Spring Break
Why is our education like this?
Peter Druckenmiller
Issue date: 10/7/08 Section: Forum
Education today, whether public or private, is centered around a strict division: there are educators, those with knowledge; and the students, those without knowledge. The result is the stagnation of ideas, the taming of radicalism, and the preservation of the status quo.
Classes are set up with an "educator" dictating to students certain concepts or "facts." These nuggets of knowledge are meant to be absorbed by the students, memorized unquestioningly, recited at some pre-determined point, and most are ultimately forgotten once the student has proved proficient enough to advance to the next class where the cycle begins anew.
Whether the students truly understand and appreciate the information presented is secondary to whether the student can recite enough to earn a passing grade. Furthermore, students are unable to challenge the information presented so "knowledge" becomes removed from practical experience and interpretation.
For example, the capital of Oregon is Salem. Most students at one time or another have "learned" this as well as the other 49 states and capitals. But never was it explained why or how these capitals came to be. The capitals and states become isolated and disconnected from any interaction with the students and their lives.
A superior education model would be if students were able to interact with students from other cities and states thus exchanging ideas and cultures and truly "learning" about these other places as more than dots on a map to be memorized. Students become empowered as their own "educators" and are liberated from the meaningless task of memorization and regurgitation. Apply this same model on a global level and now students truly can become citizens of the world.
Now there are those who would say the previous model won't work. The main argument is that students aren't motivated enough to be self-educated. Technically the doubters are correct - students are not currently motivated enough because their wills and inquisitive minds are crushed by years under the current "education" model, an educational Catch-22.
Classes are set up with an "educator" dictating to students certain concepts or "facts." These nuggets of knowledge are meant to be absorbed by the students, memorized unquestioningly, recited at some pre-determined point, and most are ultimately forgotten once the student has proved proficient enough to advance to the next class where the cycle begins anew.
Whether the students truly understand and appreciate the information presented is secondary to whether the student can recite enough to earn a passing grade. Furthermore, students are unable to challenge the information presented so "knowledge" becomes removed from practical experience and interpretation.
For example, the capital of Oregon is Salem. Most students at one time or another have "learned" this as well as the other 49 states and capitals. But never was it explained why or how these capitals came to be. The capitals and states become isolated and disconnected from any interaction with the students and their lives.
A superior education model would be if students were able to interact with students from other cities and states thus exchanging ideas and cultures and truly "learning" about these other places as more than dots on a map to be memorized. Students become empowered as their own "educators" and are liberated from the meaningless task of memorization and regurgitation. Apply this same model on a global level and now students truly can become citizens of the world.
Now there are those who would say the previous model won't work. The main argument is that students aren't motivated enough to be self-educated. Technically the doubters are correct - students are not currently motivated enough because their wills and inquisitive minds are crushed by years under the current "education" model, an educational Catch-22.
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