Quote by Jules Henry, Culture Against Man
School is an institution for drilling children in cultural orientation. ...American classrooms, like educational institutions anywhere, express the values, preoccupations,and fears found in the culture as a whole. School has no choice; it must train the children to fit the culture as it is. ...Since education is always against some things and for others, it bears the burden of the cultural obessions. ...It thus comes about that most educational systems are imbued with anxiety and hostility, that they are against as many things as they are for. ... The function of education has never been to free the mind and the spirit of man, but to bind them...acquiescence, not originality. ...Schools are the central conserving force of the culture.
Summary
This quote highlights the role that schools play in shaping and reinforcing cultural norms and values. It argues that educational institutions, including American classrooms, reflect the beliefs, concerns, and anxieties prevalent in society. Schools are essentially tasked with molding children to conform to existing cultural standards rather than encouraging independent and critical thinking. As a result, education is often focused on maintaining the status quo rather than fostering creativity and innovation. The quote suggests that schools serve as a conservative force in society by perpetuating established cultural norms and stifling originality.
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