The local “education” improvement efforts follow in the footsteps of multiple national “education” strategy programs over the decades, e.g. Dewey’s Progressivism, School to Work, Goals 2000, No Child Left Behind, Common Core, and for good reason. It comes from a Consulting company, Cambridge Strategies, headed by Kevin Castner who in 2010 served as a Race to the Top (Obama’s version of education reform) Peer Review Panelist for the U.S. Department of Education.
The footsteps being followed are those of the destruction of challenging academics, of merit, of individualism, of achievement, et al via the adoration of emotions, irrational goals, egalitarianism, and collectivism. All in the sacred name of “Social Justice”—which has nothing to do with rigorous academics, the true job of schools. A brief summary of their goals follows…
The official “Vision 2023’s” first item of importance is DIVERSITY—a meaningless concept standing alone without proper context. Indeed, the treatment of DIVERSITY as a superior virtue is deranged. DIVERSITY has no value on its own, by definition it is a noun meaning differences, period.
The 2nd goal is egalitarian in opportunities—an impossible feat in the real world. For everyone to be equal all must be brought down to the lowest common denominator simply because the lowest cannot achieve what the highest can. Therefore the brightest students must be dumbed down to the dimmest. Only then, can all be equal. What an uplifting goal!
The 3rd is that EVERYONE has value and plays a CRITICAL role in the community’s (collective) future—another impossibility in the face of scientific factual differences in I.Q., character, values, DNA, etc. that exists in all ethnicities, i.e. mankind.
The 4th preposterous belief is that ALL students have the potential to become successfully productive citizens in our “DIVERSE, rapidly changing world”. Poppycock—what an imaginary world; again no knowledge or recognition of the scientific facts of DNA, Genes, I.Q., Environment—only utopian collectivism.
Goal #7 tells everyone to embrace CHANGE. Why? Is that aimed at demographics? ALL CHANGE is not good or positive. Some CHANGE can be catastrophic. Again, it is simply a word which is meaningless without context.
Goal #8 lauds educators and their continuing development (which is whatever the federal system dictates) that will improve schools. How so? It has not happened in the government schools yet—they have only gotten worse.
The breathtaking strategy is that the “public school” responsibility for children and families includes Wellness: “physical/mental/emotional/academic/social NEEDS”. No parental or individual responsibilities mentioned, neither is the word DISIPLINE. Sounds like cradle to grave government control described in 1984, Brave New World, Anthem, etc. and oh yes, the Communist Manifesto.
Collectivist utopia is a dream/nightmare concocted by those who despise individual achievement/responsibility. Why? Rugged individuals are difficult if not impossible to control and direct. Individualism rejects the concept of dependence on government as a paramount need, therefore is not easily brainwashed or subdued.
All Collectivist/Socialist/Communist “Utopias” always end in immense suffering for the masses, including millions of executions, starvation—death. The greatest question is why don’t large segments of society look at history and realize the consequences of these ideologies which have been demonstrated vividly in the USSR Communism with 94 million casualties & China’s Chairman Mao with a mere 70 million dead. The people in Venezuela today, ruled by a Collectivist Dictator Maduro are literally eating out of dumpsters and killing zoo animals for food. How uplifting!
Is the answer simply laziness & a desire to be provided for by ambitious politicians? Or is it ignorance, stupidity and a deliberate dumbing down, where the people fall for well-sounding bromides & propaganda—so much so that they vehemently believe they are doing the right thing by supporting & applauding the Collectivist siren call? Are the concepts of individual liberty and the search for true knowledge dead and gone?
In reading their “Vision 2023” goals one would have to say it is another step into the pit of Collectivism and the participants either are ignorant of history & philosophy or are in cahoots with the “It Takes a Village” malevolent crowd. Either way, it is but one more nail in the coffin of knowledge & liberty.
The callous disregard for the suffering & litter of millions of human bodies strewn across the history of every nation who fell under the Collectivist/Communist/Fascist regimes is beyond comprehension.
“It can’t happen here”, “we mean so well & care so much”, the well-baited trap so many have fallen into brings us to the USA which is committing genocide suicide because of the useful idiots who never question or reason, but go along to get along & look good in the community are facilitating our demise, while smugly patting themselves on the back.
The Cultural Marxists have won in their “march through the institutions” to destroy Western Civilization, and the government schools have played and are playing a huge role in that victory.
Since funding follows failure, school administrators will not refuse to teach the newest poison pill.
“Vision 2023” planning team mostly includes government types & some school children…mostly well-intentioned surely, but do they excel academically & are truly historically knowledgeable? No can be the only honest answer. They are only following the guidelines set out by yet another government controlled consultant. By the way, it is impossible that Superintendent Brubaker is unaware…all Supers come out of the same government trained pot, or they are not awarded that position.
2023 is simply a copy of 1984. (Hint to the participants, at least read that one small book)
Pity the young, who are influenced by the indoctrinated adults.
Barbara McCutchen
Written by and submitted to Metropolis Café for publication by the author, September 30, 2017. We invite you to visit Joe and Barb McCutchen’s web-site, Arkansas Freedom.com