American education Quote by Thomas Sowell
““Whether blatant or subtle, brainwashing has become a major, time-consuming activity in American education at all levels. Some zealots have not hesitated to use the traditional brain-washing technique of emotional trauma in the classroom to soften up children for their message. Gruesome and graphic movies on nuclear war, for example, have reduced some school children to tears—after which the teacher makes a pitch for whatever movement claims to reduce such dangers. Another technique is the ambush shock: A seventh-grade teacher in Manhattan, for example, innocently asked her students to discuss their future plans—after which she said: “Haven’t any of you realized that in this world with nuclear weapons no one in this class will be alive in the year 2000?”75 These””
About This Quote
Source Book: "Intellectuals and Society", 2005
Critiques modern education for using fear and emotional manipulation to push political agendas.
In simple terms: Education can be used to manipulate emotions.
Key Takeaway
Question indoctrination.
Themes
education
politics
psychology
media influence
Mood
critical
concerned
Type
analytical
political
When to use this quote
- classroom discussions
- media literacy programs
- policy debates
Key Concepts
propaganda
emotional manipulation
critical thinking
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we foster critical thinking?
- What safeguards prevent emotional manipulation?
A Different Perspective
May generalize complex issues.
![“I'm sure that someday children in schools will study the history of the men [sic] who made war as you study an absurdity. They'll be shocked, just as today we're shocked with cannibalism.” quote by Golda Meir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/756/golda-meir-5181_absurdity_i-m-sure-that-someday-children-in-school_1217571.jpg)
![“[Betsy] DeVos's statement turned a well-known Trump slogan, and proclaimed, we will make American education great again. Proponents of school choice were ecstatic, including Sandy Kress, a top education adviser in George W. Bush's administration.” quote by Claudio Sanchez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/8ce/claudio-sanchez-35119_administration_betsy-devos-s-statement-turned-a-well-kn_548362.jpg)
