Education Quote by Neil Postman
““Public education does not serve a public. It creates a public. And in creating the right kind of public, the schools contribute toward strengthening the spiritual basis of the American Creed. That is how Jefferson understood it, how Horace Mann understood it, how John Dewey understood it, and in fact, there is no other way to understand it. The question is not, Does or doesn't public schooling create a public? The question is, What kind of public does it create? A conglomerate of self-indulgent consumers? Angry, soulless, directionless masses? Indifferent, confused citizens? Or a public imbued with confidence, a sense of purpose, a respect for learning, and tolerance? The answer to this question has nothing whatever to do with computers, with testing, with teacher accountability, with class size, and with the other details of managing schools. The right answer depends on two things, and two things alone: the existence of shared narratives and the capacity of such narratives to provide an inspired reason for schooling.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Teaching as a Subversive Activity, 1967
Education shapes society by forming a shared public identity through narratives, not merely by technical details.
In simple terms: Schools create the kind of public they inspire.
Focus on shared narratives to inspire purpose.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- curriculum design
- community building
- teacher training
- policy debates
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What narratives should schools prioritize?
- How can narratives be inclusive?
Overemphasis on narratives may ignore structural inequities.