"School is punishment for the crime of being…

“School is punishment for the crime of being young” is a quotation that has been credited since at least 2008 to Nana Lee; it’s not known who she is or when she said it. “‘School:’ twelve years of forced incarceration for the ‘crime’ (?) of being young” was written by J. Harmon Grahn on May 21, 1999. Curt Howland wrote “I have often referred to my government-school time as ‘12 years of forced labor for the crime of being young’” in 2004.

The New Paradigm
vol. II, Number 13
Friday, May 21, 1999
“Education”
by J. Harmon Grahn
(...)
For the vast majority of children this is already a fulfilled reality: “School:” twelve years of forced incarceration for the “crime” ( ? ) of being young - in direct violation, by the way, of the (so-called) “13th Amendment” to the (so-called) “Constitution,” the (so-called) “supreme Law of the Land:”

Brian’s Education Blog
November 18, 2002
Good prison versus bad liberation?
(...)
If you are going to be sent to prison for the crime of being young, it’s probably better to be imprisoned in world that prepares you somewhat for life after your stretch inside than to be imprisoned in a place that prepares you to do nothing except whine and complain that you aren’t being looked after and entertained properly by the big bad mysterious world that your plasticene games and dance and drama classes and yoof culture rebellions have so completely not prepared you for.

Ludwig von Mises Institute
What is the Proper Way to Run a School?
MAY 5, 2004 by ROBERT MURPHY
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COMMENTS
Curt Howland
May 5, 2004 at 11:48 am
I have often referred to my government-school time as “12 years of forced labor for the crime of being young”, and the threat made to me that my mother would be imprisoned if I didn’t attend was indeed a major factor for my “voluntary” attendance.

Ludwig von Mises Institute
The Thought Police and Hoppe
FEBRUARY 10, 2005 by STEPHAN KINSELLA
(...)
COMMENTS
Curt Howland
February 10, 2005 at 8:37 pm
Mr. Kinsella,
Reading your comment about “saving your money” and “sending your kid to vocational school”, I can sincerely suggest that you do exactly that.

There is yet another reason to do so that you do not mention: maturity. The 12 years of forced labor, punishment for the crime of being young in the US, imparts nothing of maturity to the psyche of the student.

Google Books
Cheater
By Michael Laser
New York, NY: Dutton Children’s Books
2008
Pg. ?:
SCHOOL IS PUNISHMENT FOR THE CRIME OF BEING YOUNG, says Noah’s T-shirt; ...

Educational Quotations
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2008
Educational Quotations
(...)
School is punishment for the crime of being young.
Nana Lee

maybe e should close our eyes….
EASY
sunday, november 15, 2009 || 10:53 pm
“School is punishment
for the crime of being young.”
- Nana Lee

The Free Dictionary Language Forums
Digichris
Posted: Sunday, February 07, 2010 3:42:09 PM
(...)
“School is punishment for the crime of being young.”