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Is public education necessary?
Is Public Education Necessary? by Samuel L Blumenfeld (Paperback - 1985)
263 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1981
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
October 5, 2014
I was so frustrated with this book, from about chapter six right up until the postscript, where the author’s genius argument fully clicked in my mind.
Based on the title of the book and the two prefaces leading to the main text I was completely expecting a philosophical answer to the question, is public education necessary. Given what I know of the author and publisher, I was expecting the author to convince the reader with Biblical exegesis and theological argument as to why public (government run) education is not only unnecessary but immoral.
However, what the book turned out to be was a very detailed history of public (government run) education in America. When first reading this, I was expecting a little history for some background to have in mind when he would bring the theological/philosophical arguments to the fore. But when I got to about chapter six I realized the whole thing is just going to be history. And I could not figure out how this was answering the question.
But I kept reading, and I learned a lot about the key people, events, and groups (and motives) in the public education movement. But I was still thinking, how does this answer the question? Then in the postscript it all became crystal clear.
While reading the detailed history of our public (government run) education system I was not paying attention to it at first - but every chapter pointed to what the Unitarian socialists (who were behind it all) wanted in public (government run) education - to save people through knowledge and build a utopian society. This was their objective in government run education.
Bear in mind that back in the preface to the second edition Blumenfeld quoted from a report in the April 1983 National Commission on Excellence in Education: “If an unfriendly foreign power had attempted to impose on America the mediocre educational performance that exists today, we might well have viewed it as an act of war. As it stands, we have allowed this to happen to ourselves” (p. ix).
So the answer in the postscript: “After more than a hundred years of universal public education, we can say that it nowhere resembles the Utopian vision that drove its proponents to create it. … Neither liberal altruism, nor universal public education, nor socialism lifted the poor from their lower depths. Capitalism did. Is public education necessary? The answer is obvious: it was not needed then, and it is certainly not needed today” (p. 213).
This book didn’t need to use a theological or philosophical argument to answer the question. It just took the premise of those who founded the government run education system and asked if it had succeeded at all. For in their minds, government run education was the only way it was going to work. It was the only way to save people through knowledge and build a Utopian society. The state of affairs in our current education system demonstrates exactly the opposite. Public (government run) education is not only unnecessary - it shouldn’t even be on the table as an option.
Based on the title of the book and the two prefaces leading to the main text I was completely expecting a philosophical answer to the question, is public education necessary. Given what I know of the author and publisher, I was expecting the author to convince the reader with Biblical exegesis and theological argument as to why public (government run) education is not only unnecessary but immoral.
However, what the book turned out to be was a very detailed history of public (government run) education in America. When first reading this, I was expecting a little history for some background to have in mind when he would bring the theological/philosophical arguments to the fore. But when I got to about chapter six I realized the whole thing is just going to be history. And I could not figure out how this was answering the question.
But I kept reading, and I learned a lot about the key people, events, and groups (and motives) in the public education movement. But I was still thinking, how does this answer the question? Then in the postscript it all became crystal clear.
While reading the detailed history of our public (government run) education system I was not paying attention to it at first - but every chapter pointed to what the Unitarian socialists (who were behind it all) wanted in public (government run) education - to save people through knowledge and build a utopian society. This was their objective in government run education.
Bear in mind that back in the preface to the second edition Blumenfeld quoted from a report in the April 1983 National Commission on Excellence in Education: “If an unfriendly foreign power had attempted to impose on America the mediocre educational performance that exists today, we might well have viewed it as an act of war. As it stands, we have allowed this to happen to ourselves” (p. ix).
So the answer in the postscript: “After more than a hundred years of universal public education, we can say that it nowhere resembles the Utopian vision that drove its proponents to create it. … Neither liberal altruism, nor universal public education, nor socialism lifted the poor from their lower depths. Capitalism did. Is public education necessary? The answer is obvious: it was not needed then, and it is certainly not needed today” (p. 213).
This book didn’t need to use a theological or philosophical argument to answer the question. It just took the premise of those who founded the government run education system and asked if it had succeeded at all. For in their minds, government run education was the only way it was going to work. It was the only way to save people through knowledge and build a Utopian society. The state of affairs in our current education system demonstrates exactly the opposite. Public (government run) education is not only unnecessary - it shouldn’t even be on the table as an option.
December 12, 2022
4.5 stars
I thought this was going to be Blumenfeld explaining and defending his own position on the subject. Actually, this is a very thorough history of public education in America, and the author uses that history as a sort of explanation for his stance.
I liked it, overall, but the history was a tad too long and detailed for my taste. In the middle section, I started to get bored, and I think Blumenfeld could have been more succinct in this section.
Yet, I appreciated that the quotes included were lengthy and in-context; that was really helpful.
I wrote down several pages' worth of quotes I liked, so clearly this is one worth reading for those super interested in education. I'd love to find a shorter book that says more or less the same things, though.
I thought this was going to be Blumenfeld explaining and defending his own position on the subject. Actually, this is a very thorough history of public education in America, and the author uses that history as a sort of explanation for his stance.
I liked it, overall, but the history was a tad too long and detailed for my taste. In the middle section, I started to get bored, and I think Blumenfeld could have been more succinct in this section.
Yet, I appreciated that the quotes included were lengthy and in-context; that was really helpful.
I wrote down several pages' worth of quotes I liked, so clearly this is one worth reading for those super interested in education. I'd love to find a shorter book that says more or less the same things, though.
July 9, 2012
The history of how public education got started in America ... incredible history that will shock you.
October 8, 2008
As Nicholson's character says: "You can't handle the truth!"
This book is a fascinating read! It was a tough start, but by about the 4th chapter, the vision enticingly unfolded of how the public education system in America began and why.
And then the reader is left to deal with their shock and disgust at what we are allowing to transpire in the so-called Land of the Free.
This book is stuffed with a detailed history of how and why public education was initiated, however unnecessary and despised it was amongst early Americans.
It is a difficult pill to swallow. Yet, as the modern system so adeptly illustrates, it's misguided supporters would be proud of what it has achieved, albeit a little disappointed that the public education system has definitely not cured us of our societal ills and that we as a society are barely only knocking on the door of Socialism rather than having already succumbed with exhuberant gratitude into its fully clenched claws.
Though it has, as of yet, not entirely led to overhauling our Democratic form of government in favor of Socialism, one could hardly doubt that the public education system has lived up to its full potential with an eery and contemtupous abandon for humanity, particularly the humanity of our children.
Acute in its descriptions of their intent for this system, and blistering in its summary of the consequences of it, this book is captivating. At least, for someone who has deep misgivings about public education and those who use it as their secure and dishonestly profitable livelihood - not the teachers, but the whole host of other brain-sucking vampires such as the NEA, Socialism-seeking politicians, money-hungry pharmaceutical companies, and others who thrive on and live off of what John Taylor Gatto refers to as the 'Dumbing Down' of our most precious treasures - our children.
This book is a fascinating read! It was a tough start, but by about the 4th chapter, the vision enticingly unfolded of how the public education system in America began and why.
And then the reader is left to deal with their shock and disgust at what we are allowing to transpire in the so-called Land of the Free.
This book is stuffed with a detailed history of how and why public education was initiated, however unnecessary and despised it was amongst early Americans.
It is a difficult pill to swallow. Yet, as the modern system so adeptly illustrates, it's misguided supporters would be proud of what it has achieved, albeit a little disappointed that the public education system has definitely not cured us of our societal ills and that we as a society are barely only knocking on the door of Socialism rather than having already succumbed with exhuberant gratitude into its fully clenched claws.
Though it has, as of yet, not entirely led to overhauling our Democratic form of government in favor of Socialism, one could hardly doubt that the public education system has lived up to its full potential with an eery and contemtupous abandon for humanity, particularly the humanity of our children.
Acute in its descriptions of their intent for this system, and blistering in its summary of the consequences of it, this book is captivating. At least, for someone who has deep misgivings about public education and those who use it as their secure and dishonestly profitable livelihood - not the teachers, but the whole host of other brain-sucking vampires such as the NEA, Socialism-seeking politicians, money-hungry pharmaceutical companies, and others who thrive on and live off of what John Taylor Gatto refers to as the 'Dumbing Down' of our most precious treasures - our children.
December 2, 2016
This was an excellent read and gave a really compelling summary of the foundation of American public education. Showing the goals of the early socialists and unitarian liberals as well as the influential ideas motivating these movements to create a utopian society on earth. Then to answer the thesis of the book by pointing out that in 180 years they have failed to achieve that goal demonstrating that the contemporary critics of those days were correct and that it has never necessary to begin with.
I appreciated the extensive quotations of original sources. It made the motivations more clear of the individuals who were important to the movement.
I appreciated the extensive quotations of original sources. It made the motivations more clear of the individuals who were important to the movement.
August 24, 2018
Very research-based and enlightening. You can find this free online.
January 17, 2021
Super in-depth history detailing the formation of America's first free school systems all the way to the Statist, bureaucratic, Prussian models we have today for government schools. Answers the question in the title explicitly in the Postscript so don't skip over it.
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September 23, 2010Is public education necessary? by Samuel L. Blumenfeld (1981)
April 30, 2014
An excellent history of education as relevant to modern America. It raises some excellent questions.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews