The Dumbing Down of America – By Design

saki

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....here's something new... called 'Gaggle'... surveilling students, in the name of 'safety' without any permissions sought or granted... Conditioning students to a constant surveillance state at an early age....

https://www.thenewamerican.com/culture/education/item/33927-tech-company-quietly-keeps-millions-of-u-s-students-under-surveillance
Tech Company Quietly Keeps Millions of U.S. Students Under Surveillance
Written by Joe Wolverton, II, J.D.
Sunday, 03 November 2019


A shocking report filed by Buzzfeed reveals that one technology company has nearly five million U.S. students under surveillance and additional school districts enroll in the service every day, creating a “sprawling surveillance industrial complex that targets kids who can’t opt out.”

Gaggle is an Illinois-based tech company that begin in 1998 as an email client for students. It has since expanded not only its services, but its scope, as well.

The company’s website describes its purpose:

Since the inception of Gaggle as a student email provider in 1998, the company has grown significantly adding products that help schools create safe learning environments. When asked why he chose the name “Gaggle,” Jeff replies: “Our goal was to give teachers an easy way to watch over their gaggle of students.” Jeff’s vision of student-centric schools using cutting-edge technology to safely inspire creativity and ingenuity remains the driving force in Gaggle’s ongoing story.

Why is it that every company or agency that keeps people under surveillance always claims that it’s doing so for the sake of safety?

Gaggle claims to have save prevented “722 students from carrying out an act of suicide” in the 2019-2019 school year.

How does Gaggle accomplish this? Again, from the company’s own press release:

“Districts understand that improving students’ mental health is as important as keeping students physically safe on campus. As outlined in this white paper and the upcoming webinar, there are a number of ways in which schools are effectively supporting the well-being of the ‘whole child’ and creating a safe physical and emotional learning environment for all students,” said Patterson. “Day in and day out, we work with districts that are using Gaggle as part of a more holistic program to identify students who need interventions or require additional support services. Whether they call Gaggle their first alarm system or their safety net, it provides reassurance that they are doing everything possible to enhance their students’ safety and well-being.”

Is it just me, or does this process sound eerily similar to that used by the federal government to “red flag” people who might someday “mobilize toward violence”?

Put these pieces together and you will see that the surveillance state now has its eyes inside the classroom — and on students’ online activity — and will be able to identify these potential “mass shooters” before they can spell “gun” much less fire one.

The Buzzfeed exposé describes how Gaggle gets its product into American classrooms:

Using a combination of in-house artificial intelligence and human content moderators paid about $10 an hour, Gaggle polices schools for suspicious or harmful content and images, which it says can help prevent gun violence and student suicides. It plugs into two of the biggest software suites around, Google’s G Suite and Microsoft 365, and tracks everything, including notifications that may float in from Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram accounts linked to a school email address.

Such surreptitious surveillance should give pause to every American parent who drops their children off a school subscribing to Gaggle’s services.

Furthermore, as the school district is Gaggle's client, parents cannot opt out of the surveillance. Sending your child to a school that subscribes to Gaggle is tacit permission for that company to keep tabs on your child's email, web searches, and all online activity.

As part of its investigative reporting, Buzzfeed examined hundreds of documents that told a story of unpublicized and unparalleled surveillance of children, without the prior permission of their parents.

But hundreds of pages of newly revealed Gaggle documentation and content moderation policies, as well as invoices and student incident reports from 17 school districts around the country obtained via public records requests, show that Gaggle is subjecting young lives to relentless inspection, and charging the schools that use it upward of $60,000. And it’s not at all clear whether Gaggle is as effective in saving lives as it claims, or that its brand of relentless surveillance is without long-term consequences for the students it promises to protect.

Gaggle employs hundreds of people to sort through the data collected from students. These frontline monitors flag any questionable emails or Google searches. These “Level 1 Safety Representatives” look for words related to suicide, drug use, profanity, pornography, or any words considered hateful to the LGBT community.

Should a student upload any self-created image that Gaggle considered “child pornography,” the child’s information and his family’s information is sent to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, which maintains a database of child pornography.”

It doesn’t take a conspiracy theorist to see how this sort of designation could result in hundreds of American children being removed from their homes and placed in government-monitored and maintained foster care systems.

If one of these questionable words is found in an student’s email or online activity, the student is flagged and his account is then scoured by another team of monitors. If a student is tagged once as being potentially problematical, then the administration is warned to watch the student.

Should a student’s account be flagged three times, then the school’s administration has the option of suspending the student’s account, the prescribed punishment for violating Gaggle’s “three strikes you’re out” rule. This rule is described by Buzzfeed:

According to Gaggle, students who commit three strikes have their account privileges limited until a school official gives those privileges back. It’s unclear if a student would lose email privileges in these situations, since it can be necessary for communicating with teachers and completing assignments.

Putting such systems in place in schools seems to have one purpose: Make students accustomed to being under constant surveillance while they are young, so that when they are adults, being watched is something so common they don’t realize that their rights have been taken from them and thus they wouldn’t think of protesting against any other surveillance program.

The last word goes to Sarah Roberts, a UCLA professor, who told Buzzfeed, “My sense about this particular suite of products and services is that it's a solution in search of a problem, which is to say that the only way that the logic of it works is if we first accept that our children ought to be captured within a digital system, basically, from the time they're sentient until further notice.”

Photo: alvarez/E+/Getty I
 

The Zone

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Trust me, each generation of late gets dumber in the U.S. Now we are facing a cold war with China and martial law from protests. I hope those protesting realize they are getting ready to get herded into captivity and cause issues for the rest of us in the way of no freedom of movement. But, it is frightening how PC corre3ct and willing some are to give away their privacy with apps as Saki implied.
 

Karlysymon

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The education system and the msn have collectively conspired to create a generation of docile and incomplete citizens, hence where we are today.


La Chalotais was a member of the famed ‘Neuf Soeurs’ Lodge in Paris – appropriately dubbed, in a 1953 paper by Nicholas Hans, the “UNESCO of the Eighteenth Century.” According to Hans, from 1776-1792, the membership of the Lodge “would probably equal 400 eminent men in science, education, and fine arts from all countries of Europe and America. This was an unprecedented concentration of talent in one organization which adequately answered Bacon’s dream of ‘Solomon’s House’.” (516).

The Neuf Soeurs lodge was practically the embodiment of the Enlightenment. Its masonic Lumières tasked themselves with secular and educational transformation.


The authentic voice of freemasonry in its special concern with educational reform was heard in Paris, where Helvétius, La Chalotais, Franklin,** Lavoisier, Fourcroy, Buffon and Dupont de Nemours were all members of the large and very influential cosmopolitan group which assumed its final organization in 1776 as the lodge of the Neuf soeurs under the leadership of La Lande. The reforming spirit of this society of eminent intellectuals was powerful in the extreme. In due course every public memorandum of significance that dealt with educational reconstruction in France came from the hand of one member or another of this lodge. The missionary work culminated in the conception and creation of the écoles centrales of 1795 (Godwin 147-8; bold emphasis mine).
**good ole Benjamin Franklin.
 

saki

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...and in our more current day...

...former Prime Minister of the UK....
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...and then.... (former CIA Director... VERY suspicious death)...... google it.....
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...and one more, for good measure....
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...I could keep going... but I think you get the hint.....
 

Attachments

DesertRose

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Really saddened by the death of Ken Robinson on August 21, 2020.
A very kind soul who had excellent ideas about compassion being necessary for learning which really resonated.
Schools need to foster a compassionate environment/culture for optimal learning. (A culture of collaboration, empathy etc)
They need to change and stop the industrial model.
Here is his wildly successful Ted talk:

Do schools kill creativity? | Sir Ken Robinson

Here is one of his last talks during the lock-down:

My thoughts for the Call to Unite

 
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Found this was worthwhile posting and adding to this thread. I also thought it was good of the author to indicate his observations were based on his personal experience:

James Geschwindt
Updated Feb 7
"What are some behaviors that scream unintelligence?
  1. Overconfidence - no self-reflection that maybe there are gaps in their own knowledge - they don’t know what they don’t know. I find intelligent people generally understand where they lack expertise and don’t pretend to know everything.
  2. Not interested in expanding their knowledge/step outside their comfort zone.
  3. Laugh at/don’t take alternative ideas seriously (closed-minded).
  4. Lack understanding of other cultures.
  5. No understanding of basic subjects - math, history, geography.
Edit, one more:
Their response to sarcasm or a mildly sophisticated joke?- Blank stare.
2/7/2021 edit:
Based on some comments, the above are based on real world experience interacting with people from all backgrounds. Some of the above items are markers for intelligence. I agree - #5 in and of itself is an indication of knowledge, but in my experience it’s an indication or marker for intelligence, just like having a lot of books in your home is an indicator of intelligence. Why? Because intelligent people are generally interesting in learning, more so than others- again all based on my personal experience."

Someone in comments section added a valuable contribution:

Carl Jacobson
- December 16, 2019
"6. Can’t deal with disagreement of their opinions, AND can’t rationally argue to support their own opinions/viewpoints."

If anyone wants to know more about the discussion, they'll need to sign up on Quora. :)
 

TempestOfTempo

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Found this was worthwhile posting and adding to this thread. I also thought it was good of the author to indicate his observations were based on his personal experience:

James Geschwindt
Updated Feb 7
"What are some behaviors that scream unintelligence?

  1. Overconfidence - no self-reflection that maybe there are gaps in their own knowledge - they don’t know what they don’t know. I find intelligent people generally understand where they lack expertise and don’t pretend to know everything.
  2. Not interested in expanding their knowledge/step outside their comfort zone.
  3. Laugh at/don’t take alternative ideas seriously (closed-minded).
  4. Lack understanding of other cultures.
  5. No understanding of basic subjects - math, history, geography.
Edit, one more:
Their response to sarcasm or a mildly sophisticated joke?- Blank stare.
2/7/2021 edit:
Based on some comments, the above are based on real world experience interacting with people from all backgrounds. Some of the above items are markers for intelligence. I agree - #5 in and of itself is an indication of knowledge, but in my experience it’s an indication or marker for intelligence, just like having a lot of books in your home is an indicator of intelligence. Why? Because intelligent people are generally interesting in learning, more so than others- again all based on my personal experience."

Someone in comments section added a valuable contribution:

Carl Jacobson
- December 16, 2019
"6. Can’t deal with disagreement of their opinions, AND can’t rationally argue to support their own opinions/viewpoints."

If anyone wants to know more about the discussion, they'll need to sign up on Quora. :)
Interesting and thought provoking. Sounds like an apt description of a number of posters here eh?
 
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Frank Badfinger

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A comprehensive infographic from an article that's nearly a decade old. Hardly surprising considering how technology is overused today:

I’m With Stupid: How The Internet Is Dumbing Down The Next Generation

Great article! I can relate. My attention span has definitely dropped over time, especially during this plandemic. I rarely read books like I used to, though I am now starting to pickup my books once again. Multi tasking and information overload is a big problem. It leaves me mentally exhausted. I need to limit my internet time. More real life personal exchange, human experiences, nature, and spiritual growth is needed.
 
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Great article! I can relate. My attention span has definitely dropped over time, especially during this plandemic. I rarely read books like I used to, though I am now starting to pickup my books once again. Multi tasking and information overload is a big problem. It leaves me mentally exhausted. I need to step away from the internet more often. More real life personal exchange, nature and spiritual growth is needed.
So can I. However, I'm sure it was all part of the plan to have many stuck behind computer screens with no authentic engagement with the world whatsoever. It's why there was such a ridiculous emphasis on "social distancing". The TPTB all being socio/psychopathic, they want us to live like them. What I find interesting about this is, my sibling also said the same thing to me. I notice they don't answer my text messages as often and they're more involved in the real world. They even told me they noticed that when they're on the Internet and they start to get sucked into doing things that don't matter, they're asking themselves what they're doing and accomplishing. If the answer is nothing, they step away from the computer and do something more fulfilling. I think that's something we can all do because real life engagement and conversations are key elements for the "2nd Renaissance" to emerge:

I'm not sure if you're aware of this thread, but li'l axe made it about the topic regarding technology also:


I can't recall if I posted this in anywhere but I thought it was good documentary that touched on how technology affects us:

Is Technology The Main Cause Of Stress? | Absolute Documentaries
 

Frank Badfinger

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I'm sure it was all part of the plan to have many stuck behind computer screens with no authentic engagement with the world whatsoever.
Now they want us to live in the Metaverse. Me: Ummm? :rolleyes:...No!

What I find interesting about this is, my sibling also said the same thing to me. I notice they don't answer my text messages as often and they're more involved in the real world. They even told me they noticed that when they're on the Internet and they start to get sucked into doing things that don't matter, they're asking themselves what they're doing and accomplishing. If the answer is nothing, they step away from the computer and do something more fulfilling. I think that's something we can all do because real life engagement and conversations are key elements for the "2nd Renaissance" to emerge
Yes absolutely!

Thanks for posting the thread and vid OM. I'll check them out tomorrow. Right now I'm heading out to enjoy the day.
 

Vmort

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HIVITES DESTROY AND REPLACE YOUR RACE CULTURE! SAVE YOUR CLASSICAL HISTORY AND ARTS!
Yes everything has ebeen made for to make you dumb Hviite slave. Now take action and save your race culture and arts from Hivites.
Stop the sheep already!
 

Dreamymoon

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I definitely agree that the internet has caused a lot of problems. So many deaths, bullying, addiction and that. It’s sad now if I want to search anything I go to google for information… I literally can’t live without it… can’t find these things in books or even maps I use google maps…check opening hours, do banking, buy things I can’t in store. it’s everything I search for daily. Its sad. I noticed since I got it it’s contributed to so much problems in my life. Then there is the theory TikTok has contributed to the dumbing down of society.


the amount of anger and problems I’ve had regarding internet and tech (computers, PayPal, maps etc) and especially laptops has been incredible.
 
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I definitely agree that the internet has caused a lot of problems. So many deaths, bullying, addiction and that. It’s sad now if I want to search anything I go to google for information… I literally can’t live without it… can’t find these things in books or even maps I use google maps…check opening hours, do banking, buy things I can’t in store. it’s everything I search for daily. Its sad. I noticed since I got it it’s contributed to so much problems in my life. Then there is the theory TikTok has contributed to the dumbing down of society.


the amount of anger and problems I’ve had regarding internet and tech (computers, PayPal, maps etc) and especially laptops has been incredible.
FWIW, I think you understanding how the Internet has affected your life is a good step in the right direction. I think it's cognizant to mindful of the purpose it's being used for. It seems for many, it's dumbed them down to the point where they've lost the ability to think beyond what's is on it, and use in fruitless ways. For example, I came across one youth where on her resume she indicated that she had good use of the Internet as one of her qualifications. I thought, 'How is that a skill?' If she had a blog with some sort of commentary on the Internet, I might've understood her point, but she didn't. I also agree with you with Tik Tok with short videos, as someone also mentioned this to me earlier regarding how it's creating shorter attention spans.

From my perspective, people have been so dumbed down and don't even know it, or as I mentioned to @Lisa earlier, "The ignorant are ignorant of their ignorance".
 
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