Real Education is Dead
I rarely get philosophical but today I was inspired...
Ok many people who know me know that I am fascinated with the notion that modern education is tantamount to monkey training to be an obedient citizen. Real education is dead.
Modern Education is about telling us how…
Real Education is about asking why…and letting us find out for ourselves.
So if you have some time to waste, read Ivan Illich’s “Deschooling Society”
Another shorter essay, but equally revealing is by John Taylor Gatto, is available here.
I watch my godson slave away at two hours of algebra a night. It makes no sense whatsoever. They should be teaching the kids how to think critically, how to analyze problems, how to come up with potential answers on their own, not train them to solve equations quickly.
I guess it is my anarchist side finally showing itself, but I truly think that our entire education system needs to be overhauled. More critical thinking. More thoughtful content. If at 18, a student has read and analyzed the Communist Manifesto, the Social Contract by Rousseau, Plato's Republic, Aristotle's Politics, Common Sense by Thomas Paine, and other works about society around them, then there is no doubt they vould vote, because they would understand the consequences of what they are voting for.
Education is about asking questions and making the right decisions. Today's modern political culture offers none of that, just rhetoric. Therefore, do not be surprised at the lack of interest in voting by our younger generations. We are too busy getting trained to be obediant monkeys in our schools. But hey, at least we know how to do algebra!
Enough wonkery out of me, back to exams.
Ok many people who know me know that I am fascinated with the notion that modern education is tantamount to monkey training to be an obedient citizen. Real education is dead.
Modern Education is about telling us how…
Real Education is about asking why…and letting us find out for ourselves.
So if you have some time to waste, read Ivan Illich’s “Deschooling Society”
Another shorter essay, but equally revealing is by John Taylor Gatto, is available here.
I watch my godson slave away at two hours of algebra a night. It makes no sense whatsoever. They should be teaching the kids how to think critically, how to analyze problems, how to come up with potential answers on their own, not train them to solve equations quickly.
I guess it is my anarchist side finally showing itself, but I truly think that our entire education system needs to be overhauled. More critical thinking. More thoughtful content. If at 18, a student has read and analyzed the Communist Manifesto, the Social Contract by Rousseau, Plato's Republic, Aristotle's Politics, Common Sense by Thomas Paine, and other works about society around them, then there is no doubt they vould vote, because they would understand the consequences of what they are voting for.
Education is about asking questions and making the right decisions. Today's modern political culture offers none of that, just rhetoric. Therefore, do not be surprised at the lack of interest in voting by our younger generations. We are too busy getting trained to be obediant monkeys in our schools. But hey, at least we know how to do algebra!
Enough wonkery out of me, back to exams.
par / by Anthony à / at 10:49 a.m.
8 Commentaires:
Phil, you cannot be more wrong.
Education is more than training somebody how to fix a drainpipe. We teach kids way too much science and not enough philosophy.
We teach them too much technical stuff and not enough practical knowledge.
We do not teach responsibility at all. I am not saying remove math and science from the curriculum, but 3 hours of math exercises a night is not education, its training.
im not saying give them the Republic at 7 years old.
I am saying that maybe it is time we teach them something other than math.
Let people figure something out on their own. In Sweden they forbid children form attending school until age 7, with similar test results...so much for Baby Einstein
Yes, Yes, in Sweden everything is better. We've heard it all before Antonio. Frankly, what you are advocating isn't "critical thinking" so much a indoctrination. It shouldn't take a rocket science (someone who needs math) to see the long list of capitalist thinkers omitted from your list of acceptable works. Sorry Antonio, the school system has been politicized enough. Let the children learn how to feed themselves first.
Yes Rat
It is a Marxist Plot
What I am proposing is the end of indoctrination. Allowing people to think for themselves is more important than us telling them what to think.
All we are doing is training them to obey authority. Education these days is nothing but pure training
Aren't you supposed to be writing essays or studying for exams young man?
PS Algebra teaches students, "how to think critically, how to analyze problems, how to come up with potential answers on their own"
I believe pedagogy has been missed in your readings.
im not saying eliminate algebra.
algebra does make people think critically but not hours upon hours of it.
it's ridiculous
Practically all major research into education these days show that teaching students to develop the 'why' - higher order thinking - not only benefits them later in life, whether or not they are a philosopher or plumber but it aids them while in school. Reading skills, math skills, ability to think critically, etc. all improve. Education at the elementary and secondary levels need to be balanced between practical and theoretical. Teaching only the 'how' and not any 'why' puts our students at a major disadvantage for later in life and that is why, at least in Ontario, essentially all new teachers and the older ones that are willing to listen, are being trained to teach to the 'why' as much, if not more, than the 'how'.
Like JFK said, "Our progress as a nation can be no swifter than our progress in education.". Real progress in education comes through understanding and not just knowing.
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