"Socialization" is the process by which a society integrates children into society. It does this by "educating" them; by imparting knowledge and developing habits of thought and behavior that the controllers of society deem desirable and in the best interests of their society.

In the United States, we have a public education system for the children of working-class families; families that earn minimum wages, or perhaps enough to categorize them as "middle-class" families. Public school systems are financed by tax money and governed by state and local authorities. As some working -class neighborhoods are more affluent than others, the education received by working-class children throughout the republic is not of equal quality. Private schools are for children of more affluent families who can afford to pay for quality content and instruction, and although there is little consistency of quality between private schools, children of the wealthy always receive a superior education to working-class children.

Historical records verify this truth. Wealthy citizens of every country—in every era—didn't want working-class children to acquire knowledge that would allow them to compete in life with their children—or with them

At one time, in the United States, higher education received in a college or university equated with learning the wisdom of the ages: the lessons learned from the mistakes of past generations and past eras. Higher education meant studying the beliefs of ancient cultures, the philosophies of brilliant thinkers, the writings of great authors. It meant learning to think: to distinguish between true information, false information, and information that has not, or cannot, be proved true or false. A college education once bestowed upon young people the capabilities to recognize the differences between relevant information and trivial information.

It was, once, anticipated that a "higher" education would provide a solid foundation of knowledge from which to make sound, mature, logical choices throughout life: choices to help participate in self-governance and help to protect freedom.

But in these times, in which corporate executives control the agencies of our government, American colleges and universities of higher education have been given other objectives. Public college curricula has been diluted with many trivial subjects, totally unrelated to the acquisition of relevant knowledge and wisdom; subjects such as business operations, management and leadership, paralegal programs, resource management, and performance management. However, is it truly the function of higher learning in public colleges to train young students to be efficient and obedient corporate employees?

Why do you attend, or plan to attend, college? Is it merely, as so many young Americans believe, to prepare for the workplace and to acquire knowledge and skills that will assure greater income with which to enjoy more of the good things in life? These are the reasons many, if not most, young working-class Americans attend schools of "higher" learning. Are they yours? If so, they are the wrong reasons for seeking "higher" education. A vocational education should prove just as effective.

American public colleges and universities, today, do not insist that commoner students study the humanities: the study of people, their problems, and the ways they have tried to solve these problems. Nor do they teach the whole historical truth of our republic. For if they did, students might discover the oppressive, un-American behavior of our economic rulers and political leaders during the past two hundred years, and try to do something about it.

As a consequence, American commoner students, today, spend crucial learning years filling their brains with trivia, and are deprived of an essential education, one that a true school of higher education would offer. Add to this, the biased half truths and trivia offered by the republic's mass media, combined with the unrealistic, stupid, and often destructive role models pouring from the boob tube and movies, and it becomes obvious the socialization of working family children is highly warped and destructive.

My advice to you, young student, is to truly understand the world in which you live, and try to be the very most you can be. Take the bull by the horns and supplement your formal schooling with your own guided education. Search thrift shop shelves or garage sales for old history books—1940 or earlier. Read the autobiographies of the men influential in government and politics of those early years to acquire a more truthful, more rounded perspective of our republic and its history.

Never forget the only truth is the whole truth, and the only way to truly understand a thing is to understand all the other things to which it is related or play a part in influencing it.

Part of the whole truth, and the part important to the acquisition of wisdom, is for you to recognize that humans, and not monkeys, are Planet Earth's greatest imitators. From birth to the grave, you watch and you imitate. Imitation is how you learn best. It's why the advertising industry is so dominant in our society. For almost a century it has successfully created role models designed to sell its client's products and services; role models it wants you to imitate. And you do!

Last, but not least, you should subscribe to The Nation, The Progressive, and Mother Jones magazines. These will help you to take a giant step toward the acquisition of the whole truth and wisdom.