Linda was a sixteen-year old high school student. She was looking into my video camera lens, sharing her experience and thoughts about school...the entire school process.
Abruptly, she stopped and went silent. "All school teaches you," she said firmly, "is that you are never quite good enough," Her tone of voice was without blame or complaint. To Linda, this was a known fact. The other senior students in the background simply nodded in agreement even though this may have been the first time they had thought about it.
Looking directly into the lens without embarrassment or self consciousness, she continued. She had that ability. In her presence, she always looked directly into your eyes. Linda would have it no other way.
"All school teaches you is that you are never quite good enough." The truth of her words startled me to shut off the camera and absorb her words. Linda shared how the education system is set up to create a ranking system of authority, demanding that the students give up their own authority completely.
Grades and the seeking of approval encouraged the belief that whatever you achieve or complete is never quite good enough, can be improved, and ultimately judged by someone other than yourself." Linda sat down. Shaking with her own awareness and insights, she added one more thing: "Schools are not about education. They are about control." The room became totally silent.
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