Accomplish Quote by Richard Mitchell
“In a government institution, there is only one area in which problems are taken seriously, and that is the political. Many of the strange things done in American educationism suddenly become perfectly understandable when we see them not as educational methods but as political maneuvers. We must understand illiteracy, therefore, the root of ignorance and thoughtlessness, as not some inadvertent failure to accomplish what was intended but simply a political arrangement of great value to somebody.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: “The Education of the American Mind”, 1975
The political agenda drives many educational practices, turning them into tools for power rather than learning.
In simple terms: Education is often used for political ends.
Recognize political motives in education.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- school policy debates
- curriculum design
- parental advocacy
- teacher training
- policy reform
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How do political goals shape curricula?
- What can educators do to resist manipulation?
Political motives may be hidden and complex to uncover.