[speedgibson] Speed Gibson: The Fountainhead of Freedom

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Posted by Speed Gibson:
The Fountainhead of Freedom
http://speedgibson.powerblogs.com/posts/1246761367.shtml


   On this Independence Day, never has it been more apparent the value of
   education to a free society. Thanks to my friends at [1]District 279
   United, I found a remarkably clear explanation of this. In an
   [2]interview with the author of WALKING TARGETS: How Our Psychologized
   Classrooms Are Producing a Nation of Sitting Ducks, B. K. (Beverly)
   Eakman says the primary mission of our schools should be to
   (paraphrasing):
    1. Create a literate citizenry, capable of self-government.
    2. Ensure financial independence for that free citizenry, helping
       ensure political stability.
    3. Bolster moral standards consistent with the Foundersâ unique and
       Christian-based concept of democracy: life, the pursuit of
       happiness, national sovereignty, property rights, and free speech.

   That an Al Franken could get over a million votes in a supposedly
   well-educated state tells me that we have failed on all three. So what
   are our schools doing instead, according to Eakman?

     "The current function of school is to produce âhappy children.â In
     education jargon, the aim is to produce a âchild-centered
     curriculum[.]" [...] Of course, most schoolchildren are not happy.
     Proof is in the graffiti, vandalism, arson, school shootings, and
     just plain non-engagement on the part of students with what should
     be academic achievement."

   That's a bit dismissive of much genuine achievement by most of our
   students, but producing happy children does not preclude that outcome.
   It's just not a good enough outcome.
   Our school leaders constantly talk about preparing students for the
   21st century business world of high technology and global competition.
   This certainly addresses the financial independence goal, but only the
   half about making money, not the half about keeping it from an ever
   expanding, ultimately unsustainable dictatorial government.
   The three intertwined goals for preserving liberty? If anything, we
   seem to be going in the opposite direction, in the name of political
   correctness. Standards have been lowered and testing has been eased.
   And our heritage is clearly suspect to many educators: how dare we
   think our culture is better, despite the economic, social, and
   political evidence?
   The concept of capitalism's virtues and beneficent "invisible hand"
   require an educated mind to comprehend. We all have the more primal
   "something for nothing" weakness upon which socialism feeds. It is
   education that overcomes it, making one realize, "That won't work,"
   and ultimately, "That's not right."
   A competent 21st century education can and must include new events and
   ideas, but not at the expense of the foundation of our liberty.
   Education is the fountainhead of our freedoms. Let us always remember
   that, especially today.

References

   1. http://www.district279united.com/d279u/
   2. http://tinyurl.com/msvdma