I write this entry, having in mind the importance of the problem. Many people in all epochs and times were sure in the power of education in world. It can change entire civilizations and peoples mind. If there were more schools in some people in Africa wouldn’t be this level of poverty and economical instability, there would be more free people and open-minded souls, who would grow up with the principles of peace, love and tolerance between all. Above all things, that need changes and reforms in one society is education system. We should realize that and take all measures so our children to have proper education, relevant to the age they live in.
First of all we have to ask the basic question, do we have proper, working and effective education system now? And this question I relate to the so called “developed” countries and societies. I ll answer this question now, by developing my statements, and giving proves. For me the short answer is sure “no”. No matter how much we are ahead in many fields, how advanced technology we possess, how much humanity increases its resources (on the account of nature demolishment), we don’t have until know understanding of what real education system is. The things we need in our education system, in order to grow open-minded, loving, good individuals, are very different from the real situation now. I can say, no matter of the progress of all “humanity” , we still fall inside a pit of one clumsy, not effective, old dated education paradigm, specially in the schools, but also in high-schools, universities, institutions. What are the main characteristics of this system?
- closeness, not developing, does not change, doesn’t improve the individual thinking, doesn’t unfold individual imagination, falls in stagnation, doesn’t support differences and new approach, or ideas, follows old educational methodology, doesn’t use the new resources of nature/ and technology. (..and many more)
What should a completely new system include?
Characteristics of a new educational system need: new paradigm and totally new educational approach, new ways of creative thinking, changing, flexible, open from inside, using visual memory, supporting imagination and different thinking, using spaces of nature. This new system needs to put a stress not on “what” and “quality”, but on “how” and “quality”. In our progressive” society, we tend (until now) to think too much exactly about quality, the more the better in all aspects of life –from personal possessions, relationships, carrier, food. In this way, we lost sense of what is true and real, what has good characteristics and “quality”. So we apply well our failed rules on the future generations, and our own children, thinking we even make a big good for them. Finally they take the same virus, and spread it again and again. Endless cycle. In order to change and brake from this cycle, we need to think of, develop and apply completely new system. This system should take care of the changing time, individual psychology and basic mind effectiveness.
How to make that? Here I` ll expose some very concrete examples and situations for the old (existing system) and the one of the future. How and what are the basic questions I want to answer.
1. First thing that comes to mind to children, when they listen the word “school” is “boredom”, and a “heavy obligation”, “lessons” “Exams”, “bad teachers” “marks”. The child since little accepts and understands the school as a penalty institution! Have in mind that, the child can not feel or appreciate the importance of given knowledge, but he simply feels the effects of “not having high or proper marks” in some subject. So he says to himself some of these thoughts “I want my father to be satisfied with me, so I should have good marks” (this is a motivation for him), or “ I want to be the best in class, so I should have good marks” , or “I love my teacher in literature, so I want to impress her by good marks”. (and so on) All what we observe here, is not related to individual motivation, nor personal growth of the children. So some people may say, what? Personal growth in a little child (little supposed any age from 7 to 20) Is that possible? Even for people after 40 is mirage these words! Yes, sadly is so, exactly because of the failed foundation of education, plus more factors. We tend to think (and very wrongly), that a child, between 7 and 20 or above is helpless. That we only know the best for him/ her, and that he can not be responsible for himself. From here comes the great misunderstanding of the education paradigm. A child is a growing individual, who can develop sense of responsibility, motivation, receive knowledge and feel satisfied from it, (as much as everyone else in any age). The child knows and has inner feeling for what is right and wrong. Even more than you, as his mind is more clean and not polluted from social norms.
By creating ineffective, clumsy, old system of education, we cant expect children to be found of school, nor of studying lessons. They do develop opposite indeed – dislike education , school and lessons ,and feel they are burden. To continue with my point : first thing we need is to make the system “not boring”, or at least “less boring” for the little mind. (I`ll point out the possible ways how we can make that happen).
Second is to give to the child (growing individual) space to be himself, without to interfere in it. To discover, feel, observe the world and its diversity. Do not close the child in your mind fictions and social paradigm, as he wont understand them! He will take them naturally (and with the strong hammer of society) after he grows little more.
Third is to remove the “mark” system and substitute it with another kind.
The first question –how to make the education not boring” , interesting, flexible and attractive to the children, has multiple answers.
(a) change the time of school hours
(b) change the teaching way
(c) make flexible program/ schedule
(d) concentrate on some subjects for the day
(e) remove obligatory homework and change its style
(f) remove the existing grades/ marks at least for school until 12 class
(g) make more out-of class education experiment (nature, museum)
(h) give the children freedom to express about their ideas.
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