The Truth about Public Schools

When my grandfather, fresh out of college, went for his first job interview, he bore a letter of recommendation from one of his Queen’s professors, stressing the fact that he was unusually well-spoken. He, an engineer by training, went on to be the president of his own company.

Warren Buffett credits his success to having taken a Dale Carnegie course.

The obvious question is, why are we not teaching these things in schools? Why did both these men have to pick up their most important qualification in their free time? Specifically, why are we not teaching formal debating, rhetoric (aka salesmanship), and rules of order (aka how to run a meeting)? These three are the essential skills for actual success in almost any career; they are easily taught; they are vital to good citizenship; and they used to be the backbone of a classical education.

This question used to stump me. Until I realized the obvious answer. The public schools are actually designed to prevent students from becoming successful. They are shaped by a ruling class to ensure that they remain the ruling class. The ruling class, of course, always sends their own children to private schools which teach formal debate, rhetoric, and the rules of order. The public schools, on the other hand, are there to spit out useful tools for industry, people who do not themselves have the ability to manage their own affairs, or challenge for power. Preserving proper employment for a hereditary ruling class in telling them what to do.

They are unworthy of a free nation.