Indoctrination VS Education

It is been argued that the only real solution to prevent and resist indoctrination on an individual, community, or national level - is to have excellent teachers. Excellent teachers (which include parents, mentors, and other knowledgeable adults) train students in observation skills, listening, logos, methods of argument and analysis while supplying substantive subjects for consideration, action and reflection.   They teach a human being to evaluate,  to discern and determine what is true and what is false, to make judgement calls and to find solutions to problems on their own, with their own faculties. The best teachers, importantly, don’t succumb to promoting one ideology over another because they trust their student to reason through to "the right" (the ethical/moral/noble position)'way' and choose the course of action they have selected after thinking the problem through - then making an informed decision.  Considering the consequences of their decision and the follow on effects are also part of logical thinking skills...an integral component of an actual "education".   (see blog post of February 19, 2019 linked here for more details)
www.jopatti.com/blog/education-need-not-versus-training

Tragically, (and it is a tragedy what has happened to what was once a quality public education system for the USA compared to other countries)  there has been an agenda to "dumb down" the entire public education system for many decades.  This is/was a deliberate campaign to push back the advances made in teacher education, curriculum and school facilities in the late 1950's through the 1960's, promoted with enthusiasm under Presidents Eisenhower and Kennedy.  The United States encouraged and produced innovation in all realms, especially the scientific, engineering, design, aviation, communications and medical fields.  This was part of a national endeavor which for a short time included substantial funding and expansive opportunities for a greater number of children and adults from all economic, social, cultural and racial backgrounds in America.   In part, this was sparked by the "Space Race" and competition with the then, Soviet Union. 

However focus and standards in education slipped during the "Great Society" programs ushered in by President Lyndon B Johnson and his administration, which diverted funds from equal opportunity and educational projects to the Vietnam war effort.   The Department of Education was formed and institutionalized by 1980, and President Reagan's administration battled a recession that siphoned off funds from social programs yet again.  President Clinton proposed a plan very similar to President George Bush's "No Child Left Behind" (called by many educators/teachers..."Every Child Left Behind") passed in 2002, which was by most accounts a dismal failure for children, students and teachers.  Standardized testing and the pressures attached to "scoring" pushed the whole system down the slippery slope in America.  The "Educational Testing Services", materials, preparation and tutoring industries thrived. 

Then "Common Core"  and "Race to the Top"  (nicknamed by many in the schools as "Race to the Bottom") was initially drafted by a corporate consortium funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.  "That program foisted a set of national academic standards upon the states.  Unfortunately, those standards suffer from severe academic deficiencies and their implementation diminishes parenthood, imposes a fiscal burden on the states, and establishes a governance precedent that is irreconcilable with our Founding.  It is a federal takeover affecting public school, private school, and home school children." As one school board administrator pointed out,  "Common Core seemed much more like a marketing campaign than a coherent educational plan."     truthinamericaneducation.com/race-to-the-top/

After a few years of implementation here is what one Math teacher (representing the majority of skilled Math teachers)  wrote:  "I predict that if we continue implementing Common Core, average students will drop out of math as early as they are allowed.  Even math-bright students will hate math.  Tutoring companies will proliferate to serve wealthy families.  The educational gap between rich and poor will widen.  If we want to destroy math and science education in this country, keep Common Core."    www.educationviews.org/engineer-explains-common-core-math-disaster/        Unfortunately this prediction has proved true.

The pivot from an education system promoting original thought, inquiry, expression,  and debate while diligently requiring teachers and students to be competent in a well rounded curriculum in order to graduate, and proudly espousing a "value system" based on honor, integrity, family, selfless service and belief in God; to a more self-centered, completely secular, socialistic, globally oriented and bureaucratically monitored education system with fewer standards or requirements - started in the 1980's in earnest. 

The resulting plunge in all rankings and measurements of basic literacy competencies for American children-particularly in public schools from the late 1970's-can be documented up until 2019.  The USA is barely in the top 20 (except in spending) for all indicators.  This is a fall from the times the USA was consistently in the top ten.   Take a look at the countries ahead of the USA now-Russia (for example) listed as number five. Finland is consistently number one for the last decade.  These governments put a very high value on "education" and revised their entire system beginning with teacher preparation and training, to curriculum, smaller classes, no multiple guess testing, student incentives and higher pay for teachers and administrators:  worldtop20.org/2017-world-best-education-systems-1st-quarter-report     These countries provided financial support and incentives for professional development and novel approaches within their respective school and higher education programs.

The books shown below (in the uploaded images) are ones which provide an in- depth analysis with numerous examples of how and why the United States education system has been "dumbed down", engineered socially to handicap thinkers- create more of an "idiocracy" in the USA.   I suggest you start with John Taylor Gatto's books or search him on youtube, for his compelling and instructive talks on this subject.  All three authors are subject matter experts in pedagogy  and served in a number of capacities in the public education system and US government positions, over decades.   These authors reveal the mechanisms of increased "indoctrination" and bureaucratization by various political forces over time and the disastrous consequences to our generations of children and to our unique society founded on principles of a Republic, and the ideological commitment to freedom, liberty and justice for all.  Here is an excerpt from John Taylor Gatto's interview.  I highly recommended it.  More of his talks are available for free on youtube  www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ogCc8ObiwQ

While it may be sensibly argued that "indoctrination"  is part of life no matter what family, society, culture or country you grow up in...there are degrees of indoctrination as well as different methods of coercing or imparting indoctrination on a people.   Emphasizing patriotism and the "special" characteristics of your family, culture, community, country or religion-for example: 'Our way is the best, strongest, truest,' etc. -  is one way to drill/instill beliefs into a people and succeed  with a program of indoctrination.

Indoctrination relies upon the "passive" and cumulative actions by those in authority and those who have access to social control:  the media, internet, education, law enforcement, public figures - to inculcate (put into) children and adults a constant, repetitive ideology whereby the individual is encouraged not to think  but to absorb and accept certain beliefs and to shut out or mentally barricade themselves against other competing beliefs and/or narratives.  There is a negative aspect built in to denigrate "nerds", "eggheads", those who "think too much", "read too much" and those who question "too much",  "swim against the stream", try to be "tall poppies" and so on.  Indoctrination includes shaming those who resist and provokes others to quash viewpoints which counter the narrative they are promoting.

Let's look at a few current examples of indoctrination successfully woven into the very fabric of a country's education system as well as media, politics, law enforcement and focus for all societal behavior.  I will include countries I have had first hand experience with, working in their education system. I shall begin with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia or KSA. 

"Saudi Arabia has one of the most comprehensive government school systems in the Arab world, consuming roughly 30 percent of the kingdom’s budget. A third of the school day is taken up by instruction in Wahhabism. Private schools exist but must follow the same Wahhabi religious curriculum as the government schools. All books entering or leaving the kingdom are subject to scrutiny.  All textbooks are commissioned or selected by the central government. Consider some examples from recent or still-current textbooks: A text titled “Pictures from the Lives of the [Mohammed’s] Companions” describes how Jews and Christians were cursed by Allah for accepting polytheism and were turned into apes and pigs. An eighth grade textbook explains that the most important duties for a Muslim are jihad for the sake of Allah and the spread of Allah’s religion on earth.  Fifth graders are put on notice that “the whole world should convert to Islam and leave its false religions lest their fate will be hell.”  object.cato.org/pubs/pas/pa511.pdf   Excerpted from the report:  "Education and Indoctrination in the Muslim World: Is There a Problem? What Can We Do about It?"
 
The "role" and position of females in the KSA has been discussed at length, but the basic freedoms we enjoy in the West and in many countries such as:  access to education, freedom to move at will, the possibility of obtaining a driving license, owning property, having a voice in decision making from the family to representation in government, or a choice in religious beliefs and personal expression-including what you are permitted to wear...is repressed in the KSA.  Indoctrination is reinforced by restriction and punitive consequences, most of which are based on fear, monitoring, religious text interpretations and physical punishment/violence.

With faculty colleagues and students at Princess Noura University for Women, KSA 2013

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The current situation in China is known and reported by many but is escalating on a weekly basis.   This government uses sophisticated surveillance to "shame and name" those who don't conform and comply to what they consider to be "acceptable behavior" of a citizen-this includes posting names of "debtors" online.  It also "resists" any ideology which does not put "the State" first.  www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6620879/China-launches-app-tells-500-yards-debt.html

The recent government edict against any decorations and/or celebrations or greetings about Christmas showed their hand against Christians and Christianity.  The Chinese government and their President have escalated tactics by promoting atheism openly, especially in all schools and training centers.  No children are allowed to attend or even visit any church.  All teachers must sign an "Atheist Manifesto" and are not permitted to attend church services.   (see link below)

The forced relocation of Muslim Uighurs, detention camps and "ideological education, psychological rehabilitation and behavior correction" started in 2017.  "Islam must change to be compatible with Chinese socialism".    To these ends Uighur children can be separated from their families based on religion. www.dw.com/en/chinas-xinjiang-region-legalizes-muslim-internment-camps/a-45837413   Children can be put in  camps and orphanages.  They must attend compulsory "Loving Heart" schools to be "re-educated" away from their families and communities.  The Chinese government has taken cues from the policies used in the past by England, the USA, Australia, Canada and Cambodia.

Since 2013, there has been a significant government propelled crackdown on "western laden values infecting Chinese traditional culture and values". Document 9, was created and leaked which is an internal communiqué́:  "to stop universities and media from discussing seven taboo topics: Western constitutional democracy, universal values, civil society, neoliberalism, the Western concept of press freedom, historical nihilism, and questioning whether China’s system is truly socialist."    www.chinafile.com/features/whys-beijing-so-worried-about-western-values-infecting-chinas-youth 

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Children dressed in uniform sing after raising the national flag at the Beichuan Red Army Elementary School, in Beichuan, Sichuan province, January 21, 2015. Fred Dufour—AFP/Getty Images

This new policy of forced atheism and propaganda against religion may soon affect Shaolin training centers and Buddhist temples, even though they are the holders of ancient traditional culture from China.  See this article for more details.  Very concerning:  www.breitbart.com/asia/2019/02/22/chinese-kindergartners-forced-to-sign-atheist-manifesto/

The Chinese government's justification for the Uighur's internment camps and "re-education" is the threat of terrorism by Muslims and they have had serious incidents and cases of Islamic radicalization in their own citizenry.  foreignpolicy.com/2017/03/01/the-islamic-state-pledged-to-attack-china-next-heres-why/
thediplomat.com/2015/05/the-terrorist-threat-in-china/

However, Christians have not perpetrated any "terrorist" crimes against the Chinese.  They have not resisted the government, killed or injured people in the name of "Jesus Christ".   The churches have paid for the properties and permits needed to build churches and conduct services but under new guidelines, they may be in danger of forfeiture or their locations may be on an unwritten "no go list" for Chinese citizens who want to maintain a positive "social credit/social score".  Their churches and communities are being 'squeezed' by the current Chinese in authority.

In order to present a more balanced view of why a number of countries in the Middle East and East Asia have determined the influences from the west, most particularly from the United States and the United Kingdom, are to be prevented from entering their countries in any form-we do need to re-examine what they might be referring to and how they see our "education, entertainment, news and social mores" as "corrupt and evil indoctrination" and as "western propaganda endangering their children and citizens".   
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Consider the words of one Christian scholar, historian and writer Dr. E Michael Jones, from the United States, commenting on it's society and it's own corruption:
"The steady normalization of degeneracy and corruption occurring in the mainstream USA, the political and social control and indoctrination are achieved through the manipulation of people’s desires. Further, we consider the manifestation of socialist central planning that drives cultures away from their true identities, and this capitalist form of warfare feeds on exploiting illicit passions."

Or for a more secular point of view-read this text excerpted from a longer article referenced below:  
​“Crimes of the Educators” by Alex Newman reveals how the architects of America’s public school disaster implemented a plan to socialize the United States by knowingly and willingly dumbing down the population.  In the author’s estimation, it all adds up to indoctrination.    www.wnd.com/2015/07/public-schools-ruining-u-s-kids-with-indoctrination/
“We need to draw a clear, defining line between education, which enables people to know how to think, versus what the government is doing today, which is indoctrination, training people what to think rather than how to think and how to process information and how to have critical thinking ability,”  Newman explained.
The public education system is too far gone to be saved, Newman argues, largely because progressive educators such as John Dewey designed it specifically to dumb down and indoctrinate children. Therefore, he says modern education reformers need to start over if they wish to save the system."   The previous reform movements and programs have not worked well for America...mostly because they were not founded on the principles of "educare", but on the agendas of social engineers.

There is an antithetical relationship between true education and indoctrination. On both an individual basis, and as educators, parents, policy analysts, concerned citizens - we need to know what our focus is and what we are aiming for in our education system, in our children, our society and the next generations.   This should be a priority and a rally to action.   

As a closing this week, please watch a "pop culture" icon's music video entitled:  "Work B**ch".   This is a famous singer/performer from the USA who started off as a child actor/singer/dancer when she was only three years old and became known after her roles in Disney's 'Mickey Mouse Club'.   Look closely at the costumes, sets, ways women are presented (as slaves) the violence, decadence dripping from every angle.    Ask yourself honestly,   is this what you wish for yourself or your daughters, your grandchildren-any children to aspire to?  What kind of values are drummed into you  (do you recall) after these few minutes of images, music and lyrics?   What if these violent, erotic, images were pounded over and over every day year after year to children?    Well they are and this is a very tame music video and lyrics compared to many in the "West".
   
www.youtube.com/watch?v=pt8VYOfr8To
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​Are other countries policies designed to "protect" their children and/or all their citizens from being corrupted by western culture so unreasonable?  Does freedom mean to be completely free from accountability in what is created, displayed and sold?  Have a look at the photos below and remember-this is in place now and our children are subjected to this brainwashing, indoctrination, propaganda in our public schools, through media, conversations and curriculum.   Are you Ok with this?!    How will you work to change this  social engineering 'movement' or find a balance?

There are no easy answers.

Goodnight from the hills of Henan until next week,


Jo

REFERENCES:
John Taylor Gatto talk:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wk-MP8r38t0

thefederalist.com/2018/10/26/public-schools-indoctrinate-kids-without-almost-anyone-noticing/

encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/indoctrinating-youth

www.wnd.com/2015/07/public-schools-ruining-u-s-kids-with-indoctrination/
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www.nytimes.com/2017/10/15/world/asia/china-schools-propaganda-education.html
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https://www.breitbart.com/asia/2019/02/22/chinese-kindergartners-forced-to-sign-atheist-manifesto/