New Athenian Academy

“Being on an airplane is the same as being in the classroom.”

Mr. Done goes on to follow the analogy of an airplane trip as school.  I would like to offer another, equally accurate, analogy.

Prisons are like schools, or more accurately, schools are like prisons.

1. Required attendance — Students are required to attend school at least until they are 16…. prisoners are required to attend prison until their parole time.  If either group is found not in attendance, the police get involved.  Hmmm…. truancy is a crime and punishable by time in juvenile detention center.  Escape from prison is punishable by more prison time.
2. Building security —  School doors are now locked during the day.  So are prison doors.  The only difference.  People can get out of schools, just not in them.  Prisoners cannot get out of prison, but can get in.  Funny little difference.
3. Food — Prison food, school food, interchangeable.  I understand they meet the nutritional requirements, but could they make it any grosser?  Really, I think not.
4. Curriculum — In both places, the participants (forced participants in many cases) are required to be in attendance for classes on subjects they most likely will never use again.  Interesting.
5. Free time — Both groups get free time in “the yard.”  Nice!
6. Teachers/guards — Each group gets paid crap but has huge responsibility.  Really is this how we want to treat the people taking care of our most dangerous citizens and prisoners?  I think not.

Is this the right image?  Schools like prisons… I am a little scared for our future generations.

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Uncategorized by Tobe