“The average member of the community does not have the training necessary to make correct educational decisions.”
The notion of distrust runs in our own very people is what shined through in this chapter. I was struck by these words when I read them because they take away the humanity in education. Education is about learning from others and teaching others. There is no one way about it. In Kozol’s book, he tells us that one of his overall goal’s was to share the perspective of the students. After all, they are the brave individuals enduring the harsh realities of American education. Yes, much time has elapsed, but I often feel like nothing has changed. I know that Lessinger was comparing this to a hospital but education is not a science, it is a way of life. Something that starts at the home and something that is ingrained in us.
By self-righteously separating himself into a class of so called “experts” he deems that no one else has a valid opinion. That the mass population can complain all they want but it will not make a difference. If we can’t be involved in creating and sustaining out own educations, it takes a great amount of the motivation and involvement out of going to school.
This idea gave way to a system in which we are judged through are accomplishments and failures. I don’t know who said it, but I think we learn more from out failures than our accomplishments. Just saying, Lessinger. Education cannot be a science. If it is, than what is really the point of the class I’m taking right now? Every individual has a story, a method of learning that needs to be exposed. No one should be a statistic when it comes to something that many people consider one of the most important things in life. As I was walking through the Baruch cafeteria under the library the other day, I heard a mother say to what seemed sounded like her child, “….and what is the most important thing about school–your education.”
I believe that this mentality led to America’s downfall in the education sector and that we can’t be too arrogant. We must accept that we can learn from other cultures. We are a young nation and we must learn from our elders and those that have more experience. Nationalism is good for some things, but not all.
