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This entire essay reeks about whattaboutism, and it seems to basically lead to an attempt to validate conservative anti-mask and anti-covid-lockdown sentiments

This entire essay reeks about whattaboutism, and it seems to basically lead to an attempt to validate conservative anti-mask and anti-covid-lockdown sentiments without actually having any basis for that (yeah, they flip-flopped on masks initially because there were conflicting concerns. If people changing their minds when more information becomes available is "flip flopping", you're rejecting the entirety of the scientific method). It seems to me like the author had a bad experience in school (hey, so did I!), and seems to have massively overgeneralized that into a entire diatribe about how the current entire institution of school is a irredeemable failure. If the author is claiming that the current educational system is irreformable, they're not presenting any alternative other then anarchy. I'm not sure what the point is. The whole thing is basically concern trolling wrapped in ancient references that no longer apply and overgeneralized specious citations. It's a level beyond concern trolling, it's concern masturbation.

didericis 5y ago
The author presents more individualized mentoring and apprenticeships as an alternative.
dav_Oz 5y ago
Kind of sad that you are left with that impression. I would attribute the style more to our over-polarized conditioning by social media if anything. But beyond the trigger points the author gives you enough of "depolarizing" references (John Gatto, Ivan Illich, Diane Ravitch) The article itself is just a (hopefully for most an enraging constructive rather than merely "anti-") starting point. My on the spot quick fix: This rigid and harmful "educational" system is best to overcome if children til the age of 12-14 are not exposed to it. Most can handle it pretty fine from then on. Starting with something resembling "Montessori pedagogy" and then just enter the formal system at the age of puberty. It has worked out pretty well for Sergey Brin and Larry Page, to name a few. Wojcicki's mother is also a very interesting example. Bezos as an different example was heavily influenced by his then retired maternal grandfather (space technology and missile defense systems at Darpa in the late 1950s; in 1964 appointed manager of the Atomic Energy Commission) spending a lot of his forming years at his ranch. And so on.
avgcorrection 5y ago
History is “concern masturbation”? Try to actually refute the points or just leave the topic be.

didericis 5y ago

The author presents more individualized mentoring and apprenticeships as an alternative.

dav_Oz 5y ago

Kind of sad that you are left with that impression. I would attribute the style more to our over-polarized conditioning by social media if anything. But beyond the trigger points the author gives you enough of "depolarizing" references (John Gatto, Ivan Illich, Diane Ravitch) The article itself is just a (hopefully for most an enraging constructive rather than merely "anti-") starting point. My on the spot quick fix: This rigid and harmful "educational" system is best to overcome if children til the age of 12-14 are not exposed to it. Most can handle it pretty fine from then on. Starting with something resembling "Montessori pedagogy" and then just enter the formal system at the age of puberty. It has worked out pretty well for Sergey Brin and Larry Page, to name a few. Wojcicki's mother is also a very interesting example. Bezos as an different example was heavily influenced by his then retired maternal grandfather (space technology and missile defense systems at Darpa in the late 1950s; in 1964 appointed manager of the Atomic Energy Commission) spending a lot of his forming years at his ranch. And so on.

avgcorrection 5y ago

History is “concern masturbation”? Try to actually refute the points or just leave the topic be.