Don't Worry About the Vase Podcast Childhood and Education #14: The War On Education
Sep 10, 2025
Explore the ethical dilemmas in education as talented students are expected to support peers without recognition. Dive into the clash of ideologies around learning and reassess current educational practices focusing on student well-being over competition. The heated debate on San Francisco's 'Grading for Equity' initiative raises concerns about educational quality. Discuss challenges in early literacy and the effectiveness of ability grouping, highlighting the cultural dynamics influencing these critical educational issues.
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Education Often Opposes Its Stated Goal
- Many people in education oppose straightforward teaching and prioritize other goals over children learning.
- That opposition often manifests as policies or attitudes that actively prevent students from learning.
Absolute Learning Versus Relative Mobility
- Freddie DeBoer argues education raises absolute performance but fails to reshuffle relative achievement.
- Zvi counters that education's point is educating children, not preserving relative standings.
Shift Resources Toward Real Learning
- If you believe education only serves positional aims, reduce time and money spent on pointless competition.
- Instead focus resources on practical skills and basic learning that benefit everyone.
