Control breeds the need for more control
The Mission News: October 12, 2017
Some who support [more] coercive strategies assume that children will run wild if they are not controlled. However, the children for whom this is true typically turn out to be those accustomed to being controlled — those who are not trusted, given explanations, encouraged to think for themselves, helped to develop and internalize good values, and so on. Control breeds the need for more control, which is used to justify the use of control. -Alfie Kohn
News that matters
➜ Data from IMS Health shows that, as of 2013, there were a total of 8,389,034 kids on psychiatric drugs. Go here to check out the full breakdown of drug types and age groups.
➜ Scientists at the DOE have created a simulation of a material that mimics our brain’s ability to retain, process, and forget information. This could be a step towards developing powerful AI and advancing computer tech.
What we’re reading
John Taylor Gatto’s The Underground History of American Education
What we’re listening to
A podcast that Isaac Morehouse and T.K. Coleman just launched. The first episode was fantastic. They discuss how to confidently answer the question “What do you do?” when you’ve chosen an unconventional career path, read a handwritten letter from a mother concerned about her daughter’s disinterest in higher education, and address what you can do to find more meaning in your life. If you are interested in alternative schooling options or abnormal career paths, this is definitely a podcast worth checking out.
Throwback Thursday: Gettin’ Jiggy Wit It
Yup, we still like the Fresh Prince.
What we’re watching
“Ego is the anesthesia of pain that deadens stupidity.”
This is a commencement speech given by Rick Rigsby. He talks about the wisdom his father, a 3rd grade dropout, shared with him and the impact those lessons have had on his own life. An absolutely phenomenal speech that proves formal schooling does not define you — you define you. You can find his book here.
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Originally published on our M-F Newsletter.
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