Everything is dumbed down that is used by the ps system. Why? Because that's the plan. To generate kids and adults that can simply and only "do what they're told". Because the government will do everything else for you. It's meant to do exactly what it does. Which...case in point, is why I homeschool. To turn out a leader in whatever they choose, not a follower. Have you read any of John Taylor Gatto's books? It's up to you to see this and kudos to you because you see this and you will turn out a child that is more than that.
Learning abt the history of public education was what turned me to homeschooling, ultimately. The idea of it being modeled after Ford's assembly line, the idea of teaching immigrants just enough to be able to function as factory employees safely, all of that appalled me. In that respect, it is working very well. In fact, the fact that it continues to function as such almost a hundred years after the fact is a testimony to how well it has worked - the American public accepts what they are told, doesn't bother to learn any more, and defends their system to the death. My primary goal from homeschooling is that my kids will have a love of learning even after they "finish" their formal "education." It's one reason we HS all year round - because I want them to understand that learning is a part of life, that it's something we do ALL the time, not just 9 months a year. I am forever pointing out how their activities are "school" - not just field trips but building a lean-to in the back yard and stocking it to making a tile mosaic to random calculations in the grocery store. A few years ago, a woman from my church - who used to homeschool! - stood next to me and had a loud conversation with another woman about how superb the schools in our district are. They are one of the "best" in the state. And she went on about how she didn't know why anyone in such a school district would homeschool. I mean, they were eyeballing me, it was obvious they were talking abt me but didn't have the nerve to ask me to my face. So finally, when I finished packing up what I had to pack up, I walked over and said, "Well, perhaps I want my children to be good at something other than taking the standardized tests." For crying out loud. Don't people even recognize the insanity of how standardized tests have taken over the educational industry? Everyone is ready to scream about how big pharm has destroyed the medical industry for profit, but no one even thinks about how big "stand" has ruined the educational industry for profit. ARGGGHHHHH! Okay, I'm worked up now. But I feel better. LOL.
