[upchuck]

In my ex-neighborhood there were two young girls, 6 and 8, who used to like to come over and play with my dog in the backyard. We would discuss various things as they played with the dog. An instructive exercise: to learn how 6 and 8 year old think.

One afternoon I was kidding them about, "What did you learn in school today?" After remarking that I sounded like their mother, they proceeded to tell me about spelling words learned and math problems solved. Then, the 8 yo said, "I just wish President Bush would stop killing all those people."

Shocked, I asked where she learned that. She said, "That's what our teacher taught us."

I asked, "Your teacher said President Bush is killing people?"

"Yes."

"And where are these people dying?"

"In Iraq."

"Your teacher said President Bush is killing people in Iraq?"

She said, "Yes. And my teacher said it was lots and lots of people."

I said, "Maybe your teacher made that up."

She said, "She'd never do that, she's my TEACHER!" (Lord, help us!)

I directed the conversation on to something else. Later I mentioned this to their mother. She was horrified and promised to take this up with the school principle. Unfortunately, I moved shortly thereafter and never learned what happened.

This is scary stuff folks!

[Tax-chick]

One of the things we teach our children (suggested by John Taylor Gatto!) is, "You can't believe everything adults tell you, including us." Adults could be (1) lying, (2) honestly wrong, or (3) making a joke. We give examples: Remember when Uncle Ernie told you he went to college and played on the golf team with Sir Thomas More? (My son later produced a picture of St. Thomas for Sunday School, with golf clubs!)

All education is "indoctrination" to an extent - the student is being taught the beliefs of the teacher. An honest teacher will be open about it: "This is what I believe; others believe differently." A well-educated person will have the tools to evaluate what he's taught, including research skills, reading and comprehension ability, and LOGICAL (not "critical") thinking.