edited version the 9-20-12 live show. School Sucks is live on the Liberty Radio Network and UStream Thursdays at 10pm EST. To watch the full, unedited video show, click here. Bumper Music: "Walking On Sunshine" Aly & AJ. "Halo/Walking On Sunshine" Glee Cast Look Closer: Hare Psychopathy Checklist http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hare_Psychopathy_Checklist Psychopathic boldness tied to U.S. presidential success http://esciencecommons.blogspot.com/2012/09/psychopathic-boldness-tied-to-us.html http://TragedyandHope.com http://www.tragedyandhope.com/ Help School Sucks, Tragedy and Hope and John Taylor Gatto: Enter the coupon code: "SCHOOLSUCKS"
Topic: Cory, Osborne and I discuss a new documentary film about psychopathy, power and society... "Every meaningful change starts with awareness. In our culture, we not only praise psychopaths in the highest positions of power, but in many cases, they became our role models. Challenge your beliefs! We have delved into the world of psychopaths and heroes and revealed something crucial about us." - I Am Fishead, documentary film About I Am Fishead: It is a well-known fact that our society is structured like a pyramid. The very few people at the top create conditions for the majority below. Who are these people? Can we blame them for the problems our society faces today? Guided by the saying "A fish rots from the head." we set out to follow that fishy odor. What we found out is that people at the top are more likely to be psychopaths than the rest of us. Who, or what, is a psychopath? Unlike Hollywood's stereotypical image, they are not always blood-thirsty monsters from slasher movies. Actually, that nice lady who chatted you up on the subway this morning could be one. So could your elementary school teacher, your grinning boss, or even your loving boyfriend. The medical definition is simple: A psychopath is a person who lacks empathy and conscience, the quality which guides us when we choose between good and evil, moral or not. Most of us are conditioned to do good things. Psychopaths are not. Their impact on society is staggering, yet altogether psychopaths barely make up one percent of the population. Read more... This is an edited version the 9-20-12 live show. School Sucks is live on the Liberty Radio Network and UStream Thursdays at 10pm EST. To watch the full, unedited video show, click here. Bumper Music: "Walking On Sunshine" Aly & AJ. "Halo/Walking On Sunshine" Glee Cast Look Closer: Hare Psychopathy Checklist http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hare_Psychopathy_Checklist Psychopathic boldness tied to U.S. presidential success http://esciencecommons.blogspot.com/2012/09/psychopathic-boldness-tied-to-us.html http://TragedyandHope.com http://www.tragedyandhope.com/ Help School Sucks, Tragedy and Hope and John Taylor Gatto: Enter the coupon code: "SCHOOLSUCKS"
