This is true that the public school system works this way, but it doesn't have to and it didn't once upon a time. Charter systems or corporate schooling with it's top down system is not the answer, and studies have shown no more favorable results.

I agree with a lot of the views fnord expressed here, and thought - great subject for a video, I should show this to some people to start conversation.

Then I watched the video... So much conspiratorial broad-brushing and fearmongering! A shame. I'm tempted to try to put together a more even-headed narrative around the problems with fnord authoritarian education.

I can agree with the few first minutes, and that that the video portrays what definitely is the overall intent toward our education, but so much of this video is flawed it’s clearly made for those who are already inept at critical, independent thought.
As much as such a wake-up call is necessary for the populace of the world, I can't celebrate anything that just tries to manipulate the manipulable to their side.

death education?

yeah. I was with the video for the first couple minutes, but then it degenerates into paranoia and conspiracy theories.

Education system sucks, but it's not quite that bad. There is plenty of dissent in our system, maybe there isn't enough critical thinking, but this video acts like it's squashed utterly which is bull.

it just seems to me that the guy went through boot camp and is confusing it with the rest of the world.

His example of the TV anchors regurgitating the same headlines verbatim is just a bit unfair. sure it's a bit depressing to hear anchors repeat the same line exactly but that's what anchors are. They're paid to look good and read the news and that's it. if you're just trying to stay in touch with what's going on, that's all you need. If you want in depth analysis. That's not what your daily news is for.

I think this video is probably better at talking about the education system.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5xkp8ce7DQ

Sigh, this is stupid. Education is designed to forced subordination so as to make it easy to teach 20 - 30 kids without them running rampant. Output of information is retention of information. Granted there are people that don't learn to think for themselves, but these people would have difficulty doing this either way. Do we need to tech people to think for themselves? Yes. Is their some conspiracy to prevent it? No.

On the contrary, have you heard of the environmental literacy improvement act? It's basically legislation that forces schools to teach that there is a controversy about climate change among scientists. Public opinion is in favor of policies that aim to stop climate change, while the government of the USA has shown no interest in such legislation. It's no secret that alec (american legislative exchange council) is trying to push the environmental literacy improvement act into your schools, so that future generations show more ignorance and support the current direction of United States climate policy.

And I'm not talking about conspiracies here, I talk about facts. This is what is currently happening in your schools. And I haven't even started on the whole creationism crap.

So in conclusion, do we need to teach people to think for themselves? Yes. Are groups like alec, that are corporate funded, trying their best not to make that happen? Definitely.

No one is saying that people don't try to influence opinion in education, but this is an accusation on education as a whole. The education system is not designed for compliance to train worker bees, its designed to create a system of managing large classrooms with minimal staff. Its still wrong doing that and I'm certain that it is having a detrimental effect. But classrooms are still lead by the teacher and each teacher would have to repress thinking outside the box individually. I don't know about you, but my teachers did the opposite. If it is a conspiracy, its very poorly managed.

I just read my original comment and I see that it sounds like I think there is a conspiracy. That wasn't what I meant, just that there are groups that have the sole purpose of undermining critical thinking in classrooms. You are right that a teacher still has the lead, but they are required to teach what the board of education wants them to teach (I don't if this is the right institution, in germany it's called Ministry of education).

No it's designed this way, there was too much democracy in the 60s, too many kids standing up and questioning authority. The answer from the Trilateral Commission, Carter was involved with it and it's considered very liberal, was that the Education sector was not doing it's job to properly indoctrinate the students. You can read about it if you like the Trilateral Commission's "The Crisis of Democracy." It's not a conspiracy it's very well laid out and open.

Saying that there is a conspiracy to control american intellectual attitudes and direction is like saying there's a conspiracy in Apple to get people to buy their product through advertising. This was recognized a century ago, when you don't have a big stick to beat the populace with you have to "Manufacture Consent."

The first half is very good. He kinda loses his thesis though. Upvote for discussion.

Edit: NDT says something in line with the first half of this video:

"We spend the first year teaching children to walk and talk and the rest of their lives telling them to shut up and sit down."

http://videosift.com/video/Neil-deGrasse-Tyson-Want-Scientifically-Literate-Children

We are taught everything you mentioned through life. School is to educate through science rather than religion. Accept that this is the end of faith you parrot. Please stop your video productions — you are not saying anything original at all and it is a waste of time. PONTIFICATION.

In order to learn you have to stop believing and keep your head out of your ass at the same time. I cannot find your head anywhere.