September 18, 2025

Miseducation: A History of Ignorance-Making in America and Abroad

23 minutes

Explore the multifaceted nature of ignorance-making and miseducation across various historical and societal contexts. They illustrate how knowledge can be intentionally suppressed, distorted, or omitted to serve specific political, economic, or ideological agendas, ranging from the anti-literacy laws targeting enslaved people in 19th-century America to the Nazi regime's manipulation of curriculum and the Soviet Union's control over historical narratives. The sources also discuss how private interest groups employ sophisticated strategies to generate doubt about scientific consensus, such as the tobacco industry's efforts to obscure health risks or climate change deniers' campaigns. Furthermore, the texts examine how social myths, like the "model minority" stereotype for Asian Americans or the idealized view of American exceptionalism, can perpetuate misunderstandings and hinder equitable societal development. Ultimately, these excerpts highlight the critical importance of critical science literacy and an awareness of these ignorance-generating mechanisms for fostering a truly informed and democratic citizenry.

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