PHJim, I think Jason has a better understanding of English than you have; in particular, he understood Seeger's message. Of course not all teachers lie to all their pupils all the time, but it is well conceivable that every school child in the whole world and history has been exposed to ideology. It is the institutions that "lie", whether or not teachers realize it.

We are mainly talking about subjects like history, civics, literature, and religion. The song gives some examples that are still valid in principle, others have arisen since. Even a subjects like computing can lose their innocence, given those many spying scandals. Moreover, schools generally form a training ground for obedience and conformal behaviour (and thus may "lie" about the pupils' best interest), even if teachers preach the opposite but must give marks at the end of the term.

Total refusal of formal education is no good alternative, of course. Those who try it are deceived all the easier. We just have to be critical.