--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: ... schools in many industrialized…" description: "\"“... schools in many industrialized nations were not, for the most part, designed to produce innovative thinkers or questioners -- their primary purpos..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb8/warren-berger-20636_education_schools-in-many-industrialized-nations-w_3106682.jpg" --- # ... schools in many industrialized nations were not, for… ![“... schools in many industrialized nations were not, for the most part, designed to produce innovative thinkers or questioners -- their primary purpose was to produce workers. The author Seth Godin writes, "Our grandfathers and great grandfathers built schools to train people to have a lifetime of…” quote by Warren Berger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb8/warren-berger-20636_education_schools-in-many-industrialized-nations-w_3106682.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb8/warren-berger-20636_education_schools-in-many-industrialized-nations-w_3106682.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/eb8/warren-berger-20636_education_schools-in-many-industrialized-nations-w_3106682.jpg) > ““... schools in many industrialized nations were not, for the most part, designed to produce innovative thinkers or questioners -- their primary purpose was to produce workers. The author Seth Godin writes, "Our grandfathers and great grandfathers built schools to train people to have a lifetime of productive labor as part of the industrialized economy. And it worked." To create good workers, educations systems put a premium on compliancy and rote memorization of basic knowledge -- excellent qualities in an industrial worker. (Or, as the cartoonist and Simpsons creator Matt Groening puts it, "it seems the main rule that traditional schools teach is how to sit in rows quietly, which is perfect training for grown-up work in a dull office or factory, but not so good for education.") And not so good for questioning: To the extent a school is like a factory, students who inquire about "the way things are" could be seen as insubordinate. It raises, at least in my mind, a question that may seem extreme: If schools were build on a factory model, were they actually designed to squelch questions?”” [Warren Berger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-berger/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Traditional education systems prioritize conformity and routine work, limiting creative and critical thinking, which can stifle innovation. **In simple terms:** Schools teach obedience, not questioning. Key Takeaway Encourage questioning and creative problem‑solving. Themes education innovation conformity Mood reflective critical Type inspirational thought‑provoking When to use this quote - classroom reform - corporate training - personal development Key Concepts industrial model critical thinking creativity Questions to Reflect On - What would a questioning‑focused school look like? - How can workers retain creativity in routine jobs? A Different Perspective Changing entrenched systems is slow and faces resistance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Built Schools](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/built-schools-3901132/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Education Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education-good-371583/) [Good education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-education/) [Good Workers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-workers/) [Schools Industrialized](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/schools-industrialized-5408058/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seth-godin/) ## Related quotes > [“Our grandfathers and great grandfathers18 built schools to train people to have a lifetime of productive labor as part of the industrialized economy. 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I”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-berger/what-might-the-potential-for-humans-be-if-we-really-encouraged-that/) [Warren Berger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-berger/) > [“What would happen if this happens?’ I do that on my own—I do all of my exploring outside of school. 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