Week 2- Kelsey Kim

Kelsey Kim
Section A03
Week 2

"The Untold History of Modern U.S. Education: The Founding Fathers" by Jamie Lee

The idea that money is power is only true within certain circumstances. Based on "The Untold History of Modern U.S Education: The Founding Fathers" by Jamie Lee, the grossly wealthy 'Red Barrons' of the Gilded Age such as J.D. Rockefeller and Andrew Carnegie used their wealth to construct these lasting frameworks to sustain their power. They accomplished this through the standardization of general education and the manipulation of the media and politicians to cloak their agenda in the spirit of reform and philanthropy. This article was incredibly thought provoking because it forced me to think critically about the education system and the ulterior motives of other social constructs. It's quite stressful to realize there are likely to be negative intentions behind widely accepted rules and systems in our every day lives. Because of the many passionate teachers that I have been lucky enough to learn under, I know firsthand that educators work overtime to positively nurture young minds so that they may grow and think critically about the world around them. However, despite this growth mindset and constant changes, it is unsettling to know that education standards were architected to control future generations, or rather, subdue them. The article brings up the fact that despite leading in the amount of money put into education, the U.S. is nowhere near the lead in literacy, mathematics, or science. This information illuminates the lack of effectiveness of the American infrastructure and poses questions about how much one can accomplish through succeeding in a system designed to hold society back. 

Question:

Rather than focus on trying to succeed on the difficult path to higher education already set, should we try to change the system itself? 

References: 

Horsey, D. (2007, August 31). Come Away From That Window [Cartoon]. Retrieved October 1, 2017, from https://i.pinimg.com/originals/81/f4/79/81f479a232d080ce6bee340acae8724b.gif

Lee, J. (2014, January 28). The Untold History of Modern U.S. Education: The Founding Fathers. Walking Times. Retrieved 2015, from http://www.wakingtimes.com/2014/01/28/untold-history-modern-u-s-education-founding-fathers/