#2: Says the guy who refuses to explain what he means by indoctrination.

Anyway, this is Cracked, so who cares. But okay:

5: Right, they're not good for learning. They're good for showing what you have learned.

4: Right, more recess would be good. More time for lunch too.

3: I don't know. I used to believe that, but when do Asian countries introduce higher-order math? And fwiw, the Common Core has algebra in 7th grade, I believe.

2: Healthy, friendly competition can be a good thing. Cutthroat academic competition is not.

1: Agreed: make 'em all K-8 schools.

I know what indoctrination is, Reitze. I want to know what specific indoctrination you think is being perpetrated, and how it's different from any earlier indoctrination. And you still haven't answered, instead citing a very old movie that wasn't about what you seem to think it's about (school). Interesting flick, though--I remember being freaked by it when I was young.

Btw, I encourage my student to think, to question, well, pretty much everything, including me. And some take me up on it. It's fun, and it gives me hope for the future of our youth. (Funny enough, it's often the "high achievers" who question least. I bet that part doesn't surprise you.)

"The demonrats don't want to fix education----they want to keep that low information voter in the fold."

Squawk! "Low information voter!" Squawk!

And really, Mats. You think Republicans (I'm getting this by implication) want to fix the public school system and/or education in America, for everyone? Really?

"Get the politics and social engineering out of our schools and get back to the basic fundimentals of learning."

What do you mean? What politics and social engineering?

And btw, some of what schools have started to do is the direct result of parents not doing it. For instance, why should schools have to teach courses that cover balancing a checkbook and even how to write a check. My father taught me that stuff.

"What politics and social engineering?"

That's a serious question. Critics like to talk about stuff like "indoctrination" and "social engineering" without being specific, as if we all just know what those words mean in their (the critics') heads.

"that you are an excellent instructor of our children."

Thanks. I like to think so. I am also aware that we need more teachers like me (in this regard).

"But I cannot believe you are blind to the control politics have over teacher's unions"

Of course there are politics involved in that, but unions have much less control than critics like to assert.

"and the indoctrinating of our kids which such things as "Barack Hussein Obama ummm ummm ummm"."

ONE SCHOOL. Horrible, but one school. Were there other songs? Sure. Is it a widespread systemic cult of personality? I don't believe it.

"Maybe I'm "old fashion" but, we spend billions more on educating our kids and they are doing poorer and poorer. No doubt you have seen these changes even from the time you were in primary school, yes?"

Yes. But the reasons are not indoctrination. I'd say we actually do less indoctrination than we did even when I was in school, and certainly than in, say, the 50s.

For those who really want to change/fix education, I want them (us) to be ready to look at ALL factors, to be ready to engage in serious discussion, and be ready to push others to change. Many people who complain aren't willing to do any of those things.

"I find the "indoctrination" material to be learning more about Mexican government than US government."

Where does that happen? Why? It's not happening up here in the Northeast, nor are we spending time on, say, Canadian history or gov't. I think you're talking about Texas, and I believe that's a state decision.

"Or part of the Core...."These new partnerships must also inspire students to take a bigger and deeper view of their civic obligations -- not only to their countries of origin but to the betterment of the global community.""

Read the paragraph right before that one. It looks a lot like the first sentence of your last paragraph.

Thanks for pointing to some examples of what you see as indoctrination: recycling. A terrible evil, but at least you have something specific to offer. Btw, it has ever been thus: students coming home and challenging parents because of something the teacher said. I don't know how old you were, but I was being told about the evil Soviets when I was in school and the great and powerful American rescuers of the world.