Video – Middle School Outrech Conversation

June 7, 2010 by Ian
Filed under: Outreach, Video

From new mover Adam Mueller – a sample of what REALLY happened at the Keene Middle School outreach:

While doing some outreach at the Middle School in Keene, NH one curious kid had several questions. It was going well when a school official ended the conversation.

Another middle school outreach is scheduled for tomorrow at 2:20pm. Keene High is Wed at 2pm. Check the calendar for details.

Brodie

Way to stick to your "guns" Ian! Just keep pounding into them the fact that it is immoral and wrong.
digdongdugong

I have to say, I'm rather impressed with the kid in the video. Made better arguments then most of the politician videos I see here. Failed to break the "its still stealing even if the government calls it taxes," but the kid was articulate, polite, listened without interrupting.

I'd like to shake the hands of the parents of this kid.
Charles

I agree. This kid was more respectful than a lot of adults have been when questioning conventional "wisdom". Bravo to the kid. It is too bad that the teacher had to step in and interrupt them.

Hey Teachers! Leave them kids alone!
Bradley Jardis

Amazing Ian!
http://www.nolanchart.com/author677.html Chaz Munro

I really like it that you're taking it to them. The problem is the message they are getting raises some hackles when it could possibly be tweaked a bit to get more of them on the side of liberty & freedom.

How about this?: Signs that say "Let's have more educational choices", or something to that effect. Maybe "Let the kids and parents choose their schools".

I have always felt it to be more effective that letting people know that parents spend more time trying to figure out what to have for lunch than they do deciding the crucial choices for their education.

I hope this can be of help to the effort.
PaulO

Yeah, I liked that you two actually had a polite conversation.

How about this for a sign:

theft for [in small letters]

SCHOOL SUCKS [big caps]

I think addressing school taxes as a "necessary evil" is the main issue you're going to have trouble getting people to change their minds about. Most people are going to think something like, "Sure, taxes for education is bad but we need education or society will fall into ruin so that makes it ok."

I think Ian did a pretty good job addressing this with reference to charities. More like that will probably go a long ways to helping people understand.
Scott in Winnipeg

This is the kind of thing that will help change hearts and minds, good conversation.
Dan

A productive conversation. This is the way. Keep up the good work!
http://dailyanarchist.com Seth

School sux seems to be ineffective. There has to be better two word combinations to pique their interest.
http://freetalklive.com/ Ian Freeman

Maybe, but that's the name of the podcast we are promoting
http://www.obscuredtruth.com Sam Dodson

It's not just that public schools sucks. It sucks the creativity, curiosity, and sense of adventure out of kids. It must be astounding what society has lost because of this.
http://www.qualityrental.com Jim F

RIght Sam, I was waiting for Ian to follow up the kid's berating of the "school sucks" phrase with something similar to what you just said.

Would have been great to point out that is the program name and something similar to Sam's post describing it.

Nonetheless easier to say in hindsight and I applaud you all for doing it.
Brodie

After thinking about the vid some more, I was thinking that talking about how much Americans donate to charities may not be such a good idea, since an educated person may counter that so much is given to charities because of tax deduction incentives. However, in a free society, we would have full employment and savings, so there really would not be much need for the donations. But that just seems to open up a big can of worms. What do you think?
Paul

Tax deductible donations are still charity. You never get more back from a tax deduction than you put into the donation. I give a good deal of money to charity, for example, and I don't even itemize my deductions. The reality is, if people were far wealthier, they'd be able to give far more to charity, not less.

Furthermore, a great deal of charity has been regulated out of existance. For example, in the 50s there were many free church clinics, where poor people could get medical care for nothing or next to nothing. Today, the amount of red tape you'd have to wade through to do that is prohibitive.
Tom

For a dumbed down school system, the 12 year old kid sounded smarter than Ian did…
Bradley Jardis

Tom,

If someone supports a system which is inherently violent I am sure the opinion of the 12 year old ring true.
Tom

Well Bradley, you support it too. With that little tax bill you got.
Bradley Jardis

I know. You're right.

It is an impossible situation for someone who wants to live according to a principle of non-violence.