The Miseducation of the Masses (Part 2): Rise of the Foundations!

Mic Check Radio

In part 2 of our series on the education system in the United States of America, we take a look at how compulsory schooling was legislated into existence and then financed. From 1889 to 1906 William Torrey Harris was the Commissioner of Education for the United States of America. That is an uninterrupted, 17 year stretch in which he shaped the teaching philosophy and legislation of an entire nation. During his tenure there was an average of one high school opened per day. That is a massive education boom. But, what was his philosophy of education? And, who was helping to subsidize this massive infrastructure of new buildings, textbooks and teacher training? The noted humanitarians (sarcasm) John D. Rockefeller and Andrew Carnegie, to name just the two main wealthy white guys we take a look at in this episode. We wrap up part 2 with some choice quotes from a 1913 Special Commission appointed by the 62nd Congress to investigate the entity know as a "Foundation", both as a business model and the power it wields within society. Hint: It's not good and it hasn't gotten any better in the 101 years since this report. [Click to Listen]