Google Podcasts - Sold a Story
podcasts.google.com

I found this podcast from this reddit-logo post:

I subbed today for a 7th and 8th grade teacher. I’m not exaggerating when I say at least 50% of the students were at a 2nd grade reading level. The students were to spend the class time filling out an “all about me” worksheet, what’s your name, favorite color, favorite food etc. I was asked 20 times today “what is this word?”. Movie. Excited. Trait. “How do I spell race car driver?”

I've only listened to one episode so far, but it's really well produced, seems well-researched and very well put together.

From what I gather so far, the ways that the American public school system "teaches" kids how to read is not only completely wrong, but actually saddles them bad habits which fundamentally hinder their reading comprehension.

A huge swath of American adults are functionally illiterate, and I think I'm starting to understand why.

  • UlyssesT [he/him]
    ·
    11 months ago

    Bill "The Good Billionaire" Gates saw to that about 20 years ago and it started with an amazing piece of neoliberal propaganda called "Waiting For Superman." His buddy in the "reform" movement was epstein , by the way, and even arranged to have special uncredentialed classes full of "students" to victimize in his spare time.

    • TheLastHero [none/use name]
      ·
      11 months ago

      The real shit is when you realize that Bill Gates (and most other western "philanthropy" in Africa) is basically just privatizing public services while simultaneously exerting a extreme degree of personal control over the educational curriculum of almost an entire continent.

      He isn't being nice, he's building a pool of human resources, for anything he wants.

      And they will call him a saint for it.

      • mustardman [none/use name]
        ·
        11 months ago

        Gates isn't some scheming evil supermind. He's just a clueless mf in a vile system, thinking he's doing good.

        • GarbageShoot [he/him]
          ·
          11 months ago

          I struggle to believe that:

          https://thegrayzone.com/2020/07/08/bill-gates-global-health-policy/

          "Wah, greyzone"

          It's well-sourced and from three years ago when they were less weird.

          • mustardman [none/use name]
            ·
            11 months ago

            Gates “has got a mechanistic view of global health, in terms of looking for silver bullets. All of the things he supports are largely framed as silver bullets …

            While the article made me rethink my initial statement, Gates still strikes me as a melon-musk type who has convinced himself that what he does will save the world. I also think Gates believes in eugenics

        • bigboopballs [he/him]
          ·
          11 months ago

          He's just a clueless mf in a vile system, thinking he's doing good.

          sounds like something a PR team would want to propagandize people into believing

        • Shinji_Ikari [he/him]
          ·
          11 months ago

          Melinda straight up left his ass the second the Epstein connections came to light. I don't think he's entirely clueless.