The Miseducation of the Masses (Part 2): Rise of the Foundations!

In part 2 of our series on the education system in the United
States of America, we take a look at how compulsory schooling was
legislated into existence and then financed.  From 1889 to
1906 William Torrey Harris was the Commissioner of Education for
the United States of America.  That is an uninterrupted, 17
year stretch in which he shaped the teaching philosophy and
legislation of an entire nation.  During his tenure there was
an average of one high school opened per day.  That is a
massive education boom.  But, what was his philosophy of
education? And, who was helping to subsidize this massive
infrastructure of new buildings, textbooks and teacher
training?  The noted humanitarians (sarcasm) John D.
Rockefeller and Andrew Carnegie, to name just the two main wealthy
white guys we take a look at in this episode.  We wrap up part
2 with some choice quotes from a 1913 Special Commission appointed
by the 62nd Congress to investigate the entity know as a
"Foundation", both as a business model and the power it wields
within society.  Hint: It's not good and it hasn't gotten any
better in the 101 years since this report. [Click to Listen]