Let's not kid ourselves: indoctrination is a big part of what comes out of the education system. This isn't by accident; it's by design. Even John D. Rockefeller, who had a substantial role in developing the public education system, said, "I want a nation of workers, not a nation of thinkers."

My own experience was mostly about listening to the teacher and following the textbook. Critical thinking was rarely discussed. It felt like they didn't want us to think critically; they just wanted us to listen to authority and follow orders. Nowadays, you see ideologies being brought into classrooms, with certain flags and agendas being pushed. I've heard complaints from teachers fed up with these ideologies. Further, student performance on a global scale is dropping for US students.

It's worth scrutinizing our education system, not only because of the ideologies or declining performance, but because it's the perfect environment for indoctrination. A government-run system will push government values, praising and celebrating authority when they are the authority.

Let me be clear: I highly value education. I've gone through a lot of it myself, and I think it's incredibly important. But when we relinquish influence over our children to an authoritarian government, it should be no surprise when they come home with ideologies and a lack of critical thinking.