Or how I came to discover what is wrong with the present American Education System.

On my first day of tutoring at the small rural high school just east of the Springs, I observed students staring blankly at both teacher and blackboard (whiteboard?).

Months later, these same students were outdoing each other in their eagerness to work problems on the board.

What happened?

That first day, I realized these children---adolescents---considered themselves unimportant, for the simple reason they felt their thoughts were unimportant.

So first I made sure they actually used their minds. I told them: "I don't want you to believe something is true just because I tell you it is true---I want you to see it AS YOU UNDERSTAND IT IN YOUR OWN MIND." In other words, reason it through. And therefore question, always question, until you do understand. And never forget, I myself might be wrong.

I also told them: "If I make a mistake, be sure to tell me---don't let me continue on and make a complete fool of myself." And I deliberately made mistakes until they realized not only can Teacher sometimes be wrong, but that making mistakes wasn't going to k**l them.

And I quoted Lincoln: "Send me a man who is not afraid to make a fool out of himself".

Ultimately, they learned that their thoughts and their own unique thought processes were both significant and valuable, and it's okay to make mistakes, because if you are not making mistakes, you're not taking enough risks,---and without risk-taking there can be no progress, individually or socially.

And that is how the present American Education System have been graduating marching morons: by pressuring children to conform. That is one reason people no longer believe they, as individuals, have either significance or value. No matter what Bill Ayers wants the public to think about his educational regime.

Remember, it has a stronger and longer lasting effect if children AND adults THINK they came up with it all by themselves!

Or how I came to discover what is wrong with the present American Education System.

On my first day of tutoring at the small rural high school just east of the Springs, I observed students staring blankly at both teacher and blackboard (whiteboard?).

Months later, these same students were outdoing each other in their eagerness to work problems on the board.

What happened?

That first day, I realized these children---adolescents---considered themselves unimportant, for the simple reason they felt their thoughts were unimportant.

So first I made sure they actually used their minds. I told them: "I don't want you to believe something is true just because I tell you it is true---I want you to see it AS YOU UNDERSTAND IT IN YOUR OWN MIND." In other words, reason it through. And therefore question, always question, until you do understand. And never forget, I myself might be wrong.

I also told them: "If I make a mistake, be sure to tell me---don't let me continue on and make a complete fool of myself." And I deliberately made mistakes until they realized not only can Teacher sometimes be wrong, but that making mistakes wasn't going to k**l them.

And I quoted Lincoln: "Send me a man who is not afraid to make a fool out of himself".

Ultimately, they learned that their thoughts and their own unique thought processes were both significant and valuable, and it's okay to make mistakes, because if you are not making mistakes, you're not taking enough risks,---and without risk-taking there can be no progress, individually or socially.

And that is how the present American Education System have been graduating marching morons: by pressuring children to conform. That is one reason people no longer believe they, as individuals, have either significance or value. No matter what Bill Ayers wants the public to think about his educational regime.

Remember, it has a stronger and longer lasting effect if children AND adults THINK they came up with it all by themselves!

Or how I came to discover what is wrong with the present American Education System.

On my first day of tutoring at the small rural high school just east of the Springs, I observed students staring blankly at both teacher and blackboard (whiteboard?).

Months later, these same students were outdoing each other in their eagerness to work problems on the board.

What happened?

That first day, I realized these children---adolescents---considered themselves unimportant, for the simple reason they felt their thoughts were unimportant.

So first I made sure they actually used their minds. I told them: "I don't want you to believe something is true just because I tell you it is true---I want you to see it AS YOU UNDERSTAND IT IN YOUR OWN MIND." In other words, reason it through. And therefore question, always question, until you do understand. And never forget, I myself might be wrong.

I also told them: "If I make a mistake, be sure to tell me---don't let me continue on and make a complete fool of myself." And I deliberately made mistakes until they realized not only can Teacher sometimes be wrong, but that making mistakes wasn't going to k**l them.

And I quoted Lincoln: "Send me a man who is not afraid to make a fool out of himself".

Ultimately, they learned that their thoughts and their own unique thought processes were both significant and valuable, and it's okay to make mistakes, because if you are not making mistakes, you're not taking enough risks,---and without risk-taking there can be no progress, individually or socially.

And that is how the present American Education System have been graduating marching morons: by pressuring children to conform. That is one reason people no longer believe they, as individuals, have either significance or value. No matter what Bill Ayers wants the public to think about his educational regime.

Remember, it has a stronger and longer lasting effect if children AND adults THINK they came up with it all by themselves!

Or how I came to discover what is wrong with the present American Education System.

On my first day of tutoring at the small rural high school just east of the Springs, I observed students staring blankly at both teacher and blackboard (whiteboard?).

Months later, these same students were outdoing each other in their eagerness to work problems on the board.

What happened?

That first day, I realized these children---adolescents---considered themselves unimportant, for the simple reason they felt their thoughts were unimportant.

So first I made sure they actually used their minds. I told them: "I don't want you to believe something is true just because I tell you it is true---I want you to see it AS YOU UNDERSTAND IT IN YOUR OWN MIND." In other words, reason it through. And therefore question, always question, until you do understand. And never forget, I myself might be wrong.

I also told them: "If I make a mistake, be sure to tell me---don't let me continue on and make a complete fool of myself." And I deliberately made mistakes until they realized not only can Teacher sometimes be wrong, but that making mistakes wasn't going to k**l them.

And I quoted Lincoln: "Send me a man who is not afraid to make a fool out of himself".

Ultimately, they learned that their thoughts and their own unique thought processes were both significant and valuable, and it's okay to make mistakes, because if you are not making mistakes, you're not taking enough risks,---and without risk-taking there can be no progress, individually or socially.

And that is how the present American Education System have been graduating marching morons: by pressuring children to conform. That is one reason people no longer believe they, as individuals, have either significance or value. No matter what Bill Ayers wants the public to think about his educational regime.

Remember, it has a stronger and longer lasting effect if children AND adults THINK they came up with it all by themselves!

You were doing good until you implied that Bill Ayers runs our education system or really all by himself , has sent the country into turmoil. You actually contradict yourself by saying it. First you seem to have realized that kids should think for themselves and then turn around and make the case that Bill Ayers has ruined the education system therefore you should just ignore that because there's nothing to see there. Maybe you're worried there is something to see there and that if you let them see it they won't do exactly as you would have them to and will form the exact opinions that you want them too. If you were truly a good teacher you could let them decide for themselves. You would hope that your influence would show them how to make the right choice for themselves rather than the one you want them to make.

Nope! Not lacking in education here. I just simply know stupid when I see it. The original poster made some damn good points and had some great ways she/he dealt with the children she/he taught. Then you come in here defending some radical progressive liberal who is well known for his liberal education policies. This country use to be one of the top in education until we let you ignorant liberals destroy everything. AND if you deny that you are delusional as well. Look at the education system in the USA today??? and who made those changes?

Bobbie, I didn't imply that Ayers is solely responsible for the degradation of the AES. However, if you choose to do your own research, you will discover that his views and statements on education have, in fact, infiltrated the system. You sound as if you don't know how he has impacted education in America.

But you are right in one sense, the "pressure to conform" started long before that spoiled brat Ayers, the c*******t with a little c, got his degrees in elementary education.