Rasilio:

Americans are much more free today than in the late 19th century. To say otherwise is utterly ridiculous. After Reconstruction, blacks had no political rights and few rights of any kind. What amounted to slavery, though obviously under different names, still took place. In cities, immigrants were treated horribly in industrial conditions, with many even being killed. They were also subject to racist subjugation. American Indians were forced into reservations. Amidst this, huge numbers of people were denied any political rights and had no freedom in the conditions they faced. Labor organizers were met with military opposition. Debt and overwhelming corporate power was used to coerce people into obedience. Upper class women who were not subject to this were still expected to live as second class citizens. Corruption was extremely widespread, at the expense of nearly everyone. And largely uneducated people could offer little opposition to all of this.

We are much, much more free now than then outside of false romantic images of the past.

It should be noted that by 1870 public education had already taken root, though only primary education was widespread.

As public education grew in the next century, people gained much more freedom as entrenched social stratification weakened considerably and people at large held political influence. And areas with stronger public schooling initiatives developed faster, notably the Northeast.

In fact, public education is in large part what separates us from the third world. It allows us to have a middle class.

Educated people are always more able to make decisions for themselves and play a part in society, and public education made it available to more than just the rich. In other words, public education gives people options in life, which is tantamount to freedom. People who understand the world around them are also more difficult to manipulate and control.

The teacher whose name you were looking for was John Taylor Gatto and he can be found here...

http://www.johntaylorgatto.com/

Public schooling has been extensively associated with greater freedom and prosperity. No where has this been more evident than our own country. Countries with "more public" schooling tend to have better public education.

There's also no real reason to believe that most of our private schools are any better than our decent public ones. They're problematic in how they suck away contributing families from public schools and let people ignore the condition of their public schools, in what becomes an unfortunate cycle.

Your views on religion I agree on, I'm more a fiscal conservative, but still side with the conservatives on matters of personal responsibility versus welfare. To me, freedom of religion also means freedom FROM religion if one so chooses. Evolution is the only thing we can study hands on, I suppose if some want to have creationism also taught, maybe we could work that in or just leave it up to parents.

However, the extra 3-5% tax is on your entire earnings if over whatever limit is considered "Higher Income". That limit seems to change every week. But it is not going to be on the about OVER that limit.

And like Boortz pointed out, you earned that money so you don't have to give back something that belongs to you to begin with. If you want to donate that's ok. But I prefer voluntary donations not forced.

I didn't catch this discussion till late in the day so no one will probably read this anyway....

I had to look up Mencken to see who he was. After learning he appreciated Nietzsche, I have to admit I became skeptical. While I appreciate Nietzsche, I distrust anyone who does.
I'm working two jobs and going to grad school to be a teacher. Not excited about it, but I agree that government schools are by and large a solvent to intelligence, initiative, and independence. I got through government school by being kicked out for being the aforementioned adjectives. Watching my son go through government schools is painful and I am hoping to change that this next year with a private school.

To AWK:
[To avoid confusion, your words are preceded with ~. Mine with *]
~As a matter of fact, my spouse and I DO in fact do pretty well, with good jobs at Fortune 500 companies. And, you know what, we will pay a little more under the Obama tax plan.
*Buy the latest release of any tax software - load the CD, it updates with NEW taxcode. It ain't over till the fat lady is on foodstamps... [Fair Tax supporter]
~The top 2 marginal tax rates will go from 33%/35% today to 36%/39.6% under the Obama proposal. So, we'll pay an extra 3% or so on the last few thousand dollars of our HH income.
*Wrong - your entire income will be taxed.
~And you know what? I don't mind. Like that extra few hundred bucks is going to make a big deal.
*You’ve seized another opportunity to brag. I’d be worried. Companies cut expenses by firing at the top, saving more jobs. Why not donate some of your extra money to pay for abortions – or stem cell research?
~Our American system has allowed me to do pretty well . . . not megawealthy, but nonetheless a comfortable life . . . and I really don't mind giving a little something back at a time of economic crisis. How about that concept, uh -- a little sacrifice for the national good. Patriotism is more than flag-waving and "I support our troops" bumper stickers on gas-guzzling SUVs, you know.
*I haven’t mentioned what kind of car I drive, claimed to be a patriot - or made mention of troops or flags.
~(Yes, go ahead, write the angry retorts that some leftist lunatic equates paying taxes with patriotism)
* Do you need government force to compel you to give? If you want to call it patriotism …you’re a patriot!
~I know it drives conservatives crazy that educated, higher income, urban people now vote democratic. Conservatives have lost this voting block due to their backwards-looking stances on the "cultural issues" like abortion, stem cell research, Terry Schiavo, attempts to sneak creationism into the schools, and so forth.
*I never claimed to be conservative. I haven’t given a stance on these issues - but they’re NOT cultural. Abortions and stem cell research should not be funded through taxation. Start a non-profit organization–funded by donations. A lot of people think this is about legalizing stem cell research. It’s NOT ILLEGAL. Hold telethons to raise money!
~If the repoublican party abandons its lunatic Taliban wing, I'll be happy to come into the republican party.
*I don’t care how you vote or label yourself. Labels discourage thought/responsibility. Labels are the equivalent of RACISM. Replace racism with political party in the definition:
rac•ism n.
The belief that race accounts for differences in human character or ability and that a particular race is superior to others.
Discrimination or prejudice based on race.

I agree there are lots of problems within our public schools, but don't lay the blame totally on the backs of the teachers. It is hard to teach children who come from homes where school and learning is not a priority. When children come to school from dysfunctional families where there is abuse or neglect, we have a difficult time engaging them in the learning process.

I know there are some teachers who probably should not be in a classroom teaching, and you are right that some of the rules will not allow these incompetent teachers to be fired.

Please do not tar all of us with the same brush, as there are many caring and very competent teachers out there working overtime to help these children become productive citizens.

Roberta:

As a matter of fact, my spouse and I DO in fact do pretty well, with good jobs at Fortune 500 companies. And, you know what, we will pay a little more under the Obama tax plan. The top 2 marginal tax rates will go from 33%/35% today to 36%/39.6% under the Obama proposal. So, we'll pay an extra 3% or so on the last few thousand dollars of our HH income. And you know what? I don't mind. Like that extra few hundred bucks is going to make a big deal.

Our American system has allowed me to do pretty well . . . not megawealthy, but nonetheless a comfortable life . . . and I really don't mind giving a little something back at a time of economic crisis. How about that concept, uh -- a little sacrifice for the national good. Patriotism is more than flag-waving and "I support our troops" bumper stickers on gas-guzzling SUVs, you know.

(Yes, go ahead, write the angry retorts that some leftist lunatic equates paying taxes with patriotism)

I know it drives conservatives crazy that educated, higher income, urban people now vote democratic. Conservatives have lost this voting block due to their backwards-looking stances on the "cultural issues" like abortion, stem cell research, Terry Schiavo, attempts to sneak creationism into the schools, and so forth.

If the repoublican party abandons its lunatic Taliban wing, I'll be happy to come into the republican party.

I have no idea if the security code is an "O" or a "Q", and a "C" or a "G". But if you're reading this, I guess I got it right.

Your comment is typical of those that demand the free exchange of ideas as long as those are ideas you agree with. Many renowned scientists were also bible believing Christians - http://www.adherents.com/people/100_scientists.html - so clearly, despite claims (such as yours) that the two are mutually exclusive, the belief in God and pursuit of science can quite happily co-exist.

I happen to live in Kansas, am a Christian, and have been homeschooling my 6th, 7th, and 9th grade children since Nov 2008. We did this because the too many teachers lack the will to enforce existing rules, spend too much time showing movies unrelated to the field of study, and often only present one side of an argument.

I want my children to know about the theory of evolution, the theory of global warming, and the theory of social justice - but I want them also to know the opposing viewpoints are as well.

Aren't you curious enough to think that maybe the Earth COULD BE less than 10,000 years old?

I think this only applies to U.S. government schools. Public schools in other countries, especially in Europe and Asia, churn out extremely intelligent and well-educates students at a regular rate. (They seem especially intelligent when compared to U.S. students...)

Goodness AWK...I was educated in Texas and not once did I hear in a classroom that the earth was less than 10,000 years old. I seem to recall a lot of emphasis on evolution. Texas, being an oil state also had a lot of information about geology...which was my first job out of college doing gravity and magnetic surveys looking at subsurface strata for places where petroleum might be lurking. You seem to be an idiot. Might just be an impression gathered from your posts. But it is obvious you are out of your league when commenting on Texas.

I do recall when education dumbed down in my hometown in Texas but they didn't start teaching religion...they started teaching liberalism..which was this notion that self esteem could be bestowed and wasn't a by-product of acheivement and knowledge. The problem with schools in Texas isn't religion at all...it is the political notions of fairness and anti-competition. You say you are a math major...you should remember that intelligence is as much about the conclusion reached as about the mechanism used to reach it. So if you look at the world I see and conclude that the solution is more government and higher taxes then math major or not...you're the moron.

I suppose a Jr. High math teacher with knowledege beyond basic calculus is not needed if they were an excellent teacher, but our mediocre teachers barely have a grasp on how to teach geometry and fractions. The more you know about your subject, the easier it is to explain in terms the kids can understand.

Can't put all the blame on the schools. There are plenty of parents who absolutely don't care what their kids do in school. The common threads seem to be long work hours that prevent any adults from being home very much, impovershed people just trying to survive, or bad marriages where the kids suffer. My kids tell me horror stories of kids who never hand in homework, never study, and compete with each other to disrupt the class. There seem to be two main groups: parents who think the only thing that matters is sports, and parents who in their cultural roots believe school ends when junior is old enough to find work as a laborer.

It is unfortunate Mr. Mencken didn't hold more sway when he was alive. When I was a grad student (mathematics), we took some pleasure in baiting an EdD on the faculty who offered the proposition that anything students absorbed could be evaluated with a multiple-guess test. There are other who are enamored of the phrase "drill and kill".

Public education is designed to create a society of compliant sheep, willing to work at menial to semi-skilled jobs, unlikely to make waves or question established authority. The mental model fits right in with the decor found in old East German or Soviet-era mass housing.

Sounds like these liberals commenting are still in love with their school teachers.

Good reason to keep homeschooling legal! It is a wonderful alternative and it needs to be kept as an option for parents!

Anyone seen Idiocracy??? gives you an idea of where we are heading

Nice description of Boortz!

Yes, standardization IS the goal. It is the goal of any societal mores institution. It makes communicating much easier if everyone has the same level of (mis)understanding.

Ah yes, "government" schools-where Neal got his primary education and where he sent his child to be educated. Can't you just feel the hypocrisy?

All I can say to Mencken's comment is: Last election - QED!