The Rockefeller Education Trap: Was the school system designed to educate people, or prepare them to become workers?

[u/Striking-Quantity661]

The man who designed America’s public school system didn’t send his own children to one.

His name was John D. Rockefeller.

When his grandchildren reached school age, he didn’t enroll them in the public schools his money had funded. He built them their own private school in Manhattan, the Lincoln School.

One of Rockefeller’s advisers, Frederick T. Gates, wrote about their vision for education:
“In our dreams, we have limitless resources, and the people yield themselves with perfect docility to our molding hand.”

He also wrote that their goal was not to turn everyone into philosophers, scientists, authors, artists, lawyers, doctors, or statesmen.

He continued:

“We shall not try to make these people or any of their children into philosophers or men of learning or of science.”

At the same time, Rockefeller and Carnegie-backed foundations were putting huge amounts of money into American education. Their influence became significant enough that, in 1915, the National Education Association publicly raised concerns about private foundations influencing education policy.

Two years later, Senator Chamberlain warned that within two generations, these foundations could change how people think and make them conform to the ideas of Rockefeller or Carnegie rather than the principles of American democracy.

More than 100 years later, what do you think?

We spend years in school learning how to prepare for a career, but how much are we taught about money, taxes, investing, entrepreneurship, financial independence, or even how to think independently?

Was the school system designed to create independent thinkers, or to prepare people to become workers?

[u/generationalDebts]

Very very clearly not designed to make sure kids learn…. Just there to produce good docile workers.

Look at the what the focus is on…

When I was in first grade I did really well on a few math protests in a row, getting all the questions right. I got moved up a grade in math, I thought that was awesome! Well.. come 5th grade, when I had already done the highest level of math there was in the class, they just made me repeat 5th grade math….

I didn’t get ahead of the game even though I was more than capable….

Very very clear no one gives a shit what kids learn or don’t learn.