Death to Headline Editors

I’ve seen this link with this headline a number of places recently, and I find it bothersome. Valedictorian Speaks Out Against Schooling in Graduation Speech

The problem is that the speaker isn’t speaking out against schooling. The objection is that other things have replaced schooling in schools: the emphasis is on doing well on the test, at the expense of learning. There is no call to end education, the demand is to fix a flawed system.

Some of you may be thinking, “Well, if you pass a test, or become valedictorian, didn’t you learn something? Well, yes, you learned something, but not all that you could have. Perhaps, you only learned how to memorize names, places, and dates to later on forget in order to clear your mind for the next test. School is not all that it can be. Right now, it is a place for most people to determine that their goal is to get out as soon as possible.

I am now accomplishing that goal. I am graduating. I should look at this as a positive experience, especially being at the top of my class. However, in retrospect, I cannot say that I am any more intelligent than my peers. I can attest that I am only the best at doing what I am told and working the system. Yet, here I stand, and I am supposed to be proud that I have completed this period of indoctrination.