“Governments have ever been known to hold a high hand over the education of the people. They know, better than anyone else, that their power is based almost entirely on the school. Hence, they monopolize it more and more.”

This might be true as this quote goes But there is a greater education outside of school.The education that you get from living a full life can not be taught in schools and that education is of more importance (in my eyes) than anything one learns in a school.

Ahh yes, the dumbing down of America. The liberals and conservatives are battling to see who can be the stupidest (-: the firstest, leaving liberty at a loss for lack of an intelligent thought.

O how true this is... and the more they control education the more they are able to manipulate the young and malleable minds of youth. The more we steer the young from political and philosophical discourse the more they can be controlled. The more a mind is educated the more they become Liberal and Liberalism is a dirty word in America.

The evidence in Kansas & Penn. is in, and it holds forth the truth of which Robert speaks (other than his use of the word "liberal", as "educated" does not make one "liberal", but rather "true independant"... who sees the need for a balanced society).

You get what you pay for -- those that count on government-funded schools can expect nothing but indoctrination.

The purpose of government schools: to educate just enough to produce acceptably compliant drones to do simple tasks and pay taxes, but not so educated as to become troublesome to the ruling elite.

Children must be de-programmed daily. Make sure you ask..."So, what did you learn in school today?"

In current times we have decided that providing education is the greater good when in fact providing freedom of education is paramount.

Correct government, good governemnt, is or should be, only the people! The people in its broadest sense is the surest safe guard for good schools. The Jesuit system of schools and colleges was started for the purpose of keeping society "within the church", it was not for free and open minded education. Most private schools are just the same, they have a preset purpose and "it aint't education per se".

Just remember this folks...history repeats itself. Firing squads and all. Vote these clowns out. ALL OF THEM!

Great minds do think alike. This reminds me of the Lincoln quote (paraphrasing) The philosophy in the classroom today is the philosophy of the government tomorrow. The obsession with the public schools to interest children in their self-esteem, libido,disrespect for our society and dishonor for our history has led to an economically ignorant populace that is exploited by the politicians, perhaps to the extinction of our nation. We need an army of business volunteers to go into the high schools and speak to the U.S. Govt classes for an hour each semester to explain what will become of their as yet unearned paychecks. Make them calculate over their lifetimes how much will be siphoned from their paycheck - their property- before they can even touch it. And don't forget the employer matching stuff - To pay our employees $100.00, it costs us $130.00. They take home under $80.00. They can do that math.

Waffler, sad to see that you are a victim of public education. .

Theocratic seminaries (government schools) show test score results of lessening intelligence and greater ignorance. The "A" from Reston - balance what, liberty, law and intelligence with tyranny, enslavement and ignorance? Ok, that happened and a new norm resulted. Add more theocratic seminary dogmas to the new norm and you have a never ending cycle of increased tyranny, enslavement and ignorance.