Subtle manipulation of young children's minds by schools

On Friday my grandson went to his kindergarten class. His teacher let the children know it was a special day because of the inauguration. She told the children that whether we voted for Donald Trump or not, he is our president now and we should support him. I am good with that.

The school has a word of the day announced over the speaker by the principal and Friday's word was 'Oust' def. to remove from office. Supposedly the word is random but???

This school is kindergarten thru grade 3 or 5 .

Even if the youngest didn't get it, most parents will ask what they learned in school and the new word. Pairing the word "Oust" with the inauguration would likely be noticed and have the idea put into their mind, or like my grandson's parents, make them angry.

Oxford English Dictionary

Oust:

drive out or expel (someone) from a position or place

The above seems like a less 'political' way to describe the word. Better yet, save the word for another day.

On a side note, my grandson came home and asked if Hillary was bad because she didn't win. His little friends said that Trump was bad for women. So now he thinks Hillary is bad for losing. With much restraint, my son showed him the colored map and asked was their more red or blue. My grandson...red. My son...that is why Trump won. He didn't explain the nuances. None the less my grandson had transferred Trump being bad to Hillary being bad for not winning.

Little things maybe but none the less, it takes little to may a big impression on young minds.

a reply to: liveandlearn

Being a parent and step-parent for the past 14 years or so, I've seen this first hand. Many threads here also support it. I wish they would teach them the curriculum and leave the social biases for their parents to teach them and then they can confirm or deny when they are ready.

a reply to: liveandlearn

Sadly, programming is a big part of the school culture

I think they should leave politics out of primary school, well least for the younger ones, they hear enough on tv at home.

a reply to: DarkvsLight29

I don't care if they talk about politics at a little older level but their opinions need to be censored.

originally posted by: liveandlearn
a reply to: DarkvsLight29

I don't care if they talk about politics at a little older level but their opinions need to be censored.

I agree.

a reply to: liveandlearn

I know I've said this a bunch of times on ATS but I'll say it again...

Things like this take much of the sting out of paying my 5 year old's private school tuition each month.

a reply to: liveandlearn

I HATE the left leaning bias of the education system, however, I will say that even when teachers try to be fair and balanced that parents tend to interpret any little thing as the teacher pushing an agenda. It is nearly impossible to teach social sciences, history or government without getting crap from parents.

So the teacher told the little children that the day was a special day. Because it was inauguration day. And that we should all support him. Well ok, though some might go so far as to consider that mind manipulation, but whatever.

Then the school PA system announcer tells them the new word of the day which is oust and defines it as ' to remove from office''. Possibly random, yes. Possibly the sole decision of the secretary whose is in charge of picking the word of the day. Maybe as a lark.
Or maybe it was part of a Sorsos controlled grand scheme to undermine Western Culture and rebuild it into a socialist utopia where his out and out reliance on the capitalist system by which he made his huge fortunes will be destroyed. Yeah, maybe that one.

And sure the kids most likely did not make any connection between the big event of the day and the new word of the day that most likely they never remember anyway. But the parents, you think, would get mad because what, they might assume that that this was brainwashing their children?

Sounds to me that the problem here is the anger the parents might feel by being so easily triggered and over reacting to the new conservative list of what can and cannot be said by what might or might not be in conjunction with something else, Sounds like a new list of politically correct things to not say.

a reply to: eluryh22

Good for you taking the extra step. And they would if they could afford it. Fortunately the parents are aware and if it keeps up will likely homeschool.

Being older, I have watch all sections of our institutions be it the public, private, corporations, schools, etc inject their politics into the life of others. There was a time when it wasn't so. And if so it was minimal. Think this is why there has been a rebellion. Too much too fast.

Edward Bernays and the Art of Public Manipulation:

www.youtube.com...

History is a weapon:

www.historyisaweapon.com...

CHAPTER I
ORGANIZING CHAOS

THE conscious and intelligent manipulation of the organized habits and opinions of the masses is an important element in democratic society. Those who manipulate this unseen mechanism of society constitute an invisible government which is the true ruling power of our country.

originally posted by: TerryMcGuire
So the teacher told the little children that the day was a special day. Because it was inauguration day. And that we should all support him. Well ok, though some might go so far as to consider that mind manipulation, but whatever.

Then the school PA system announcer tells them the new word of the day which is oust and defines it as ' to remove from office''. Possibly random, yes. Possibly the sole decision of the secretary whose is in charge of picking the word of the day. Maybe as a lark.
Or maybe it was part of a Sorsos controlled grand scheme to undermine Western Culture and rebuild it into a socialist utopia where his out and out reliance on the capitalist system by which he made his huge fortunes will be destroyed. Yeah, maybe that one.

And sure the kids most likely did not make any connection between the big event of the day and the new word of the day that most likely they never remember anyway. But the parents, you think, would get mad because what, they might assume that that this was brainwashing their children?

Sounds to me that the problem here is the anger the parents might feel by being so easily triggered and over reacting to the new conservative list of what can and cannot be said by what might or might not be in conjunction with something else, Sounds like a new list of politically correct things to not say.

Really? Like him or not he is your president. People can rail not my president all they want but he is still their president. 2nd election of Trump depressed me for days...how could I stand it? But got over it and lived with it. He was still my president or maybe to put it better, my country's president.

Doesn't matter if the word was random, they could have chosen a different word. Coincidences happen but good judgement is purposeful.

Yes, it was implanting the idea and taking it home to parents. My children didn't bit and chose an unbiased way to explain. And I think the talk among children that Hilary is bad for women and my grandson thinking now Hillary was bad because she didn't win my explain how children can transfer that thinking.

As for parent being triggered...mine family acted responsibly with no bias. However, others who have taught their children Trump is bad for women, certainly could be triggered.

Balance is always best

I read the story and agree....also the word was not random. Not in the vocabulary for kids, not even close.

I'll tell my lil story, about my cousin school teacher as a way of expanding and understanding the OP.

She teaches 3-4 grade....ABC, 1-2-3. Great for her boys when they were the right age, but REALLY a ball and chain when them came to be preteens. I stepped in to lend what I could to their "maturity", cars being a natural subject.

Now the kids are older but my "smart" 50-something cousin is a reactionary windbag, with simple thought process and ALWAYS a rush to draw a conclusion....like kids who wnt to be first to raise their hands, rather than listen to the whole question.

Anyway, VW TDI regulation cheating came up because her son has a buyback issues with a gas car...it was in the news. She declared she's "mad" at VW for cheating (MSM). I tried to explain that: other car companies do it too, and mostly that the regulations for emissions are "out of balance". It's true, Europe allows more CO2 and NOx but less particulates....whatever. The thing is, they get a LOT more MPG. US regs just need to be retuned, and the MPG stipulations for future cars....all of that creates an incentive to cheat!

lol, I should not have been so shocked, but she said she "likes" the regulations (not knowing a thing about them!). It was easy to fire back...so more regulations are better, it doesn't matter if they are good or bad regulations?

No, she didn't want to talk anymore and will never again, about this. God know she'll never say..."hey, you were right about that thing", that's not how these people are. You know, always someone else's fault, always need a bad guy....

Anyway, I believe my story shows some insight into his these people think. They are not driven by logic, morals, knowledge.....just a need for conformity at the expense of insight. They are doomed as a group. I really feel saved by Trump being elected. Things were so stupid and out-of-balance.

Her other son actually had a Hillary sticker on his car. There's no coming back from that....he's a school teacher too, teaches French and drives a Volvo. I can't make this stuff up. How can people justify voting for her....only if Trump is super evil somehow too???? This explains so much, glad I typed it out for everyone!