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This reminds me of an essay that Paul Graham wrote that compares schools to prisons: http://www.paulgraham.com/nerds.html http://www.paulgraham.com/nerds.html

This reminds me of an essay that Paul Graham wrote that compares schools to prisons: http://www.paulgraham.com/nerds.html http://www.paulgraham.com/nerds.html > Public school teachers are in much the same position as prison wardens. Wardens' main concern is to keep the prisoners on the premises. They also need to keep them fed, and as far as possible prevent them from killing one another. Beyond that, they want to have as little to do with the prisoners as possible, so they leave them to create whatever social organization they want. From what I've read, the society that the prisoners create is warped, savage, and pervasive, and it is no fun to be at the bottom of it. > In outline, it was the same at the schools I went to. The most important thing was to stay on the premises. While there, the authorities fed you, prevented overt violence, and made some effort to teach you something. But beyond that they didn't want to have too much to do with the kids. Like prison wardens, the teachers mostly left us to ourselves. And, like prisoners, the culture we created was barbaric.

KittenInABox 6y ago
> Beyond that, they want to have as little to do with the prisoners as possible, so they leave them to create whatever social organization they want. I went to a public school that was most definitely not like this. My teachers were really invested in the students and often perform significant emotional labor for children who don't otherwise have supportive adult relationships. I went to many schools (moved a lot) and they all largely had teachers who were passionate about the well being of the children under their care. I had a very poor home life and having teachers who identified I was going into a suicidal spiral was very useful when I was a teenager.
itisit 6y ago
It turns out Paul Graham's experience is his own and not necessarily indicative of a larger trend or phenomenon.
- Shorel 6y ago
  It turns out that Americans' experiences are their own and not necessarily indicative of a larger trend or phenomenon in civilized countries. We of course, are endlessly subjected to an artistic representation of it in Holywood films.

KittenInABox 6y ago

> Beyond that, they want to have as little to do with the prisoners as possible, so they leave them to create whatever social organization they want. I went to a public school that was most definitely not like this. My teachers were really invested in the students and often perform significant emotional labor for children who don't otherwise have supportive adult relationships. I went to many schools (moved a lot) and they all largely had teachers who were passionate about the well being of the children under their care. I had a very poor home life and having teachers who identified I was going into a suicidal spiral was very useful when I was a teenager.

itisit 6y ago

It turns out Paul Graham's experience is his own and not necessarily indicative of a larger trend or phenomenon.

Shorel 6y ago
It turns out that Americans' experiences are their own and not necessarily indicative of a larger trend or phenomenon in civilized countries. We of course, are endlessly subjected to an artistic representation of it in Holywood films.