“Thomas Jefferson. . . knew what schools were for--to ensure that citizens would know when and how to protect their liberty. . . It would not have come easily to the mind of such a man, as it does to political leaders today, that the young should be taught to read exclusively for the purpose of increasing their economic productivity.”
― Neil Postman,
This Postman quote got my attention because it is such a deterministic statement. Is he suggesting that the real and ultimate, even only, purpose of education is to increase economic productivity on a personal level? Maybe. I wonder what he was thinking.
Here is some AI thinking
According to cultural critic Neil Postman in his book The End of Education, the true purpose of education is to forge a coherent, unified culture out of a diverse society, provide profound meaning through shared narratives, and help young people make sense of the world rather than just train them for jobs.
futuremakers.nz +2
What Education Should Be
Cultural Cohesion: Bringing diverse groups together with a shared sense of national and civic purpose.
Encyclopedia Britannica
Meaningful Narratives: Using powerful stories—such as the "American Experiment" or "Earth as Spaceship"—to give students a reason to learn.
futuremakers.nz
Moral and Intellectual Growth: Teaching students how to ask deep questions, think critically, and understand their place in human history.
futuremakers.nz +1
What Education Should Not Be
Economic Utility: Reducing schooling to mere job training or a way to make more money.
Consumership: Teaching children that their human worth is measured by what they buy or consume.
Technological Worship: Blindly trusting computers and gadgets to solve human and educational problems.
LMU Digital Commons +1