NORTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA REGIONAL AUTISM ACCEPTANCE PROJECT- SCRANTON-WILKES BARRE, PENNSYLVANIA

Today I was reading a review of a book on education that appeared in the ISR magazine. This described how that there education often seeks to keep people within their particular social class and how that schools are divided between the working class schools which do not provide critical thinking but encourage rote tasks; the middle class schools which focus in 'right' and 'wrong' answers, the affluent schools which allow more of a level of independent action, and the elite schools focused on leadership and molding the thought of the student. As I began to examine this closely, I realized how true this is and can see it demonstrated within my own community. The public schools where the majority of the working class students attend is focused on rote tasks and when a child dare rebel against this system of things, there are various ways to seek to force them into compliance, often through labels and drugs. I believe it is necessary for young people begin to understand their own state of affairs and to mobilize, to collectively challenge the system of things in a non-violent manner and to demand change in the education system. The working class students are often told they are lazy or missing opportunities, the fact is that the education system does not seek to provide them with many opportunities. They are demoralised and they are encouraged to 'stay within their place." It is no wonder there is a rise in crime, drugs, violence, etc., this is what we have created when we have demoralised our youth, when we have not truly met their needs, and they become desparate and despairing. Eugene Debs said, "While there is a lower class I am in it; while there is a criminal element I am of it; while there is a soul in prison, I am not free”. I completely agree.


-Dan L. Edmunds, Ed.D.
www.humanepsychiatry.com