Accepted Quote by Isabel Paterson
“Every politically controlled educational system will inculcate the doctrine of state supremacy sooner or later. . . . Once that doctrine has been accepted, it becomes an almost superhuman task to break the stranglehold of the political power over the life of the citizen. It has had his body, property and mind in its clutches from infancy. An octopus would sooner release its prey. A tax-supported, compulsory educational system is the complete model of the totalitarian state.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: "The Totalitarian Nature of Compulsory Education", 1935
Compulsory, state‑run education creates a grip similar to a totalitarian regime, limiting individual freedom.
In simple terms: State education can become oppressive.
Key Takeaway
Question the role of state control in education.
Themes
education
freedom
authoritarianism
Mood
critical
reflective
Type
political
philosophical
When to use this quote
- public schools
- policy debates
- parental choice
Key Concepts
state control
individual autonomy
Questions to Reflect On
- What alternatives exist to state‑run schooling?
- How can societies balance education with liberty?
A Different Perspective
Education also provides social benefits and literacy.
![“The secret of the superiority of state over private education lies in the fact that in the former the teacher is responsible to society ... [T]he result desired by the state is a wholly different one from that desired by parents, guardians, and pupils.” quote by Lester Frank Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/eb7/lester-frank-ward-83953_different_the-secret-of-the-superiority-of-state-o_2873402.jpg)
![“We have reached a situation where a theory has been accepted as fact by some, and possible contrary evidence is shunted aside. [This is] mythology rather than science.” quote by Robert Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c31/robert-shapiro-26969_accepted_we-have-reached-a-situation-where-a-theo_19120.jpg)
