Science, if you believe in science, tells us it’s natural for people to build on ideas they are comfortable with rather than seek new ideas. We are attracted to information that reinforces what we already know. Education is what exposes us to new ideas. Once a school teaches you the three R’s, its role is to examine all sides of important issues, to trick, bully, and seductively invite you, the student, into an alternate reality. One that forces you to think objectively and critically. Learning is supposed to take us out of our comfort zone and confront us with contrary information.
One responsibility of elected leaders is to referee difficult arguments, to ensure both sides are explained, and in doing so build trust in our systems. However, too often politicians refuse to participate. Instead, they act as cheerleaders for whichever side offers them support in future elections – even on occasions when it promotes havoc. This stems from the fact that our political systems are a popularity contest, and popularity favours those driven by ambition more than those who possess integrity and wisdom. As a result, elected governments attempt to influence schools to promote the favoured ideology, hoping to strengthen their position.
Once people accept that educational institutions exist to display the importance of facts, even the ones we don’t like, we begin building a foundation for better decision making. Education must promote the importance of truth, and teach us how to recognize both objectivity and bias. If schools refuse to do this and only present one side of an argument, you are no longer being educated, you are being indoctrinated.
Some people complain that confronting controversial issues is hurtful and traumatic. These issues might “trigger” mental anguish, especially with young people. This may be true, but does avoiding the confrontation solve the problem? Can we guarantee these issues will never have to be faced? Who is going to protect these people for a lifetime and how will that “protection” impact their vision of reality? What, indeed, is maturity beyond gaining an understanding of reality? Trauma is the shock of exposure to brutal realities. A shock intensified if society has immersed itself in comforting lies. Too often our present-day educational institutions believe the best way to defend against trauma is to better hide the realities and further deepen the lies.
To me, this is not just wrong-headed but an invasion of our freedom. Shielding people from information that could impact their future may lead to them making poor decisions. If enough people make poor decisions governments can justify stepping in to take away our right to make those decisions. When leaders tell us they are reducing our freedoms for our own protection, be frightened. In the end all you may be left with is a life of ignorance, anxiety, and fear.
Just a Picture
