Historical proof that today’s public schools are nothing but indoctrination mills poisoning minds
Click for original.
You want to know why today’s kids know nothing about America’s past, and in fact in many cases actually believe falsely that America invented slavery and has always been an evil oppressive nation founded on that even more evil concept of capitalism, you need only compare pictures of two typical public school classrooms, one from 1909 and one from 2025.
The picture to the right was taken in 1909, showing an elementary classroom in the Washington, DC area. Note the picture of President Teddy Roosevelt on the wall, surrounded by American flags. Note the blackboard that covers two entire walls, its entire face filled with detailed information these children were expected to learn. Note how there is nothing else. Very clearly the focus is on learning the basics of reading, writing, and arithmetic, with a lot of American history and science thrown in as well. As noted in the article of many such vintage classroom images from which this picture was drawn:
Students wear their best clothes for this formal photograph. The classroom features standard educational decor of the period—portraits of historical figures, maps, and instructional charts. Such photographs documented not just the students but the educational standards and resources of local communities.
As a child who grew up in the 1950s and 1960s, I can say that the classrooms of my day were quite similar. There was almost always a portrait of George Washington and the Declaration of Independence on the wall, along with map of the world and the U.S. And above all, the focus was on learning basic facts and essential skills.
The next picture below was taken in 2025 by a parent of an 11-year-old boy while attending a parent orientation night. It is also typical of the classrooms one sees nowadays in the public schools, and the contrast is more than striking.
Click for original.
Though it also has an American flag, it appears it is there almost as an afterthought. And as for the blackboards (now white), they are covered not by real information that the kids need to learn but by LBGQT+ pride flags. As the parent noted in posting these images,
The classrooms were inundated with DEI messages and trans pride flags. On the walls there were posters, stickers and various decorations that all invoked the various totems of diversity. Black lives matter messaging, decolonization messaging, LGBTQ+ messaging, and basically ever sort of race and gender social justice messaging you can imagine was present. The advertisements for post secondary opportunities featured social justice education prominently, including advertising a course on “indigenous ways of knowing” as something grade 12 students should pursue upon graduation. Many of the teachers has “this is a safe space” sticker sign their doors, and others had variations of “in this house” messaging on their doors or on the walls of the classroom. [emphasis mine]
The “safe space” sticker is especially telling. The academic fad of declaring places “safe spaces” is possible the worst idea any academic ever invented. To have an open-mind and the ability to think critically the last place you want to be is in a “safe space,” where different ideas are banned and you are kept nicely protected from being challenged. That public school teachers today are pushing this idiotic idea tells you they have no concept of what teaching is all about. If anything, they are anti-teachers, working hard to shrink and calcify the minds of the children in their care.
So what do these images tell us?
In 1909, the goal of the public schools was to teach kids knowledge, real information that kids could use to become good and productive adults in a mature society. In 2025, the goal of the public schools is to indoctrinate. Real information is irrelevant and is in fact avoided at all costs. Instead, what is pounded into the kids’ heads is Marxist anti-American racist ideology, designed to make them hate their country while knowing as little about its history as possible.
I’ll say it again: If you have children, home school them. And if they are presently in public schools get them out as quickly as possible. The public schools are not only failing to teach them anything worthwhile, it is poisoning their brains with very bad ideas that have routinely led to poverty, starvation, and the murder of millions.
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For what it’s worth, that’s more or less how it still was when I was in school (in Missouri) in the 1980’s.
But I can attest to seeing the sort of thing you have posted for your 2025 example. Until recently, I served as an election judge in Montgomery County, Maryland, in the course of which my usual polling station was a nearby public high school. Now, granted that the county is quite possibly the most “blue” county in the country, and granted that we all knew that critical gender indoctrination was so bad in Montgomery that it had triggered a federal case from angry parents that was working its way up to the Supreme Court (where the parents won, last year), I was still shocked at what I saw. I mean, to actually see these things in person… Trans and Pride flags were almost the least of it. I would be horrified at the idea of putting any child of mine into such a school.
My kids are enrolled in a private Christian school that focuses on classical education. I’m just thankful that we can afford it, and that we live in a conservative rural community that doesn’t put up with that sort of deviance.
When I was in public grade school in NYC in the 60’s there was a picture of George Washington, The American flag and we said the pledge of allegiance, right hand over your heart every morning.
Hair combed, bow tie and a button downed shirt.
That is all defined as offensive and oppressive now.
We need more offence and oppression in America today IMO.
You got that in China–don’t they came you if you get it wrong?
What public school tests used to look like
https://wallbuilders.com/resource/eighth-grade-exit-exam/
The public vs private tiff has no place here. China doesn’t let gangsta thugs run classrooms. Tiger Moms mean kids from Asia excel.
Private schools can be crap too depending on who they hire
Montessori method?
https://phys.org/news/2025-11-optional-fosters.html
There was an experiment with “McNamara’s Morons.”
My poor Dad never finished school.
In church, he once pronounced the word “synagogue” as “sin-uh-gyoo.”
I tried my hardest to phase through the wooden bench, but the quantum deities didn’t listen to my prayers either.
Let me tell you something my Dad DID do–which astounds me to this day.
Late 70’s-early 80’s.
Our gray cat was reaching through a wooden chair towards an orange playmate…until it got stuck. He freaked out. I couldn’t bear the sight of its broken limb.
Somehow, my Dad used an old finger splint and two popsicle sticks and white medical tape to make a cast of sorts.
How that young cat let him set its leg is beyond me.
He was farm stock…good with his hands.
A couple of years later, we took the cat (leg perfectly healed) to the vet because it was sick. He didn’t know how to fix that.
A retarded kid walked over to the car…and THEN it clawed my Dad did two jumps to the woods…and we never saw it again. He was disgusted.
A fact with my hand up.
We all have a role to play…even morons like me.
Yes… and no.
There was plenty of indoctrination in those early schools, too. The real difference is in what indoctrination was going on, and how.
The real problem with the indoctrination taking place today is that it is perverted and against the morals we used to have. One of the reasons you speak as if there was no indoctrination is because you were swimming in an ocean that held those values and morals pretty consistently. When the teacher told you not to talk during class, it was simply reinforcing the values you’d already been taught, at home and in church and other places. But, even at that, not talking in someone else’s meeting/ presentation/ lecture IS a “value”. And it was reinforced in school. Along with not lying, not stealing, not cheating, not hitting someone (or dipping their pigtails in ink, if you’re that old). These are all morals that were fairly universal. (Not entirely, or we wouldn’t have had detention. Some needed some work.)
The very reason for the different indoctrination today is because Progressives want to totally remake that ocean in which you lived – morals, values, belief system. They want to (and have achieved it, to some disturbing degree) make the next generation into one with a different set of assumptions. As you had very little concern over saying “under God” in your morning Pledge routine, they desire to make anything about God repugnant. As you accepted that you didn’t hit girls, they want to make it normal that you can’t define “girl” except by that person’s emotions at the moment. Where you are repulsed by that, is because of the society in which you were raised and indoctrinated.
Note that I am using the strict sense of the word “indoctrinated.” It is properly used of instilling values and morals (doctrine) into people. It’s done in churches, families, schools, and even boot camp. But your complaint, really is that it is indoctrination against the mores with which were instilled in you by your (and my) indoctrination.
“There was plenty of indoctrination in those early schools, too. ”
You write that assuming that all education exists in a perfectly objective vacuum?
Previously in American history our government, warts and all, had an agenda that supported and promoted the American perspective. That has changed, and that is the nature of things.
And that being so our government has been over time populated by those who have grown up in the bosom of the freedom provided by those “antiquated” American values and have come to believe that the world exists sans the components of evil, violence and oppression that exists in ALL men throughout history.
When you forget where you came from due to the realizations and actions of others that have provided you with the fantasy life you now live your existence tends to be scheduled for a restructuring.
Government, media and deep state propaganda is alive and well and stepping back you have to wonder where exactly they are driving the bus and why.
Cotour
November 14, 2025 at 7:15 am
“There was plenty of indoctrination in those early schools, too. ”
You write that assuming that all education exists in a perfectly objective vacuum?
I see your angle on it. But the lack of a vacuum was kind of my point. It looks like “indoctrination” is the problem because the previous indoctrination was somewhat homogenous, and this new bit goes against the grain. But, really, it’s that it goes against the concepts that built our Western Civilization and American exceptionalism that is the real problem.
As to why? Because some of the powerful people have a utopian goal in mind. They want a Progressive heaven on earth.
When the teaching of “2 + 2 = 4” is considered to be racist, well…Houston, we have a problem. Add to that the recent vote amongst Colorado’s largest teachers union “to abolish capitalism” and it’s time to reassess who is being hired to teach our kids and who is hiring them.
pronounced the word “synagogue” as “sin-uh-gyoo.”
Whatever. I just tripped across “cockaigne” (which is pronounced “ka-kane”, which I guessed but also looked up to confirm). I have stopped using the French spelling of merrang (meringue) because it’s so annoying, especially when merengue (mer-eng-gay) is a dance. I thought “detritus” was “detrious” for years. When most people say “flounder” they usually mean “founder” – to thrash around is not a fish. English pronunciation (and spelling) is insane. Mock people for it at your peril because it will happen to you.
I also happen to be an “its”/”it’s” and “less”/”fewer” pedant and I still get it wrong on occasion.
Time for my litany.
The Education School in any University has the lowest SATs and the highest GPAs.
An undergraduate Education degree is 13th, 14th, 15th, and 16th grades, with “social promotion”.
Graduate degrees in Education are Participation Trophies.
The sad state of schools (and radical indoctrination) all derives from these facts. .
When you put the lower half of the bell curve in charge of education, this is the result. Imbueing propaganda is much easier than teaching facts and methods. Besides, they don’t quite remember themselves whether you do addition before or after multiplication, and what difference has it made.in their lives. Better if the kid is aware of his privilege. Kid gets 62% on the test? Make a poster with math symbols for extra credit – hey, that’s how the teacher got straight A’s.
There is always an agenda pressure filling the vacuum and that agenda pressure comes along with who is in control and is dominating politics and power.
Our government has been dominated by the Liberal now Leftist (RINO) agenda for over 50 years, and we have arrived at the consequences of their efforts in education and the indoctrination that serves their purposes.
When you grow up in the bosom of the fantasy that is America you can come to a conclusion that the Constitution is just a piece of paper and the things that it codifies and enshrines are optional because they were conceptualized and written by a bunch of white, male, slave owning, rich men.
And to allow yourself as an individual to come to that conclusion because you have grown up protected and raised within that very bosom of safety, freedom, prosperity and indoctrination without stopping to see what must be seen describes perfectly the Left and those young and old people who have abandoned rational thinking.
Political warfare is warfare, and all of the rules of warfare apply. There really are no rules in war I.E. “By any means necessary” takes on an entirely relevant meaning. This is not a rehearsal.
FROM: Strategy Over Morality:
“CONCLUSION: The public lives and operates under a subjective moral code or within a “Pedestrian Realm” perspective which they assume their leadership which exists within the “Political Realm” is constrained by. This is a subjective false perspective conclusion on the part of the public. Leadership at its existential core is not about morality, truth and honesty. Politically empowered Political Realm leadership is ultimately about the fundamental exercise of power and “IT’s” subjective agenda interests and “IT’s” political power prevailing. And within this Strategy Over Morality model the potential for the abuse of power related to the Pedestrian Realm perspective is ever present.”
https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e691e8_3f69ed2f2d204136ba2d3fd5418a28e5~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_925,h_519,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/e691e8_3f69ed2f2d204136ba2d3fd5418a28e5~mv2.jpg
Politically empowered politicians and government are not in the truth and morality business.
They are in the power and control business.
Was Thomas Crooks a government deep state controlled entity?
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15292271/tucker-carlson-thomas-crooks-digital-footprint-trump-assassination.html
By any means necessary.
Trust NONE of them.
More in my home state
https://www.wbrc.com/2025/11/13/lecturer-loses-class-after-student-criticized-her-use-pyramid-white-supremacy/?utm_source=taboola&utm_medium=organicclicks&tbref=hp
In other news
https://www.wbrc.com/2025/11/13/woman-accused-fraudulently-receiving-25000-snap-benefits/?utm_source=taboola&utm_medium=organicclicks&tbref=hp
Not sure if I’d pick 1909 as the benchmark, but I generally support Mr. Z’s take on all this.
We were deep into the progressive hoopla era by 1909.
My elementary school– build brand-new in 1959. I do recall JFK & LBJ portraits on the wall; Nixon didn’t make it. Wood & metal desks by “American Seating, Grand Rapids Michigan.” ( 5 words I never misspelled…)
We had a large global & USA map, map of Michigan, map of the Moon, and a globe.
The Alphabet was listed on top of the chalkboard, in cursive and block print. We put up a new calendar every month and acknowledged every legal holiday. Pledge of Allegiance every morning, everyone had a turn at leading; every classroom had a full-size American Flag. We had recess in the mid-morning followed by “milk time,” where you could buy a container of milk for 5 cents, Mrs. Holmes made sure everybody received a milk, money or not. “Historical Documents” were donated by the VFW consisting of the Declaration, Constitution, etc. which were prominently displayed.
Large playground with all the classic playground-equipment and baseball diamond.
————————————————–
First Public Reading of the Declaration
(From the series John Adams)
https://youtu.be/p04LtmGeXrU
2:45
In elementary school (mid-’50s), after the Pledge, we had to recite the Lord’s Prayer, followed by this ditty that I still remember:
“Little drops of water,
Little grains of sand,
Make the mighty oceans,
And the pleasant land.”
Strange, the things one remembers.
Then, I got to junior high, and while we didn’t have a strict dress code, there were some rules:
– no jeans
– no sneakers (dress shoes only, no one would even DREAM of flip flops – which we called “thongs” in those days)
– boys had to wear slacks, girls blouses and skirts or dresses
One of the subjects we were graded on was “penmanship”. I wonder if the ones who failed that were tracked into medical school :)
Speaking of which, we did have tracking in high school. “Academic” track and “Vocational” track, and never the twain shall meet. I remember being upset that I wasn’t allowed to take auto mechanics!
And this was in Montgomery County, MD public schools. How times have changed!
Scarier than anything I saw around Halloween. Referring to the 2025 shot of course. And I think it’s Taft on the wall in 1909, but I can’t zoom in close enough to see what’s written (in nice script!) on the blackboard. A thorough housecleaning is desperately needed in primary and secondary education. I could go on, but we all know the stakes.
In 1909, progressivism didn’t mean what it means now.
Then it meant good wages for good work
I fondly remember those duck and cover practice sessions.
Even in grade school i questioned if my little wooden desk would save my butt from a nuclear bomb.
Jeff–
“Progressivism,” in the United States refers to the imported Fabian Socialism movement in England. Their original symbol was literally a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
In the United States we have both democrat & republican versions of “progressivism,” and the actual difference between the Parties is difficult to discern.
At the turn of the century, it quickly became apparent to the socialists & communists in the United States that the American population would never fully divide along class & economic lines, and a “worker’s revolution” ala Marx, would inevitably fail as America did not embrace Class distinction’s and believed that any Man could elevate himself economically via meritocratic efforts and participation in a representative republic capitalistic economic system.
(It is interesting to note, most ALL our “problems” are the result of embracing foreign concepts & ideology, rather than embracing our unique revolutionary concepts. (Such as, “All Men are Created Equal…”)
“Progressivism,” as envisioned by the Fabian Progressive movement is designed to slowly impose socialism. The word has very little to do with “progress.” The idea is to get the population to accept socialism and ultimately communism, by manipulating them to voluntarily vote for things that sound wonderful, and systematically and progressively, them move toward full blown socialism.
Murray Rothbard
The American Economy and the End of Laisse-Faire: 1870-WW2
Lecture 9, “The Progressive Era(?)”
https://youtu.be/t-0X81v-NvI
1:27:51
“The progressive movement came in 1900 to eliminate political parties. Technocrats and bureaucrats take over political power. It becomes Rural versus urban. Eliminate mayors, eliminate voting altogether, have appointed bureaucrats only. Nationalize public school system so costs could be socialized, like getting the public schools to teach Spanish. Children can all be part of a collective, without parental influence. Control shifted from ethnic working-class small communities to upper class WASPS. Only synthetic drugs remained legal in medicine. Rockefeller Institute backed it. Homeopathy was outlawed. Regulation was increased to crush new economic entrants…….”
pzatchok–
Never had to (practice) duck & cover myself, although my older brother did.
“Our Cities Must Fight” (1951)
https://youtu.be/7RNcTnvTJa0
8:56
just tossing this is here—
“Diary of a Sergeant”
Rehabilitation of Soldier Harold Russell
(B: January 14, 1914 –D: January 29, 2002)
https://youtu.be/IaigtXtoU_I
24:05
“Profiles Canadian-born, Boston-raised paratroop sergeant Harold Russel. On June 6, 1944, Russell lost both hands in a demolition accident. He later appeared in this Army Signal Corps documentary in which he acted out the various phases of the rehabilitation process of an amputee. Director William Wyler saw the film while preparing “The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)” and cast Russell as the film’s disabled returning veteran. For his performance Russell won both the Academy Award as the year’s Best Supporting Actor and a second, honorary Oscar “for bringing hope and courage to his fellow veterans.” He is the only actor ever to win two Oscars for the same role.”
Marx’s followers talked a lot about dismal working conditions in industrial settings….
He didn’t live long enough to see how de-industrialization was worse.
Like deinstitutionalization, the worst debacles are bipartisan these days. Capital always wants someone else to do the dirty work why they get most of the money–nothing new there. So they moved jobs overseas. The Mitt Romney types.
The Greens and NIMBYs, HOAs–they didn’t like factories either. That gave us the Rust Belt. The DNC hasn’t been the party of labor for decades.
I remember when the GOP race baited pro-border Gephardt types and Bedtime Bonzo fussed about tariffs. No love for Reagan here.
buddhaha
November 14, 2025 at 11:19 am
You nailed it! I taught classes from Kindergarten through 10th grade, even having a year of “Shop” tossed into the mix, for more than 4 decades. I railed against those who brought multi-culturalism (the first step in breaking down the Nation’s “Out of many, One” foundation), thru the “New Math” craze (which excelled at confusing those responsible for teaching it, let alone those being “taught”), and thence into the “Social Promotion” disaster, (the “No one fails!”, “Everyone gets their ‘Participation Ribbon’ “era).
When I brought the cheating practices of a pair of Probationary ‘teachers’ to the attention of the building ‘Principal’,, documenting how they violated EVERY rule when administering State mandated exams, said ‘Principal’ dismissed ALL of it, responding with “The kids scores were high, weren’t they?”. It was then I submitted my retirement papers. Having a minority ‘Principal’ (whose secretary had to proof and correct all of her correspndence before they were sent), approving of a pair of incompetent Probationaries, (both of whom were granted tenure status), was a bridge too far for me.
wayne
I grew up in a tornado area so we also had tornado drills and fire drills.
My son went through active shooter training along with tornado drills and fire drills.
As my son went through school I noticed they has less and less time for the three “rs” and spent more time on environmentalism, racism and Lgbtq stuff.
Free Speech Movement:
Born Berkeley CA 1964 — Died Berkeley CA 2017
Rest In Peace
________________
I was just in a discussion with a leftist, and I realized that they consider the difference between reasonable Republicans and extremists is that reasonable Republicans have always been Republican, and the extremists are converted Democrats. Yes, at least come leftists think that some Republicans are not extremists.
Extremist Republicans include: Trump, Musk, and Reagan.