Chapter Three - At the Root of the Problem: The Capitalist Economy
This chapter looks at the economic system and how issues such as inequality need to be attacked here and not within the school system. Equality and full human development is actually related to the nature of capitalism and the structure in which schools must prepare students to enter. In the previous chapter the authors looked at how education reforms failed which they believed was due to an incomplete understanding of the economic system. Most education reformers took the economic system at face value. Yet it is the nature of the U.S. economic system which first must be understood, in order to implement alternative education theories that have a chance of working. So this chapter will be looking at precise that: The U.S. economic system prior to 1975.
The people - production process in the workplace and in schools is dominated by the pursuit of profits rather than human need. There is a necessity of growing up and getting a job. The authors feel that this makes us less free, less secure and less happy. It is the need to put ones self in a box that hampers ones potential. The authors point out a contradiction of the so-called democratic system in which we live: the vast majority of workers are controlled by a small minority. (This was a problem that was discussed in chapter two that was occurring in the mid to late 1800's with the birth of the factory system.) This continually occurs in the democratic society in which we live in.
The following is a contrast that the authors have pointed out, the differences in the way decisions are made in the political arena versus the economic arena. While politically the process looks to be democratic, economically the process looks to undemocratic.
Democracy is based on ensuring the maximum participation of the majority in decision making, protecting minorities against prejudice and protecting the majority from any undue influence on the part of an unrepresented minority. (For example this would be watching that oligopolies do not have a chance to form.)
This is in sharp contrast with the way the U.S. capitalist system works. It depends on the following: Ensuring minimum participation by the majority (workers), protecting a single minority (management) against the wills of the majority, and this minority (management / corporations) having a large amount of control over the majority (workers.)
The people - production process in the workplace and in schools is dominated by the pursuit of profits rather than human need. There is a necessity of growing up and getting a job. The authors feel that this makes us less free, less secure and less happy. It is the need to put ones self in a box that hampers ones potential. The authors point out a contradiction of the so-called democratic system in which we live: the vast majority of workers are controlled by a small minority. (This was a problem that was discussed in chapter two that was occurring in the mid to late 1800's with the birth of the factory system.) This continually occurs in the democratic society in which we live in.
The following is a contrast that the authors have pointed out, the differences in the way decisions are made in the political arena versus the economic arena. While politically the process looks to be democratic, economically the process looks to undemocratic.
Democracy is based on ensuring the maximum participation of the majority in decision making, protecting minorities against prejudice and protecting the majority from any undue influence on the part of an unrepresented minority. (For example this would be watching that oligopolies do not have a chance to form.)
This is in sharp contrast with the way the U.S. capitalist system works. It depends on the following: Ensuring minimum participation by the majority (workers), protecting a single minority (management) against the wills of the majority, and this minority (management / corporations) having a large amount of control over the majority (workers.)
*It is interesting to note that high school texts tend to dwell on the issues of how to make democracy work, but do not really discuss the issues that spring from capitalism.
I wonder why?
I wonder why?
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