First of (Sorry for this Miss Geurin.) but I think that John Taylor is completely wrong and is the biggest asshole in the world. His comments literally tempted me to scream and throw my laptop out of my window. I am a civil person (Sometimes) so I didn't do that. I also could rant all day about how much I hate this guy so much, but there are rules to this assignment that need to get done first. The thing is that I do see some connection to John Taylor's article to Fahrenheit. "...mandatory schooling throughout the South, surely understood that the Prussian system was useful in creating not only a harmless electorate and a servile labor force but also a virtual herd of mindless consumers." Although I don't believe this, I do say that this connects to Fahrenheit. This connects to the books basic overview. People in a futuristic society will not be happy. They will be born only to serve and be used by the government. pg. 17 " Well, after all, this is the age of the disposable tissue. Blow your nose on a person, wad them, flush. Everyone using everyone else's coattails." People are useless they get used and then thrown away like tissues. I do admit also that John Taylor presents his case about school crippling students with much 'evidence' if that's what you can call it. "Inglis breaks down the purpose - the actual purpose - of modem schooling into six basic functions...The adjustive or adaptive function...The integrating function...The diagnostic and directive function...The differentiating function ...The selective function...The propaedeutic function..." So this provides evidence that he is not the only person who believes this. It isn't just some crazy teachers opinion, but it is supported by evidence. In the book Fahrenheit 451, the author Ray Bradbury doesn't use evidence necissarily because he can't predict the future, but he does use reasoning and good educated guesses. pg. 55"...English and spelling gradually gradually neglected, finally almost completely ignored. Life is immediate, the job counts, pleasure lies all about after work." I believe some of this quote to be true. Today we have spell check. I know that I depend on spell check a lot. Over my years I have practice the definition of words a lot, but I haven't practice spelling words sense elementary school. Also from the quote, aren't you pushed to do homework before leisure. I know that as I get higher in grade levels, my leisure time is diminishing more rapidly as I am learning more. I hate this, but I chose to do it, I am not forced like John Taylor said. So as you can see, Both Mr. Bradbury and Mr. Taylor have similar ideas and they both use reasoning or evidence to support their theories on society today. Now it is time to talk about how much I AM NOT PERSUADED BY JOHN TAYLOR. I also am not persuaded by Bradbury but I like his book a lot. So Mr. Taylor I think has it all wrong. I think that school is not forced upon you. Yes you are forced to actually go, but you are the one that really decides weather or not to do the work. I could not have taken five pages of notes in Mr. Renauds class today, but I did because I want to be successful one day. By successful I mean using my education as an advantage not so I can be a sycophant or submissive. One of the things that really annoys me is when he talks about the elite class being taught to control later in life. I believe that the elite people got there because they tried hard. I am not good in school because teachers just hand me good grades, it is because I try. Unlike someone who is not in the elite class. They just don't focus as much. I think and yes some people are devious and shouldn't belong in the elite class but still hard work usually results in success. The thing about leadership and schools not teaching it is crap as well. The students just didn't work enough to get it. There are plenty of opportunities to become a leader and teach the role of leadership. You can join a club and watch as leaders pass, then run to be a President or Vice President. You can learn a lot about leadership b becoming one of those. Just this year I was the treasurer for the class of 2014. I learned so much on how to lead and my job wasn't even the most important. However the case, this is my opinion and I have the right to have it, just like John Taylor has the right to his opinion even though I think it is wrong.
Sources
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury