Monologue-style critique of the traditional K–12 school system arguing that formal schooling is harmful to children. The speaker cites John Taylor Gatto and his book Weapons of Mass Instruction, claims schools prioritize reproducing the schooling system and producing compliant industrial-age employees rather than teaching subjects, and concludes the system makes children feel devalued.
Chapters
I know people think I'm kidding when I say this, but I'm not. I believe that school is a terrible thing to do to a child. When I say I believe that school is a terrible thing to do to a child because number one, the school knows it's a terrible thing. Five time teacher of the year John Taylor Gatto wrote a book called Weapons of Mass Instruction. And he became delusional about his industry of teaching when he realized one day that the purpose of a teacher is not to teach the subject. The purpose of the teacher is to teach the system of school. What happens at school, they go into an artificial environment with a bunch of people their age, learn the bad habits of other children's parents, have teachers who don't believe in them pretending to teach them when they're only attempting to validate their degree. There are good teachers out there, but the system is rigged to manufacture employees for industrial age businesses. It's an outdated, dilapidated, broke down system and it makes children feel like they're not worth it. So that's why I believe school is a terrible thing to do to a child.