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As referenced in the comment with the Foucault quote, the modern school and prison are both structures designed in a way that makes it easier for their authorit
by devnull255 6y ago
As referenced in the comment with the Foucault quote, the modern school and prison are both structures designed in a way that makes it easier for their authorities (wardens, guards, principals and teachers) to contain and control their captive populations (prisoners and students).
In his book "Discipline and Punish", Foucault argues that in the establishment of the modern prison, the mission of imprisonment shifted from punishing those who were imprisoned to reforming and disciplining them to become better citizens. The same organizing principles of command and control developed for "modern" prisons were applied to the "modern" school as well. I thought the game eerily demonstrated how similar prisons and schools look to one another. Both kinds of buildings are designed to limit access to the building and also egress.
- kiba 6y agoI doubt that is how schools functions and that they were trying to make obedient citizens that follows regular hours or whatever nonsense people conjure up. The reason schools operate that way is simple: sheer inertia combined with just being impervious to reform.
- bbddg 6y agoReally interesting analysis: "schools operate that way because that's the way they are."
- albatruss 6y agoWhat makes the the nonsense you're conjuring up, with no argument or research, more valid than that of the renowned philosophers you are trivially dismissing? Doubt is good, but strong, unjustified claims are not.
- kiba 6y agoBecause the education system wasn't in fact designed to produce factory workers for a regimented system.[1](http://hackeducation.com/2015/04/25/factory-model http://hackeducation.com/2015/04/25/factory-model) This is the problem with attributing purposes for which our ancestors never intended.
- albatruss 6y agoInteresting link, thanks for sharing. I read it and I think there's some miscommunication going on. The author is criticizing Sal Khan and like for suggesting that there was a deliberate, cohesive factory model (designed in order to..) whereas the commenter recounting Foucault here talks about the effects of the model, not its intention (designed in a way that...) Indeed there is no mention of Foucault in that article. I read through her blog more and this is the first one I found that mentions the book in question http://hackeducation.com/2020/07/20/surveillance http://hackeducation.com/2020/07/20/surveillance (also an interesting read)
- watwut 6y agoRenowned philosophers tend to be good in philosophy. They are not necessary great in history, sociology or how various organizations work. They have own biases and it is also pretty easy to take their claims out of context to sound like something much stronger.
- albatruss 6y agoFoucault in particular is known for his genealogical approach, though. I agree that it's very easy to misuse their claims.
- alisonkisk 6y agoWhich philosophers? Foucault was talking about prisons, not schools.
- deleted 6y ago[deleted]
- watwut 6y ago> The same organizing principles of command and control developed for "modern" prisons were applied to the "modern" school as well You don't know much about prisons seems to me. As in, once one know just a little how it functions, the above sounds either extraordinary stupid.