214: Cevin Soling: “Schools Violate Civil Rights!”

When I first read Cevin Soling’s work, it completely changed how I saw education, and honestly, how I saw the system itself. In this episode, I sit down with Cevin, a Harvard scholar, musician, and award-winning filmmaker behind The War on Kids, to talk about how schools have become institutions of control rather than places of curiosity and growth.

We dive into some hard truths and some wild stories that will make you question everything you thought you knew about “a good education.”

Here’s what we get into:

• The hidden cost of schooling — how public education often mirrors prisons and strips away children’s civil rights in the name of discipline and order.

• Grades vs. growth — why being a “good student” does not necessarily mean you are learning, and how grades measure obedience more than potential.

• Real learning that lasts — his powerful ideas about self-directed learning, mentorship, and community-based education that spark curiosity instead of conformity.

• The ADHD myth — reframing so-called “disorders” as natural human differences that can become superpowers outside the classroom.

• A story you will not forget — how he ended up being gifted part of an island by a tribe who believed his arrival was prophesied, and what that moment taught him about culture, freedom, and indoctrination.

 

This conversation is raw, thought-provoking, and full of those “wait, what?” moments that make you stop and rethink how deeply the system shapes who we become. If you have ever felt like school was more about control than connection, this episode is for you.

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00:00 Introducing Cevin Soling

04:12 The Impact of School Pressure on Students

08:53 Critique of the School System's Objectives

19:21 Self-Directed Learning as a Solution

31:12 The Impact of Age Segregation in Schools

35:00 The Role of Medication in Schooling

39:23 Colonialism and Its Mixed Legacy

50:48 The Role of Schools in Cultural Erosion

52:57 The Injustice of Public Schooling

59:45 The Importance of Self-Esteem in Education

01:02:04 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

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Ready to dive even deeper? I’m handing you the keys to the castle! If you loved this episode and want more, don’t forget to hit subscribe so you never miss out! Let’s stay connected. Find me on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.

🔗  Connect with Cevin Soling

• His websites: www.cevinsoling.com