Donnie Harold Harris's attendance at 21 different grade schools

 Donnie Harold Harris's attendance at 21 different grade schools is a central part of his life story, which he uses to illustrate the instability and "fake knowledge" he believes are inherent in the current education system.

1. Childhood Instability and the "Quality Highways."

Harris grew up in Indianapolis, where his family moved frequently, living in over 100 different homes.

  • 21 Grade Schools: He attended roughly 21 grade schools, sometimes returning to the same school multiple times. He notes that by the time he reached the seventh grade in 1966, he had already attended all 21 schools and had been taught by 99 different teachers.

  • The Children's Guardian Home: During this period of instability, he resided at the Children's Guardian Home on Indianapolis's east side on several occasions, including five or six separate stays by the age of 12.

2. Education as "Fake Knowledge."

His experience with so many different schools and 1,000 fellow students led him to view the education system as a form of "fake knowledg".

  • A 40% Distortion: Harris argues that about 40% of education is made up, creating a "climate" that attempts to mark or categorize children before they reach the age of 18.

  • The "Gus Grissom" Anecdote: He recalls his 100th teacher, whom he describes as his worst, frequently comparing him unfavorably to a former student, astronaut Gus Grissom. This experience reinforced his belief that the system often attempts to define individuals by who they are not, rather than who they are.

3. Mission of Protection

Harris's personal history of trauma—including his frequent moves and time in state care—is the direct inspiration for his "protector" mission.

  • Ending Systemic Marking: He believes the current system uses "low-level education discrimination" to divide children by race and background before they can even vote.

  • Protecting the Next Generation: His goal is to replace this "rigged" system with a "fairness system" where children are protected from what he calls "medical harm" and "societal trauma.

  • The Role of Government: He advocates for the government to act as a "family" that "gets your back," ensuring that no child has to endure the instability and lack of protection that characterized his own early education.

Harris eventually graduated from Emmerich Manual High School in 1972 before entering the military, an experience that added further layers to his views on the need for a world without "crime, drugs, or war.

Would you like to know more about the specific trauma Harris says he experienced in these schools and homes that drives his activism?

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