24) Forced Retardation

Ever since coming across John Taylor Gatto, I've become convinced that the American school system is pointless in teaching kids anything. All it does is force kids into acknowledging their unimportance and inferiority in comparison to others. This fits the role of becoming a capitalist consumer quite well.

As I pondered this earlier in a post, I tired to think of some perfect examples of how this system is so terrible. The list continues to grow for me, especially when it comes to testing and homework. And yet no one would dare dispute that schooling is vital and important. But perhaps that is the greatest joke; the system that teaches nothing is the most important tool in learning anything in America. What we learn is that life will never be fair, opportunities are there if you are willing to stress yourself unnecessarily, and that there shall be no hope for those who wish to conform outside the system.

While trying to study for the SAT, I found it as an important example of this education's idiocy. According to The Princeton Review's 2010 edition of the SAT test prep book, it is stated clearly in the introduction: The test writers say that this test measures "reasoning ability," but actually, all the SAT really measures is how well you take the SAT. It does not reveal how smart or how good of a person you are.

Well that's just great. Why the hell am I supposed to take a test that measures NOTHING? Let's all live in the land of rainbows and sunshine with bunnies going down gumdrop lane. Still a better alternative to wasting my time.

Upon further examination, the introduction also states that the people who compose the test, the EST, are not college level professors or teachers. In fact, most, if not all, have nothing to do with any education system. They're just people who make the test. They even make tests for butchers and professional golfers. Well, nothing could possibly go wrong there.

The solution? Let me quote Caitlin:

Most successful students must work very hard in high school to earn the best grades they can. Students who get extra help, study, and try their best are the ones who tend to get good grades. Their work ethic determines how well they will do in the future. Therefore, a better way to predict students’ college performance is by looking at their ­previous achievements and grades. If colleges focus more on the accomplishments of the four years of high school rather than one test, they will more ­accurately determine how well students will perform in college.

What really bothers me is the fact that I am fully aware of all of this. And yet, I still have to take the test in order to advance into college. I don't have to tell you what it feels like to do something that you know is pointless.

So just how stupid does the American School system think I am? Tell you what: I'd rather not take the test and be called an uneducated fool, but at least I'm not a group of morons who have such blind faith into a failing system. A bunch of morons who spend millions of dollars every year. A group of morons who betray what it means to educate.