Too Many Bricks In the Wall
The High Cost of Public Education
Most of us know the epic song by Pink Floyd, “Another Brick In The Wall.” Until recently, I had a sense of the meaning of the lyrics but not the crystal-clear understanding I know today.
The song embeds itself in my soul, reflecting my lifelong disdain for public school that began on my first day of Kindergarten; I distinctly remember resisting attending school that first day. I don’t know why. Perhaps I wanted to stay home with mommy and play. But the dose of whoop-ass I got when I resisted rendered my resistance futile.
Eventually, my parents saw the same light; if they kept their three kids in public schools, we would likely become bricks in a wall. Because of this, and being the firstborn, my parents enrolled me in a private school for tenth grade. They did the same for my sister and brother. The difference between the public school and private school experience was, and still is, massive.
Few of us know the difference, and I’m eternally grateful to my loving parents for doing their best to educate their children.
Another Brick In The Wall Lyrics
We don’t need no education
We don’t need no thought control
No dark sarcasm in the classroom
Teacher, leave them kids alone
Hey, teacher, leave them kids alone
All in all, it’s just another brick in the wall
All in all, you’re just another brick in the wall
We don’t need no education
We don’t need no thought control
No dark sarcasm in the classroom
Teachers, leave them kids alone
Hey, teacher, leave us kids alone
All in all, you’re just another brick in the wall
All in all, you’re just another brick in the wall
If you don’t eat yer meat, you can’t have any pudding
How can you have any pudding if you don’t eat yer meat?
You! Yes, you behind the bike stands
Stand still, laddy!
Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: George Roger Waters
Another Brick In The Wall
Pink Floyd was released on November 23, 1979. That’s the same year I graduated from a private school in New Hampshire where I grew up. I then enrolled in a private university far beyond the reach of our means to afford it. As a result, I borrowed buckets of money to pay for my university education and paid off all the loans.
Here’s what I believe the intention of the song was based on my research:
Critique of the public education system. The lyrics “We don’t need no education” don’t mean education is terrible. Instead, they criticize a specific type of education more about controlling thoughts and suppressing creativity than encouraging learning and independent thinking.
Opposition to authoritarian teaching methods. “No dark sarcasm in the classroom” refers to strict, authoritarian teaching methods standard in schools, particularly in the UK, when the song was written. It calls for teachers to stop being harsh and treat students more respectfully.
Individuality vs. Conformity. “All in all, you’re just another brick in the wall” suggests that the education system treats students like identical bricks in a wall without considering their individuality. The song argues against this approach, promoting the idea that every person is unique and should not be forced into conformity.
A generational voice. Including the voices of actual school children in the song emphasizes the younger generation's perspective, making a powerful statement about how they feel oppressed by the prevailing education system.
A metaphor for control and repression. The song's overall theme can be seen as a metaphor for control and repression in broader society, not just schools. It’s about questioning authority and standing up against systems that seek to suppress individual freedom and creativity.
A Brief History of Public Education
Years ago, when I saw what our two sons dealt with in public schools, I purchased several books on the history of public education in America and its roots.
The reality is private education is so expensive now that it’s beyond the reach of most of us worldwide. My wife and I were no different; we could not afford private schools. Because of that, we vowed to hire tutors and did our best to help our sons expand their education beyond what they learned in public schools, including state universities.
Parental involvement, regardless of the type of school, makes all the difference, as we see now with the trends in homeschooling.
Here’s a summary of what I learned about the history of public education:
Industry happened, and we needed lots of workers. Public education as we know it today has its roots in the societal changes brought about by the Industrial Revolution. Between 1880 and 1920, the rise of the modern American school system coincided with industrialization. This period marked a significant shift from the earlier education system, which was predominantly under the church’s control in feudal Europe, with most of the population engaged in agriculture and only a tiny fraction having access to education.
Gone Victorian. The transformation in education during the Victorian era, particularly in England, was driven by new laws making education compulsory for a broader range of the population. This shift was part of a broader move towards public education, influenced by the Age of Enlightenment, which allowed more widespread access to schooling.
The aristocrats. In contrast, aristocrats sought to educate their children distinctly from the common man. They favored classical and religious training, which was more in line with their social status and the roles they were expected to play in society. While America had many universities, Europe led in specialized and advanced education during this period.
Two classes. This division in education methods reflected broader societal structures, with aristocratic education preparing the elite for leadership and governance roles. In contrast, public education aligned more with industrial labor and production needs.
In summary, “Another Brick In The Wall” is not just a song about the issues in the public education system of their day but also a broader statement on individuality, freedom, and resistance to oppressive systems that persist today.
More than anything else, remember this mantra of mine: “Love learning no matter what you believe about school. Love learning about who you are, your passions, and your gifts, and do your best to live with meaning and purpose, more than money. The money will follow your bliss once you know yourself. That’s because working for money is the death of the soul.”
Now you know why most of us live in a matrix of delusion. The only way out is to do our homework, find our passions and gifts, and do our best to make sense of it all before we return home to the other side.
Sources:
Montessorium.com — Industrial Revolution & American Education
Link.springer.com — Industrialization and Public Education: Social Cohesion…
Udel.edu — Education in Victorian England | British Literature Wiki
Througheducation.com — Every Student’s First Thought: Who Invented School?
Montessorium.com — The History of American Education from 1820–1920: Part I