LEGO MOVIE: An Analogy for Stop Common Core?

Went to the new Lego movie tonight with the family. When the villain was introduced as "Mr. Business" I thought, "Oh no, this one is going to be another progressive plot that demonizes business as the root of our problems and subtly suggests to our children that we need Big Government to swoop in and protect us." But as I watched the theme develop, I was surprised that the movie went in a very different direction. It is appropriate that a toy company that has been dedicated to the creative brain development of children for decades produced a movie script that illustrated perfectly the folly of education reform based on a blueprint of standardization.

I thought my fellow Stop Common Core activists would easily see the parallels between the themes in this story and why we so passionately oppose the federal education agenda. The villain in the movie was a great metaphor for the crony partnership between big business and government that is pushing a philosophy of standardization and micro-managed economies under the guise of education reform.

"Mr. Business," the villain in the movie, is also "The President" of their Lego city. I saw President Buisness as a clear symbol for the seamless merging of corporate interests and means with government power and force, essentially the use of private industry to accomplish the means of government. Just like Common Core. This villain wants to impose his "program" on everyone, he writes the instruction manuals, and he forces everyone to follow the instruction manuals with no deviation. Just like Common Core. He stamps out creativity and individuality, to say nothing for freedom. True to life, he uses his power as "the president" to send out his "police" to enforce his will. President Buisness  even calls his police robots his "micro-managers" and sends them out to micro-manage every detail. Just like what people fear will happen as the federal vice grip closes in on education and the federal/corporate union gains control of the instruction manuals in our local schools.

Unlike the standard progressive narrative, in the Lego movie it isn't the government that does the saving, it's the people. In fact the hero of the movie is just an ordinary Lego guy, Emmett, he is marching forward as part of President Buisness's micro-managed workforce, unaware until he falls into the truth and is thrust into action. It's funny when Emmett realizes that the President writes the instruction manuals and builds the voting machines. It's funny how Emmett is at first cheerfully placated by "President Buisness's" charisma and promises of "Taco Tuesdays". It's a spot on analogy for how Americans today have been blinded to the dangers they face.

Like so many hero stories, the villain is set on destroying the world, but it is particularly astute that the way in which he will destroy their world is that he will effectively freeze it in place, stop it's creative motion and movement forward. This is precisely what policies like Common Core will do. When government officials think they can make things "perfect" by micro-managing every detail they effectively freeze the creative endeavors that drive success and the pursuit of happiness in society.

In the end the movie forwards the idea that creativity and individuality are essential, that the enemy to happiness and progress are those who seek to control and "micro-manage" the creative process of individuals and societal development. Emmett learns that everyone is special in some way and that when they aren't limited to the "instruction manual" they can create incredible things. It is a celebration of creativity and uniqueness, the exact opposite of the creativity killing plans that are at the center of the Common Core Agenda.

As the theme applies to educating children day by day, I think the movie demonstrates what every parent instinctively knows and what educrats, politicians, and corporate-crats should wake-up to. It is simply a crime to squash the creativity and play of children in exchange for the promise of "global competitiveness." Like the villain in the movie, the Common Core Agenda seeks to build it's "perfect system" by centrally managing every student until it will destroys those characteristics of education and child development which most contribute to happy children and mature adults. The goal set by the Common Core architects will allude them as they will succeed only in destroying the dynamic, creative, and innovative abilities of a generation, effectively stalling the engine of creative progress and freezing our society in place.