8 Cruel and Unusual
I.School
Step 8
“Hidden in Plain Sight”
Recall the 8th Amendment to the constitution of the US
Analyze criteria for what constitutes as cruel and unusual;
Evaluate criteria of public education
Procedure:
The Eighth Amendment to the US Constitution states: “excessive bail ought not to be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
Consider the following 8 criteria for possible cruel or unusual: Physical, emotional, economic, through coercion, intimidation, blame, control, imbalance of power. (See suggested readings).
Notes:
Although we usually think of the 8th Amendment as it applies to the death penalty, it is not explicit. As part of the Bill of Rights, these protections were added “to prevent Congress to use cruel punishments as a tool for oppressing the people”. Constitution Center
So as the question: “What is the purpose of public education?” To learn? Learn what? Freedom? “Liberty and Justice”, as recited in the “Pledge of Allegiance?” Or, is the purpose of public education a tool for oppression? You decide. Here are some thoughts:
Physical- Like, Sitting in a desk while physical prime- (ages 5-18 approximately)
Emotional- name calling, belittling, isolation, lack of sleep.
Economic- Being financially tied to getting, as well as paying for your education.
Threats and coercion- Fear based education. What other options do you really have?
Intimidation- by parents, teachers, governments, peers, bosses, coaches, you students get it all!
Blame- You get blamed on a system you had no control over in the first place.
Control- By legal mandates.
Power- Imbalance of power.
Observations:
In my experience, questioning the education system gets two responses. One, most will agree that education is ‘flawed’ to say the least. And then, secondly, if pushed, to really big concepts, there is major push back.
Students understand better than anyone the circumstances they are in, but when students complain, or point out suffering, they are dismissed, ridiculed and quickly silenced (By those in power). “Sit down and shut up.”
Adults don’t listen to me, and they certainly aren’t listening to students. Regardless of the myriad of mental illnesses, school shootings, and suicides.
If schools were designed for the “whole” child in mind, then why is there so much suffering?
Cruel and unusual inflictions with the intention to control and coerce -lack of agency- lack of freedom- for the purpose of creating and maintaining economic global power is an alternative answer. And nothing new. After all, no empire can maintain control without institutionalized education.
At this point, I will say, either you believe it or you don’t. If you don’t, carry on. For those who agree, this is problematic. What to do, what to do? I predict some of you will try to tell someone, argue your case. I predict you will not get far.
However, if you chose to believe what I am saying, then-
My suggestion: Start at Lesson #1 I.School.
1. You are #1! Sitting in #2-
2. A hierarchical education system. Therefore;
3. Ah, breathe, consciously, deliciously, enjoying five senses. Practice A-F
Meaning- take slow steps to be ‘more whole.’ After all, how effective will you be if you are tired, hungry, sick and detached?
Breathe, sleep, eat, play, sense. In other words, cultivate being human.
I do NOT recommend you attempt external conversations and confrontations, for now.
I DO recommend you do anything and everything you can to flourish. More.
What Do You Want?
Suggested Readings
https://www.childwelfare.gov/pubpdfs/define.pdf
https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2022/05/31/schools-mental-health-covid-students/
e/
https://constitutioncenter.org/the-constitution/amendments/amendment-viii`
I.Rant:
I got this lesson idea after watching the Netflix show- Surviving R. Kelly and I started thinking about parallels between abuses inflicted by R.Kelly, and how systematically, psychologically his techniques, and all accomplices resembled public education. He learned well. Cyclically.
I.School lesson #8 is about public education and similarities and patterns of abuse. Nothing more.
Nothing less than pointing out the obvious. Talk about hidden in plain sight!
I.School: *recall Ren and reverence for humanity. It may seem easy, convenient, to blame R.Kelly. However, isn’t he a product of this system?
It is important to remember this.
Chief Justice Earl Warren said: "The [Eighth] Amendment must draw its meaning from the evolving standards of decency that mark the progress of a maturing society." (1958),
Consider a description of Psychological abuse:
Psychological abuse, often called emotional abuse, is a form of abuse characterized by a person subjecting or exposing another person to a behavior that may result in psychological trauma, including anxiety, chronic depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder.
It is often associated with situations of power imbalance in abusive relationships, and may include bullying, gaslighting, and abuse in the workplace. It also may be perpetrated by persons conducting torture, other violence, acute or prolonged human rights abuse, particularly without legal redress such as detention without trial, false accusations, false convictions, and extreme defamation such as where perpetrated by state and media. Wikipedia.
And, consider a definition of Freedom:
Freedom: the absence of necessity, coercion, or constraint in choice or action; liberation from restraint or from the power of another; the quality of being frank, open, or outspoken; boldness of conception or execution. Merriam-Webster
Questions?