Originally Posted by Valterain1
This seems to be a rather popular topic amongst the teenagers who don't really know anything, but I'm sure there are some points that may be correct. There's a very common idea that a school is very much similar to a prison, systematically. A few points were brought up by my Aunt over a somewhat bias facebook post (She's homeschooling her children, and hates the public school system). She brought up a few similarities between the system that public schools and prisons have. These may or may not be valid, that's why they are up for debate.
1. They both have an authoritarian structure
2. They both have strict dress codes
3. They both have "Negative" reinforcement
4. "Walking in lines" honestly this one is pretty fucking stupid
5. Abridged freedoms
6. No input for decision making
7. Set times enforced for eating, walking, etc.
Here's a few articles I briefly skimmed through that bring up some points.
Debate.Edsweek
Evancarmicheal
I'll respond to each point.
1. So do the work place, and just modern civilization. And its not as strict as the word makes it out to be. The authorities in school are there to uphold the rules, much like the police (in a sense). Do you know of a better alternative?
2. Some schools have uniforms, but other than that I don't really see what you mean by strict. The dress codes in most schools I've seen have been related to sexual presentation or vulgar presentation. Which is there for a good reason. Elementary students shouldn't be dressed in revealing ways, or have vulgar words plastered across every t-shirt they own. And in middle and high school, sexual clothing is bad because hormones exist, and are often highly active in middle and high school. I don't really feel like going around school seeing yoga pants camel toe.
3. They have positive reinforcement too. So I don't really understand why this matters. Also, going to detention for a hour because you punched someone is a lot better the confinement for a couple of days. Also, like in prison, you are told what not to do. And this normally results in NOT having negative reinforcement.
4. God forbid you walk in a line to prevent children from being the assholes that they are. Not to mention the fact it teaches the younger age a form of order and discipline. And it only last six years.
5. I guess I'll give you this one, though I don't totally agree with it being as bad as prison.
6. The older you get the more freedom you have. Mainly because the older you get the more responsible you are. This is another "preventing incidents" point.
7. Yes, because a completely chaotic structure would be much better. Do what ever you want kids! But wait, you mean when you go to work you have enforced times too? I will agree that when you choose a job, the times might be a bit more flexible, but they are still there.
Are the points made like a prison? Yea, they share the characteristics, but to a much much much more extreme level. But both hold up to why they work these ways. Also, think of it this way, school part teaches you how to operate in "the real world." Prison operates to punish people who failed to operate in "the real world," and reintroduce living in the real world.
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
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