Progressive educators are easy to spot. They are the ones constantly shouting, "The aim of schooling is to create life long learners!"
Oh, for fuck's sake, why not just say the aim of schooling is turning children into unicorns and leprechauns?! You'll have just as much success.
What is a life long learner? Someone who is interested in the world around him (either generally as in a Renaissance Man or specifically as in an amateur/hobbyist) and who has the mental faculties to pursue his interest. In short, a life long learner is an intellectual.
Now look around you. How many intellectuals do you see? Can you count them on the fingers of one hand? Thought so. Look at the front page of your newspaper of choice. What are the stories of the day? Are they the serious hard news of the nation and globe or are they feel-good fuzz features and celebrity/sports gossip? Thought so.
American culture is staunchly and proudly anti-intellectual. Three of the four major racial groups of Americans openly sneer at intellectuals and ostracize members of their race who show the slightest interest in intellectual pursuits. (Can you guess the one that doesn't? I'll give you a hint, they did not sail over on the Mayflower or write the Declaration of Independence.) Our youth culture demeans and bullies those students who are smart or who desire academic success. Our educational culture insults intellectual teachers by insisting they all teach the same dull, moronic curriculum in the same stultifying, idiotic fashion. Then insult is added to injury by valuing teachers who "care about children" above those who are passionate about their subject.
There is no way in hell that anyone, no matter how well intentioned or well financed, can create an intellectual American culture. It is foolish and fatuous to even try. Even if America valued education and knowledge, not everyone is cut out to be an intellectual, and those who are capable may not want to be one anyway. There are plenty of smart, successful American adults who are not interested in being life-long learners. They don't read books or go to museums or any of that. But they still make positive contributions to their families, communities, and the economy. I know loads of them; they are great people.
The truth of the matter is "life-long learner" is just another vacuous progressive slogan, created in order to hide the truth that progressives either do not understand, or are in denial about, the true purpose of schooling.
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