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Brent Snavely

A construct of upbringing and society, holder of a BS and JD and most recently an MA, I have practiced law for about 20 years. It has been said "The Truth shall set you free" -- I believe it will, but only if it is Your Personal Truth. Parrhesia may be humankind's only hope.
Brent Snavely has written 25 posts for Cooperative Catalyst

Those kids should be in school!

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They should be in school, but are instead out taking a walk. Seven of them started and now, ages ranging from 11 to 21,  there are 26 of them.  Truants! They should be in school — that is, a “normal” students-in-a-box a school where they can be kept safe from undue influences. Instead, they are … Continue reading »

The Language and Lies Two-Step of Education: The Lie Module

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“We the educated” are liars. lie: (verb) (1) to make an untrue statement with intent to deceive (2) to create a false or misleading impression. “It’s not our fault” – we were led to believe from our earliest years that one must attend school to receive an education. We were led to believe “education” leads … Continue reading »

I Am (not) Adam Swartz

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Being primarily raised in the US of A by Americans, I learned about property ownership at an early age. The lessons taught me about ownership were frequently buried within the concept of “sharing”, which seems contrary to the purpose of owning anything since claiming ownership is to assert dominion and control over a thing, and … Continue reading »

What if:

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The most significant result of “teaching” is the teacher learning far more than students? Students learn not by what, how, when or why one might teach them, but by and through the processes they follow in formulating answers to questions posed to them? All the adults who learned within the constraints of a system involving … Continue reading »

It happened so fast that I am uncertain if I saw what I think I saw…

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I began winding-up to comment on a post and a response. I was going to take a third-look before putting pen-to-paper (or keyboard to bytes) but no electronic traces were left… I dont’ know if it was self or other-censored — it really doesn’t matter. A while back I authored a long-winded post suggesting that, … Continue reading »

“Bad Teachers” and the (Manufactured) Education Crisis

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Nancy Flanagan’s reflections on a particular school board’s actions (Notorious P.H.D.) prompted me to write this one. I categorized it under “Fiction” because it seems surreal. I am certain there have been, and are, “bad teachers” (just as there are “bad” doctors, lawyers, business persons, assembly line workers, etc.), but given the trend shown below would … Continue reading »

A Standardized Composition Test

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We know bubble sheets are unrelated to “real life”. I think we made the “education thing” up by constructing much nonsense about the written word being the supreme method of sharing ideas and information. I think we have forgotten that sharing experiences and doing things together are matters that (1) allow us to learn and … Continue reading »

Of Education, Learning, School and the School of Life

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After spending (much too much) time with the written words of such ilk as Plato, William James, C.S. Lewis, Focault, Derrida and others,  I decided to attend a one and one-half week seminar at an ‘alternative ed’ school — I went camping with the Indians. They have been running their school for many generations. In a manner … Continue reading »

No does mean “NO”

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I visited a web site about a New York education conference at which individuals joined “a leading author and architect of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS), David Coleman, to understand how the Core Standards for College and Career Readiness build on the work New York State has done in developing a standards-based system and … Continue reading »

The Education Hunger Game: School as Cornucopia

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With all the hype about the movie in the back of my mind, I read the book Hunger Games last weekend. There are many ways to interpret the material, whether in a broad or more narrow context; for whatever the reason, education came to my mind. Does the font of wisdom operate to keep the colonized … Continue reading »

Have you been pilloried lately?

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In case the public display of teachers’ “performance” in New York slipped you by, here is a great picture of it:

The books aren’t banned, they’re just unavailable

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Tucson’s Unified School District, not wanting to lose state funding, removed certain writings from being readily available to students. Is it the money, or is it something else? Beneath the stated reason, is there a fear-driven motive? Is there a subconscious recognition that culture and “performance” are, in fact, linked, and that allowing “other” stories to be told and … Continue reading »

RTTT

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They just need to run faster, and they’ll get to the top…

Amerian Education’s Language & Lies Two-Step: Step 1 – Language

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In Henry VI, Part 2, we learned that members of Jack Cade’s group had no intention of helping anyone except themselves. If Dick the Butcher been the Secretary of Education instead a conspirator trying to foment a rebellion, perhaps he would have substituted, “The first thing we do, let’s teach them how to speak” for … Continue reading »

Teacher, Test Thyself

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A simple multiple-choice question. Only one answer is right. You must consider yourself a failed teacher if you do not answer correctly. You will be penalized for guessing. Which of the following is the correct view of education in the U.S.A.? A: B: C: Both the above. D: One of the above. E: None of … Continue reading »

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