William T. Harris Quote

“Our schools have been scientifically designed to prevent over-education from happening. The average American [should be] content with their humble role in life, because they're not tempted to think about any other role.”

~ William T. Harris

1889

Ratings and Comments


jim k, austin

Turn "people" into "sheeple" and forget about really educating them. Don't let them get too smart or they may see how this public school scam really works.

jim k, austin

Oops, the "to" above , should be "too".

Waffler, Smith, Arkansas

Thank God for average Americans (of course there always will be an average, but nothing wrong with raising the level a little) and thank God that we do not over-educate our children. The proper role of teachers and parents in a free society is to give children awareness and opportunities and watch the individual blossom. Force feeding knowledge for regurditation and Grades is not what true education is about. We do not need a population of 100% college graduates etcetera. There is a place for everyone in this society so let each one develop to his best potential and desire. And the right wingers think that the state is controlling and pushy! Ha!Ha!

RobertSRQ
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RobertSRQ    5/22/08

Don't let the sheeple get to smart as they may see the Truth and how they are manipulated on a daily basis; and how their savings and pensions are stolen by government and big business; and how they are fed just enough news to keep them uninformed; and why wars are started; and why we put dictators in power; and how, how, how...

Ken, Allyn, WA

I would say this scientific experiment is a "success". We are again being exhorted to accept our humble role in life, just as in the days of Carter's malaise. Why just the other day in Oregon Barak Obama said, "We can't drive our SUVs and, you know, eat as much as we want and keep our homes on, you know, 72 degrees at all times..." Why is it progressives' "progress" always seem to make our lives worse?

Mike, Norwalk

What an accurate depiction of today. The role of sovereign and responsible freemen have been educated out of the many.

jim k, austin

Waffler, never fear , there is no chance that our public schools will EVER over educate anyone. Mark Twain once said that he never let schooling interfere with his education. And that was back when the schools actually taught something.

Jack Steinhoff, The Land of Cleve

We are not taught to think. Lied to from day one. Pigeon holed into the roles society would have us play. Not I. I have thrown off the yoke. I have sought and found truth in many wonderful places. My experience and knowledge abound and I learn daily. At times though, I almost yearn for my former ignorance. Terrible to be able to see through the lies and watch everyone being fooled. Without being able to do anything to stop it.

E Archer, NYC

You get what you pay for. To expect a 'free education' to be without strings is to be as dumb as they intend to keep you. Of course there will always be those 'trouble-makers' who buck the system and actually learn something despite their 'education.'

warren, olathe

He was an egalitarian. It is much easier to make things equal by teaching to the lowest common denominator than to try to raise the bar for all.

Morgan, Franklin, Pa.

How dare you attempt to eduacate youselves! that is for the rich and powerful elite!! Plato's Allegory of the Cave still speaks volumes when taken into context with today's society. The better and smarter we get, the more control the States and Governments seek to impose on our lives... in order to better it!

Joe, Fresno

Look around, where's the outrage? W whips the country into a "patriotic" spending spree, enriching his rich friends further...No Child Left Behind indeed (lockstep education)...W chips away at the constitution...makes Nixon look like a boy scout...now with O we are bailing out the rich hedge fund investors with the "stimulus" package... and not much more than a whimper from the "We the People"...meanwhile on Face Book, the talk is of American Idol... and the sheep continue to "bah bah..." on this quote.

Anonymous
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    Anonymous    3/1/09

    If this quote is meant to be a description of our education system, two-three stars (I disagree with Harris's outlook). If it's meant to describe how education should be... -2,000,000 stars.

    Anonymous, USA

    Started off Kids were asked just stay in school and get a high school education. Then it turned out we needed more but some refused to believe it and then some got really Liberal Professors and college started having Protests on the Campus about one thing then another. Then the Protests on that one campus that got students shot and some killed. Then all the Protests about the Vietnam War which did more harm to our troops then to the War itself and the big money people who were pushing the war to make money. But back then the kids were drafted and a lot of them did not agree with the War but a lot did. Then you had people coming back talking bad about some of the troops, like Kerry, who supposedly got a questionable war hero's metal, but talked about his fellow troops as if he was the only sane person over there and he was the only person that did not make mistakes and now he is a Senator but acts like a Socialist and I guess you could refer to him as the MR. Jane Fonda of the Vietnam war. How could anyone in Massachusetts vote for this man???

    Waffler, Smith

    Wow this happened way back in 1889! So what is all the crap people are saying that the schools have been subverted in this later age particulaly by the Obama and liberal crowd. It is all BS I tell you about folk constanly complaining about the schools. They were complaining in 1889, when I went to school in the 1950's and still now. I tell you the complaint about schools is really just some ingrained, innate complaint about kids or dislike of kids or fear of kids and the future.

    jim k, Austin,Tx

    The problem with schools started along about the time of Horace Mann. Public school education is a misnomer, it has little to do with education.

    J Carlton, Calgary

    Waffler, not one comment above connects Obama to our present day indoctrination system. As usual your imagination runs your life, like all "progressives". No wonder you can't be taken seriously...other than as a malignant threat to our nation that is.

    Waffler, Smith

    and you miss the point J, I suspect intentioally. Okay so I was wrong about Obama being involved but is there something wrong with this asinine carping about schools and with so called liberty tree printing these stupid quotes from 1889?

    cal, lewisville, tx

    jim k, I totally agree with you all the way. Our nation's beginning leaders were the best and were taught by home tutors.

    Ronw13, Yachats Or

    Even then, knowing how well that system had instill behavior. 99 out of a hundred would follow given patterns learned. Dumbing down ! Harris was Socratic in his philosophy. Wanting to instill morality and respect. He inherited a system already well entrenched.

    Denise, Durango

    Spoken like a true Marxist! Exactly the same brainwash dumbing down in schools today. Kids are not taught how to think critically, ask well thought out questions...just put on your little Judas goat bell and collar and go for it...
    Home schooled kids, by and large, stand out in the crowd. Have friends who've homeschooled and the kids are well adjusted: guess what mom and dad care enough to invest time in them; well mannered, intelligent and happy.
    If I had a business I'd hire home schooled young adults without fail.

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