Inspiration Behind Another Brick in the Wall Part 2:
Roger Water’s personal experiences growing up in Great Britan left a negative impression of their educational system. When Margaret Thatcher became Prime Minister, her conservative views strengthened Roger’s convictions about the oppressive and strict nature of schools. When teenagers are stifled and misunderstood, rebellion often follows. This is the background which led Another Brick in the Wall Part 2 to become an anthem for rising up against established order.
Biblical Application:
In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5 And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says,“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, 6 because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son, Hebrews 12:5-6.
Exegesis of Another Brick in the Wall Part 2:
We don’t need no education
We don’t need no thought control
No dark sarcasm in the classroom
Teacher, leave them kids alone
Nearly fifty years after the release of this song, the member of Pink Floyd got their wish. Education has become an institution for grooming children as discipline is now considered racist and teachers have lost control of their classrooms.
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
Education in Great Britain and the United States is now broken. A 1960 high school diploma required more work than a modern-day college degree. Meanwhile, high school seniors continue to graduate without the ability to properly read or write.
We don’t need no education
We don’t need no thought control
No dark sarcasm in the classroom
Teachers, leave them kids alone
This stanza reminds me of Communist, Marxist and Socialist countries who dumb down education so that a new general of young people will embrace communism. This likely explains why New York City just elected a democratic socialist.
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
This modern-day brick in the wall is symbolic of a failing education system. Teachers are spending so more time trying to control unruly children that time for learning is limited.
Wrong, do it again
Wrong, do it again
If you don’t eat your meat, you can’t have any pudding
How can you have any pudding if you don’t eat your meat?
You! Yes! You, behind the bike sheds!
Stand still, laddie!
This stanza is trying to emulate a teacher running a strict classroom in the late 1970’s. While certain teachers don’t relate to students, discipline is a sign of love. If you don’t care about children, you won’t correct wrong behavior. A classroom without rules results in chaos.
Final Thoughts:
As a former teacher, school isn’t for everyone. In America, modern-day education has been created by women for women. As activities like recess and classes like gym have been removed from a growing number of schools, boys have been left behind. While Charter and Vocational schools are on the right track, active learning is necessary to keep students engaged. However, education must focus on the basics: reading, writing and arithmetic. Once ideology and the political correctness is removed, schools can get back to equipping young people for success in the future.
by Jay Mankus
ExpressYourself4Him 