School Sucks: Higher Education For Self-Liberation
829 episodes - English - Latest episode: almost 2 years ago - ★★★★★ - 331 ratingsSchool Sucks is a podcast, You Tube channel, and web community empowering parents and self-directed learners.
For 12 years we've promoted freedom in education, and we've called out covert indoctrination.
We discuss:
+ educational alternatives like homeschooling and unschooling
+ career freedom without college
+ the principles of self-directed learning
+ the strategies of critical thinking/information literacy
+ the rewards of self-knowledge/personal development
This is NOT a show about school reform.
The schools will not improve.
Higher education will not improve.
The politics around these institutions will not improve.
Only we can improve.
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Episodes
076 (Supplemental): Brett On Peace Revolution Podcast - Origins of Money Round-Table
December 23, 2010 19:22 - 4 minutes - 4.17 MBThis is an excerpt from my recent appearance on Peace Revolution Podcast. In this episode, we discuss economic theory and the history of money. How does this relate to education? In this clip, we'll also touch on the "deliberate dumbing down" of the population, along with the importance of a systematic form of critical thinking, understanding rhetoric and the use of logical fallacies. Please visit schoolsucksproject.com for full show notes, references and links.
075: Gender Roles and Pigeon Holes
December 21, 2010 18:02 - 1 hour - 77.5 MB(Kids Are Not Defective Part 10) Today, a further exploration of acquiescence and aggression, from a different angle. Stephanie Murphy, Wes Bertrand and I discuss the perpetuation of gender roles and stereotypes throughout childhood, referencing the work of Cordelia Fine. We also question the disparity between the numbers of men and women in the liberty movement and the Free State Project. Please visit schoolsucksproject.com for full show notes, references and links.
074: Police State Pupils - Acquiescence and Aggression
December 17, 2010 19:35 - 1 hour - 60.5 MBThe news over the last month has been interesting... The invasive TSA. The emerging snitch society. The calls for the execution of Julian Assange. Surprised? Outraged? Juxtapose today's current events with your childhood experiences. Were you expecting some other social or political reality? Today's show is a renewed call to strike at the root of the acquiescence and aggression making it all possible. Please visit schoolsucksproject.com for full show notes, references and links....
073: Bush and Obama Join Forces For Liberty Podcasts!!! (Obviously Not Real)
December 01, 2010 01:15 - 1 minute - 1.77 MBSchool Sucks has been nominated for Podcast Awards in the Education and Best Produced categories. Voting begins December 1st and runs through the 15th.You can vote once a day! Please consider voting for... Best Produced: School Sucks People's Choice: Freedomain Radio Politics: Wheels Off Liberty or Free Talk Live Cultural/Arts: Pirates of Savannah Education: School Sucks or Freedomain Radio Health: Healthy Mind, Fit Body Comedy: Joe Rogan Please visit schoolsucksproject.com for f...
072: Children of the State (Part 2) - The Treatment Trough
November 26, 2010 20:50 - 40 minutes - 36.7 MBA look at my own professional past, and at what happens on the other side of the gun.(Part 2) Discussed Today: -I gave kids drugs -I was a 'good' employee -I worked at a 'good' residential treatment center -Medicaid -The lure of bad money -Good Intentions, in service of evil -The Milgrim Experiment -Voices of the institutionalized children Please visit schoolsucksproject.com for full show notes, references and links.
071 (Supplemental): Wes, Daniel and I Discuss Domination Systems and Non-Violent Communication
November 24, 2010 20:55 - 1 minute - 1.77 MB(Complete Liberty Podcast Episode 127 Repost) Please visit schoolsucksproject.com for full show notes, references and links.
070: What You've Been Missing!
November 19, 2010 20:47 - 1 hour - 77.8 MBToday's guests are Richard Grove, Jan Irvin, and Paul Verge: three friends, independent media creators, collaborators, and School Sucks listeners who have teamed up to produce a new You Tube series called What You've Been Missing. From Tragedyandhope.com: What You've Been Missing was created to fill the massive gap created by corporate media, between itself and reality. A virtual variety show with a point, WYBM helps you learn how to outgrow the status quo; through a systematic pr...
069: A History Teacher Walks Away...(Addendum)
November 13, 2010 19:04 - 16 minutes - 15.5 MBAddendum: This part was cut out of the conversation but I thought it was worth hearing. Topic: Today I discuss collective and authoritarian schooling with a veteran teacher who walked away from the public school setting just four weeks into his new job. Rich Nastro explains why he did this, and what he saw while he was there.
068: A History Teacher Walks Away From Government School (2 of 2)
November 09, 2010 00:32 - 1 hour - 58.2 MB...quickly PART 2: Is Anyone Learning About Economics In School? Anyone? Topic: Today I discuss collective and authoritarian schooling with a veteran teacher who walked away from the public school setting just four weeks into his new job. Rich Nastro explains why he did this, and what he saw while he was there. We'll Discuss... -The lies of government school history (every crisis is presented as a problem of too much freedom) -Voting -Family to schooling to Citizenship -The suc...
067: A History Teacher Walks Away From Government School (1 of 2)
November 06, 2010 23:08 - 47 minutes - 43.3 MB...quickly PART 1: Preparation For Citizenship Topic: Today I discuss collective and authoritarian schooling with a veteran teacher who walked away from the public school setting just four weeks into his new job. Rich Nastro explains why he did this, and what he saw while he was there. We'll Discuss... -Literacy and Information Literacy -Public Education and the Welfare State, Failure Reframed As Success -Portrayal of the Public Education System In Film -Introducing Philosophy t...
066: School Sucks/Wheels Off Liberty Simul-(pod)-cast, AKA The Wheels Off Liberty Sucks Podcast
November 04, 2010 14:47 - 1 minute - 1.77 MBWARNING: STRONG LANGUAGE/OFFENSIVE CONTENT Topics:: -Voting -Transvestites -Voting For Transvestites -Government Marriage -California Prop 19 -Public Education Don't Listen To: Wheels Off Liberty Podcast http://wheelsoffliberty.com/wordpress/
065: Bureaucrats Are People Too!
October 31, 2010 13:25 - 46 minutes - 21.1 MBIn today's installment, I interview Steve Ressler, founder of the government employee social networking site govloop.com, and organizer of the Government Doesn't Suck Rally (October 30th, Washington D.C.). I happen to have a show that suggests the government does suck, so I thought we could bounce some ideas off each other. I skipped past a number of arguments and questions to deal specifically with the non-aggression principle. While I thought this would be little more than an am...
064 (Supplemental): School Sucks In Keene / FKF Panel Discussion
October 23, 2010 23:42 - 1 minute - 1.77 MBToday's show begins with a compilation of audio clips and polite exchanges from the last six months, looking at the response to School Sucks outreach in the city of Keene, NH. Also included is the audio from panel discussion organized by Michael Garcia at Free Keene Fest (October 17th, 2010). The topics included communication and outreach strategies. I was asked to participate, joining Rich Paul, Antigone Darling and Luthor Freeman/Kingsley on the panel. Please visit schoolsuckspr...
063 (Supplemental): Free Talk Live Saturday Show - Internet Only Extended Segment
October 20, 2010 19:43 - 1 minute - 1.77 MBOn Saturday, October 16th, I was one of the fill-in hosts on my all-time favorite radio show, Free Talk Live. I was on the the air with Stephanie Murphy of Porc Therapy and Gardner Goldsmith of Liberty Conspiracy Podcast. We had such a terrific time that we decided to do an internet-only extended addition of the show. If you listened on the radio, you missed the last hour and a half of our conversation. This is the internet-only portion of the show. Please visit schoolsucksproj...
062: Children of the State (Part 1) - Incentives
October 15, 2010 16:29 - 47 minutes - 43.5 MBNo one could answer all of the questions about how child protection would work in a voluntary society. However, due to my past professional experience, I can answer a lot of questions about how it works today. Topic: A recent CPS story in Concord, NH got me thinking about my own professional history, on the "other side of the gun." I spent four years of my career working with kids who were in state custody. (Part 1) Discussed Today: -The John Irish/Oathkeepers Story -Child Prote...
061: Escape From Imaginationland (3 of 3) - The Most Successful Criminal Gang In History
October 04, 2010 12:03 - 1 hour - 55.4 MBCritical Thinking Question: What is the real purpose of government? Topic: This (third part of three) is the continuation of a two-part discussion I recently had with Wes Bertrand. On September 18th, I tried to weave a series of loosely related thoughts together into one topic, while driving. I wasn't thrilled with the result. I eventually contacted Wes to help me try to make sense of it all. This is an examination of how fantasy is used to manage personal and/or political anxie...
060: Escape From Imaginationland (2 of 3) - The Emotional Incentives of Fantasy
September 30, 2010 18:54 - 1 hour - 27.9 MBTopic: This (second part of three) is the beginning of a two-part discussion I recently had with Wes Bertrand. On September 18th, I tried to weave a series of loosely related thoughts together into one topic, while driving. I wasn't thrilled with the result. I eventually contacted Wes to help me try to make sense of it all. This is an examination of how fantasy is used to manage personal and/or political anxiety, the relationship between the personal and the political, and how out...
059: Escape From Imaginationland (1 of 3) - The Set-Up
September 28, 2010 17:11 - 39 minutes - 17.9 MBA stand-alone episode of School Sucks Podcast...in three parts. Critical Thinking Question: What are some strategies you could use to tell the difference between having a debate with someone, and watching them have an anxiety attack? Topic: This (first part of three) is a set-up for a two-part discussion I recently had with Wes Bertrand. On September 18th, I tried to weave a series of loosely related thoughts together into one topic, while driving. I wasn't thrilled with the res...
058 (Supplemental): Brett On Gnostic Media With Jan Irvin
September 26, 2010 05:25 - 1 minute - 1.77 MBThis is an interview I did for Jan Irvin's Gnostic Media Podcast on May 9th 2010. Brand new shows are coming soon!! Please visit schoolsucksproject.com for full show notes, references and links.
057 Relationships: Conformity and Convenience
September 09, 2010 12:18 - 1 hour - 43.7 MB(Kids Are Not Defective Part 9) Topic: I meet up with Stephanie Murphy and Mike Barskey, the hosts of Porc Therapy Podcast, to discuss common types of dysfunction in adult relationships. We examine the question: Are there embedded lessons or messages from school and childhood that most people can't seem to escape in their adolescent and adult romantic relationships? The Lessons From School: 1. People can be easily changed 2. It's dangerous/abnormal/inconsiderate to express you...
056 (Supplemental): Brett On Liberty Conspiracy With Gardner Goldsmith
September 03, 2010 21:49 - 1 minute - 1.77 MBMy September 2nd, 2010 Discussion With Gardner Goldsmith Topics Covered: -Gardner's Experience Wearing A School Sucks T-Shirt In Public -Explaining the Philosophy of Liberty to "Political" People -The Insanity of Central Planning -The History of Government Education -Keene School Outreach and Related Outrage -Background of School Sucks Project -Vouchers -Redefining Education -Impacts of Indoctrination Please visit schoolsucksproject.com for full show notes, references and links. ...
055: A Long Time Ago In A Galaxy Far, Far Away...and Today
August 26, 2010 18:57 - 1 hour - 30.7 MB(Kids Are Not Defective Part 8) Topic: Stefan Molyneux of Freedomain Radio joins me to discuss the seemingly elusive nature of heroism. Our discussion surveys a variety of historical topics as we examine how heroes are manufactured by our government education, while our own capacity for "heroism" is gradually diminished. We also explore the conjecture that government school's theft of our sense of personal power contributes to a desire to experience heroism only through fantasy. ...
054 Keys (Installment #4): Emergence (w/ Erica Goldson)
August 20, 2010 00:56 - 1 hour - 35.6 MBCritical Thinking Questions: We are told in school that this "education" will open up the world to us and create endless options for our future. So why does it often feel like the world is being closed off and our options are being diminished? Topic: emergence (noun): 1. coming out of, passage out 2. a beginning 3. coming into sight Please visit schoolsucksproject.com for full show notes, references and links.
053: Drapetomania
August 14, 2010 12:11 - 57 minutes - 26.3 MB(Kids Are Not Defective Part 7) Topic: Dr. Bruce Levine joins me to discuss his article, How Teenage Rebellion Has Become a Mental Illness. It turns out that pathologizing or "diseasing" rebellious behavior is not a new trick for those who hold tenuous power over others. Please visit schoolsucksproject.com for full show notes, references and links.
052: Holes
August 04, 2010 15:13 - 42 minutes - 17 MB(Kids Are Not Defective Part 6) Topic: There is a phrase, "hole in the soul," that describes how a person may feel incomplete, unworthy, or dependent on external things. While much of this is probably rooted in family, I believe that school can contribute to one's sense of personal emptiness. This is a long and winding show that covers a valedictorian's brave and moving graduation speech, leading into a discussion of the problems created for all students by the carrots and sticks ...
051 School News! (#4b): The Mainstream Media: Parrots On the Shoulders of Pirates
July 17, 2010 22:51 - 1 minute - 1.77 MBMost of this show was my original attempt to begin the Kids Are Not Defective Series, but it just turned into a rant about the mainstream media. A couple months ago I decided to watch a little cable news. MSNBC to be precise. They were running a story/series called "V Is For...Violence." It focused on the inability of adolescents to handle the stimulation they get from the technology of today. From Scientific American: Bully or Victim? More Similar Than We Might Think Please v...
050 School News! (#4a): Warning Signs of Violence To Come
July 17, 2010 21:40 - 1 minute - 1.77 MBPart one of two somewhat related installments. With all this concern about the violent behavior of teenagers, and subsequent crackdowns, would you be surprised to learn school administrators are actually encouraging even more widespread aggression. How about mandating it? JROTC obligation is stirring discomfort From mysanantonio.com By Lindsay Kastner - Express-News
049: The Free Lunch Project (Massachusetts Infomercial)
July 04, 2010 08:19 - 1 minute - 1.77 MBMy response to the recent arrests in Greenfield, MA, coupled with my leftover resentment from two years of living in the Commonwealth, which includes my quarrel with Salem bureaucrats over what excise tax is and why I "owe" it after I moved out of state, and being ticketed in 2006 for riding my bike without a helmet. Please visit schoolsucksproject.com for full show notes, references and links.
048 (Supplemental): The Catastrophe of Conventional Wisdom
July 01, 2010 20:47 - 1 hour - 28.7 MBA Free State Project Edition of School Sucks Podcast Due to my Porcfest vacation, new shows are not ready yet. In the meantime, here is the audio version of my speech from the 2010 NH Liberty Forum, "The Catastrophe of Conventional Wisdom." I'm pretty sure most people who listen to the show have not heard it yet. I also include some thoughts on my recent experience at the 2010 Porcupine Freedom Festival. Please visit schoolsucksproject.com for full show notes, references and li...
047: The Incubator
June 22, 2010 15:03 - 44 minutes - 30.2 MB(Kids Are Not Defective Part 5) Topic: in·cu·ba·tor (noun) 1.An apparatus in which environmental conditions, such as temperature and humidity, can be controlled, providing suitable conditions for a chemical or biological reaction. 2. A place or situation that permits or encourages the formation and development of new ideas Forced Associations Adolescence is plagued by an artificial, society-created extension of childhood dependence. This is time where people can certainly begin ...
046: The Mutually Destructive Exchange
June 18, 2010 15:34 - 32 minutes - 15 MB(Kids Are Not Defective Part 4) Topic: My thoughts on bullying. It's not a problem that always begins at school, but that's often where it ends. Tragically. We all understand that bullies seek out victims. But do victims often seek out bullies? Do victims wish to be bullies? Almost all bullies are the victim of someone else. This is a quick look at root causes, but there is more to come on this topic. Please visit schoolsucksproject.com for full show notes, references and links....
045[Abridged]: Christianity Kills Curiosity (And Vice-Versa)
June 14, 2010 11:53 - 31 minutes - 14.3 MBThis is an abridged version of a longer show. PICTURE: What kind of a person commands other people to kneel in front of them? (Kids Are Not Defective Part 3) Topic: Ahhh, religion. Another great way to learn about all the things that are wrong with you. An examination of the amazing contradictions and inconsistencies in American Culture. Could culture even exist if people applied principles consistently? I also look back at my own Roman Catholic upbringing, specifically at an ...
045: Curiosity Kills Christianity (And Vice-Versa)
June 13, 2010 12:45 - 47 minutes - 21.8 MB(Kids Are Not Defective Part 3) This is the long version. PICTURE: What kind of a person commands others to kneel in front of them? Topic: Ahhh, religion. Another great way to learn about all the things that are wrong with you. I receive an email from a Conservative Christian organization that sends me into an explosive rant and an examination of the amazing contradictions and inconsistencies in American Culture. Could culture even exist if people applied principles consistently?...
044: The True Self Vs. the Fantasy Family
June 07, 2010 06:03 - 40 minutes - 18.7 MB(Kids Are Not Defective Part 2) Topic: After reflecting on the last show, I wanted to explore my family comments a bit more thoroughly. Why do adults jump so quickly to the defense of the authority figures in their lives? Why are so many people resistant to the idea that their childhoods were not exactly great? When and how will the effects of childhood mistreatment reveal themselves? Because they always do. To answer these questions, I briefly channel a "composite character" ass...
043: Kids Are Not Defective (Introduction)
May 28, 2010 12:15 - 53 minutes - 24.3 MBPICTURED: A listener sent me this example of his son's (first grade) school work, which includes the teacher's thoughts on his exercise of creativity. The introduction to a new series of shows about some other messages forced into the minds of children and young adults. These shows will include topics like medication, parenting, spanking, behavioral "disorders," bullying, "reward" systems and zero tolerance policies. Also, a discussion of how the state is "fed" by the schools and...
042 School News! (#3): School District Sues Taxpayers To Stop Questions
May 16, 2010 02:08 - 1 minute - 1.77 MBPicture: The primary lesson of public school politics. Congress, Ariz. school district sues taxpayers to stop questions Mark Flatten Goldwater Institute Watchdog Report March 10, 2010 The Goldwater Institute Watchdog Report is a periodic publication intended to identify government corruption and waste and to hold politicians and public agencies accountable to taxpayers. A handful of taxpayers in a small community north of Wickenburg, Arizona are being targeted by the local scho...
041: The Natural State? (American History F-ed, Conclusion)
May 09, 2010 12:40 - 1 hour - 36.2 MBCritical Thinking Question: Imagine if we all woke up tomorrow and all government was just...gone. What's the worst thing that could happen? And how would statists feel about this most catastrophic outcome? The answer might surprise you. Topic: The three most persistent myths throughout history: 1. The State is essential for the survival of the human race 2. Slavery is essential for the prosperity of all societies reliant upon agriculture 3. God and religion are essential for e...
040 Keys (Installment #3): Transition
May 02, 2010 14:37 - 1 hour - 44.9 MBPicture: Pragmatists love charts. Charts that illustrate effects. So here's a chart showing how much government school sucks. It's also pretty representative of all 'services' provided at gunpoint, in terms of cost verses quality. Critical Thinking Questions: -Why do people accept government education? -Why do people need tangible alternatives? Topic: Kate Richards from The Scholars' Academy joins me to discuss the possibility of non-government solutions and alternatives to publi...
039 School News (#2): Too Fat To Fight
April 23, 2010 00:43 - 16 minutes - 7.32 MBPicture: Hey kids! The military wants you to know that if you eat right and exercise, a nice box like one of these could have your name on it one day. School lunches called a national security threat! Retired military officers say kids are growing up too pudgy for service WASHINGTON - School lunches have been called many things, but a group of retired military officers is giving them a new label: national security threat. That's not a reference to the mystery meat served up in th...
038: UConn-athon! (Students For Liberty Discussion Part 2)
April 21, 2010 03:13 - 1 minute - 1.77 MBOn Wednesday April 14th, I was invited to speak to the UConn Students For Liberty at the University of Connecticut. I had prepared a thirty-minute speech, and planned to devote another 30 minutes to Q&A. However, the audience included several socialists, and the entire event wound up running three hours. I gave some of the speech. Even though the outcome was different from what I anticipated, and I didn't counter their objections as well as I would've liked, I thought the whole ex...
037: UConn-athon! (Students For Liberty Discussion Part 1)
April 17, 2010 21:43 - 1 minute - 1.77 MBPicture: My estimate of the audience members' average political position, based on the World's Smallest Political Quiz. On Wednesday April 14th, I was invited to speak to the UConn Students For Liberty at the University of Connecticut. I had prepared a thirty-minute speech, and planned to devote another 30 minutes to Q&A. However, the audience included several socialists, and the entire event wound up running three hours. I gave some of the speech. Even though the outcome was dif...
036 (Supplemental): NH Capital Access TV Interview
April 13, 2010 01:46 - 1 minute - 1.77 MBTopic: From Capitol Access Website: Denis and Lydia interview Brett V., host of the School Sucks Podcast and creator of SchoolSucksProject.com -- a project concerning, in his words, "the END of public education" Brett is a professional educator who has come to realize that the basic design of public school "sucks" the creative capacity out of children, and also "sucks" wealth away from more productive uses. Please visit schoolsucksproject.com for full show notes, references and li...
035: Problem. Reaction. Solution.
April 04, 2010 12:01 - 1 hour - 50.1 MBCritical Thinking Question: Statism appears to be only example of a system of ongoing attack and predation where the aggressors seem to be more fearful of victims than the victims are of the aggressors. How do the aggressors manage these fears? Topic: An email from a listener gets me thinking about conspiracy theories. We'll divert our attention from the roots of the tree I like to think we're chopping at, to jump down a nearby rabbit hole. Let's see where it takes us! -Vie...
034 (Supplemental): Cary Grove Student Discussion/Debate
March 28, 2010 12:12 - 1 minute - 1.77 MBABOVE: Cary-Grove High is home of the "Trojans" and I've included the horse because we talk about government school. Topic: A recent discussion with Michael, a high school junior from Illinois, and a couple of friends named James. One James took a pro-government school position, and I took objection to that. Most of the discussion is between James and myself. Please visit schoolsucksproject.com for full show notes, references and links.
033 (Supplemental): NH Liberty Forum and Free Talk Live Interview
March 24, 2010 14:40 - 1 minute - 1.77 MBA quick summary of my thoughts about the NH Liberty Forum, along with a clip of me on my favorite radio show. With Gard Goldsmith and Mark Edge. March 19th, 2010.
032 School News! (#1): The Pledge of Xenophobia and Intolerance
March 12, 2010 21:49 - 1 minute - 1.77 MBPledge of Allegiance Apology Will Come From Montgomery Teacher By Jenna Johnson and Michael Birnbaum Are people outraged at the teacher? Or the student? The answer...will not surprise you. Please visit schoolsucksproject.com for full show notes, references and links.
031 Keys (Installment #2): Leaving Government School
March 08, 2010 23:05 - 1 hour - 59.6 MBABOVE: Unlike BF Skinner's "box", used for the operant conditioning of rats, government school does have a way out. Jack is a fourteen-year-old who left government school to educate himself. We discuss the advantages of unschooling, talking to parents about school and politics, and public perception of home schoolers. Jack shares his story about the realizations that led to his decision to leave school, how he approached his parents, and what has happened since he withdrew. Plea...
030 (Supplemental): Ian Freeman and I Discuss Action As Education
February 25, 2010 13:10 - 1 minute - 1.77 MBSome additional content from my discussion with Ian Freeman of Free Talk Live, edited out of Episode 15. We cover the Free State Project, Keene, activism for liberty, and the return-on-investment of political action and civil disobedience. Most importantly, we discuss the combination of action and an educational message. Please visit schoolsucksproject.com for full show notes, references and links.
029: The War On Fire
February 17, 2010 19:15 - 1 hour - 64.1 MBCritical Thinking Question: What would you think if you saw an arsonist running back to the scene of their crime moments later...with a fire hose? Topic: Ian Freeman of Free Talk Live joins me to address the myth that government solves problems. We explore the phenomenon of unintended consequences, using the so-called 'war on drugs' as a case study. The Formula: ...the use of force leads to perverse unintended consequence leads to new problem leads to demand for government a...
028: Let's Make A Hero! (Franklin D. Roosevelt)
February 06, 2010 18:16 - 54 minutes - 37.5 MBCritical Thinking Question: You know that light at the end of the tunnel that political leaders are always pointing at... Telling us to be hopeful about... Directing us to follow them in that direction... What if that distant illumination is actually the headlight on a big, dirty oncoming train with no brakes? Topic: A continuation of the previous topic. Gardner Goldsmith (Liberty Conspiracy) and I switch from the legend of Abraham Lincoln to the legend of Franklin Delano Roose...