Why Our Coercive System of Schooling Should Topple
"In public schooling after 5th grade when kids are relentlessly mean and social pressure overshadows the joy and passion of learning, I stopped learning altogether. Well, actually I did learn how to do some things. I learned how to be perpetually stressed, anxious, how to memorize, how to pass tests, how to get good grades without taking in information, how to be obedient and subservient, how to just get by without causing a fuss or bringing any attention to myself ever. I loved learning in elementary school and I excelled. But when the goal of 'learning' became making honor roll and getting good grades to get into a good college, then actually digesting information and critically thinking about it went completely out the window. I didn't read books, I read cliffnotes. I cheated on tests and copied homework. I had no time anyway for the HOURS of agonizing nightly homework, since I was working part time anyway after school.
Years later, feeling like a souless, conformist, blah of a person, who watched reality tv shows and ready celebrity gossip, my husband would encourage me to read and learn to relax and find joy in learning real things that mattered. I started reading for fun, and enjoyed it, reading the books that I wanted to read and wasn't forced to read. I started with YA fiction and eventually moved onto beautiful literature, as my vocabulary improved and mind opened book after book. I felt stupid for not understanding nightly news, because I had no concept of global affairs, history, or civics, because I didn't learn about it in school (or avoided it) - so I started to read text books on my own, read wikipedia, watch documentaries, etc. My world soon opened up and a light that had been out for most my life turned on. I LOVE learning, reading, studying.. I can't get enough of it now. Every night I read.
Why? Because I get to do it on MY time, and relate it to my direct experiences, and am not forced to get out of it what a teacher demands I get, or do busy work and stupid worksheets. I've learned more in the past 2 years than I have in 10+ years of public formal education, and I am SO grateful and happy about it, but am also sickened at that waste of time AND the damage that was inflicted on me during those years. I was taught to be scared, obedient to authority, anxious, a good worker bee be who did not ask questions or feel passionate about anything.. Just taught to 'work hard so that you will get into a good college and get a good job and be happy', I heard those direct words from multiple teachers more than once. Very ironic because the life I would ultimately lead based on those words was anything but happy. I was a soulness, consumer, conformist. I would go to the voting booths during election time, and have not a clue about who or what I was voting for, just did what the media or what someone told me I should do. I had no reference level on history or world affairs or anything that really mattered, that could help someone make meaningful, purposeful, creative, ethical choices in life.
The worst part about my public school years is that I received no emotional guidance whatsoever. I was clearly stressed out, suffering from crippling social anxiety disorder. I had no guidance counselors or mentors or anyone to help steer me in the right directions towards therapy or learning basics of emotional intelligence. Instead, my anxieties were worsened on a daily basis in too big classrooms, forced presentations, intimidation, fear (about not succeeding if we didn't work hard enough) impersonal + limited interactions with teachers, etc. I, like above, would have to learn in my 20s ON MY OWN about psychology, emotional intelligence and wellbeing, ethics, and the skills required to be a HAPPY, balanced, emotionally stable human being. I can't believe of all things, this is not a focal point of public schooling."
https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/freedom-learn/201612/why-our-coercive-system-schooling-should-topple?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Freedom-to-Learn+%28Freedom+to+Learn%29