Allow me to point people to "Rationality Rules" on Youtube and Patreon. They carefully and thoroughly debunk grifters like Dennis Prager. It's refreshing.
I asked a guy who grew up under the still-existing Communist education in Russia whether they really had to sing songs about Lenin and the heroism of Stalin(!) and he confirmed it; started in kindergarten.
But, he said, NOBODY believed it. Kids sang along, but with no more belief than in Rudolph having a red-light nose.
Not to diss the needed efforts by parents and teachers to push back, by journalists to expose and embarrass - notice the Ohio school dropped the videos as soon as they were *questioned*, like cockroaches avoiding the light.
But, they're more pathetic than scary. The global warming issue is so over - that was before this staggering summer. All you can do is embarrass yourself with it. The sexual-minority ranting will fare no better, as the kids grow up. The "Gay Agenda" propaganda in the 90s had everything going for it, no politician brave enough to oppose it - so much more ignorance then. And it lost.
The larger issue of "indoctrination" in schools isn't even about the material; it's how kids and teachers are expected to behave. Teachers used to turn a blind eye to most bullying, would consign "different" kids to *needing* some bullying, because they'd have to be tough, what with that harelip.
I just didn't see younger and younger engineers showing up in my office with less and less math and physics. They were just as good engineers as ever, so I assume the overall system can still pound calculus into you. What I saw were people more and more sensitive to other's feelings.
That alone is what these folks hate, believe it or not. They've always turned "compassion" into an insult: "bleeding-heart liberals", then "politically correct", then "woke": all translate to "concerned for others who have it harder".
“We have to get away from viewing the world through the eyes of the professional grievance-peddlers who make their bones by getting supporters fired up online”. Who can quarrel with that proposition? But remember: this is not just a tendency of “the political right”. See for example: “A Letter on Justice and Open Debate” in July 2020 issue of Harpers Magazine, discussed by Stephen Pinker, here:
And of course, in the context of higher education, one might expect more tolerance for unorthodox opinion; while in a primary school, one might expect more deference to parental choices, despite the demands of ideologues. And even though Lenin and Loyala both hoped to influence children while they were young.
Moreover, the problem is not confined to primary and secondary education. Not only is cancel culture rife in the academies, as mentioned above; but where is the evidence that someone trained at a law school ascribing to Christian principles, is ipso facto, unable to faithfully practice law; so that they must be barred from this profession, because their law school was not politically correct?
So perhaps the key is to be wary of rigid ideological or religious commitments altogether; since they seem to lie at the root of so much intolerance. Moreover, it is always useful to remember the advice of Humpty Dumpty, especially in matter of language, which is so often the focal point of dispute (who can forget the CBC’s forbidden words):
“When I use a word”, Humpty Dumpty said in rather a scornful tone, “it means just what I choose it to mean — neither more nor less.” “The question is,” said Alice, “whether you can make words mean so many different things.’” “The question is,” said Humpty Dumpty, “which is to be master — that’s all.”
This is really about power and dominance and the ability to silence unwelcome opinions. It is about politics, not principles, and it is certainly not about “truth”.
Interesting that mandatory schooling in North America coincided with the 2nd Industrial Revolution. Raising a society of well behaved factory workers. "The more they are instructed, the less liable they are to the delusions of enthusiasm and superstition. An instructed and intelligent people, besides, are always more decent and orderly than an ignorant and stupid one” , Adam Smith: pioneering philosopher of free-market capitalism.
PragerU Kids is Sesame Street for the Terminally Online
The Florida Department of Education confirms to me that PragerU Kids is acceptable supplemental material in Florida classrooms.
Allow me to point people to "Rationality Rules" on Youtube and Patreon. They carefully and thoroughly debunk grifters like Dennis Prager. It's refreshing.
https://www.youtube.com/@rationalityrules/
I asked a guy who grew up under the still-existing Communist education in Russia whether they really had to sing songs about Lenin and the heroism of Stalin(!) and he confirmed it; started in kindergarten.
But, he said, NOBODY believed it. Kids sang along, but with no more belief than in Rudolph having a red-light nose.
Not to diss the needed efforts by parents and teachers to push back, by journalists to expose and embarrass - notice the Ohio school dropped the videos as soon as they were *questioned*, like cockroaches avoiding the light.
But, they're more pathetic than scary. The global warming issue is so over - that was before this staggering summer. All you can do is embarrass yourself with it. The sexual-minority ranting will fare no better, as the kids grow up. The "Gay Agenda" propaganda in the 90s had everything going for it, no politician brave enough to oppose it - so much more ignorance then. And it lost.
The larger issue of "indoctrination" in schools isn't even about the material; it's how kids and teachers are expected to behave. Teachers used to turn a blind eye to most bullying, would consign "different" kids to *needing* some bullying, because they'd have to be tough, what with that harelip.
I just didn't see younger and younger engineers showing up in my office with less and less math and physics. They were just as good engineers as ever, so I assume the overall system can still pound calculus into you. What I saw were people more and more sensitive to other's feelings.
That alone is what these folks hate, believe it or not. They've always turned "compassion" into an insult: "bleeding-heart liberals", then "politically correct", then "woke": all translate to "concerned for others who have it harder".
“We have to get away from viewing the world through the eyes of the professional grievance-peddlers who make their bones by getting supporters fired up online”. Who can quarrel with that proposition? But remember: this is not just a tendency of “the political right”. See for example: “A Letter on Justice and Open Debate” in July 2020 issue of Harpers Magazine, discussed by Stephen Pinker, here:
https://www.google.com/search?q=ctv+steven+pinker+cancelled+interview&rlz=1C1FHFK_enCA1055CA1055&ei=hRm7ZJX2AioptQPtfmv6A0&oq=ctv+steven+pinker+cancel&gs_lp=Egxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAiGGN0diBzdGV2ZW4gcGlua2VyIGNhbmNlbCoCCAEyBRAhGKABMgUQIRigAUimSlDSCVjvNnACeACQAQCYAYoBoAHQCqoBBDE0LjK4AQHIAQD4AQHCAgsQABiKBRiGAxiwA8ICBxAhGKABGArCAgQQIRgV4gMEGAEgQYgGAZAGAQ&sclient=gws-wiz-serp#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:8213fd23,vid:-erKC_TT9dQ
And of course, in the context of higher education, one might expect more tolerance for unorthodox opinion; while in a primary school, one might expect more deference to parental choices, despite the demands of ideologues. And even though Lenin and Loyala both hoped to influence children while they were young.
Moreover, the problem is not confined to primary and secondary education. Not only is cancel culture rife in the academies, as mentioned above; but where is the evidence that someone trained at a law school ascribing to Christian principles, is ipso facto, unable to faithfully practice law; so that they must be barred from this profession, because their law school was not politically correct?
So perhaps the key is to be wary of rigid ideological or religious commitments altogether; since they seem to lie at the root of so much intolerance. Moreover, it is always useful to remember the advice of Humpty Dumpty, especially in matter of language, which is so often the focal point of dispute (who can forget the CBC’s forbidden words):
“When I use a word”, Humpty Dumpty said in rather a scornful tone, “it means just what I choose it to mean — neither more nor less.” “The question is,” said Alice, “whether you can make words mean so many different things.’” “The question is,” said Humpty Dumpty, “which is to be master — that’s all.”
This is really about power and dominance and the ability to silence unwelcome opinions. It is about politics, not principles, and it is certainly not about “truth”.
Interesting that mandatory schooling in North America coincided with the 2nd Industrial Revolution. Raising a society of well behaved factory workers. "The more they are instructed, the less liable they are to the delusions of enthusiasm and superstition. An instructed and intelligent people, besides, are always more decent and orderly than an ignorant and stupid one” , Adam Smith: pioneering philosopher of free-market capitalism.