Quote Originally Posted by mfqr
Too bad it isn't like that, huh? Grade school thorugh high school is all bullshit. It is indeed a place to indoctrinate kids early to the American belief system, and society. It's hardly about learning what really is, especially when it comes to the subject of History. Biased textbooks, biased teachings given by teachers. The teacher's don't usually know this, either, because they have as well been indoctrinated. It's sad. We don't educate anymore... we indoctrinate. Although, college is a bit different, in that it does actually teach more than indoctrinate. But the indoctrination is still there, partly due to the fact that there's so much homework and reading. It becomes your life.
I had an article kicking around, unfortunately I seem to have misplaced it. Anyway, it dealt with exactly what you're talking about. It quoted documents from the 1930's where it was made clear that the American educational system was being revised to create a large mass of general labourers, easily manipulated and used to repetitive mind-dulling tasks, while shooting a select few rapidly to the positions of power. From what I remember, a lot of it is based on wealth - although it can carry over to simply being able to afford private schooling.

In any case, I'm of the opinion that we should teach scientific beliefs in schools, and religious beliefs in church. But that's me.