Education is said to be the key to civilized man and if this is so why has our educational system gotten so badly outta balance? Do you realize the true purpose to the educational system in the USA? It is designed to create obedient, passive, and smart (but not too smart) factory workers! Now that the age of factory work is gone in the USA it is high time to abandon the old system of teacher centered teaching and embrace learner centered learning!
The flaws in our educational system are fairly obvious so I will not get into the problems so much as stay focused on the evolution of education and the system we need to implement yesterday. In the present system children are treated like cattle, herded into classrooms, force fed, and then expected to perform tricks (like remembering and understanding everything thrown at them on a test). Testing has proven to be ineffective in teaching, but it remains to be the focus because it lends itself to mass ‘marketing’. So what are we to do about our ailing educational system?
There are no shortages of ideas and many families are exploring these methods right now. The large increase in homeschooling for instance is one method, but this system lacks socialization. (More on Homeschooling) With the expansion of the internet it is now possible to learn just about anything you need online, and many see this as the future of education, including myself. The socialization issues are easily met by attending community activities, summer camps, and other classes.
The Waldorf school system’s “overarching goal is to develop free, morally responsible, and integrated individuals equipped with a high degree of social competence. Teachers generally use formative (qualitative) rather than summative (quantitative) assessment methods, particularly in the pre-adolescent years. The schools have a high degree of autonomy to decide how best to construct their curricula and govern themselves.” (Wikipedia.com)
Andragogy are teaching strategies developed for adult learners and based on a humanistic conception of self-directed and autonomous learners and teachers as facilitators of learning. (Wikipedia.com) While this is best for adults, it is this authors opinion that it can be applied to children as young as 9yrs old, so the pediogogical approach of memorization and repetitive drills are good in the early years for learning language, math, and basic principles, but by the time the child reaches the teen years they should be ready for a broader more self-directed path to learning.
Montessori education is characterized by an emphasis on independence, freedom within limits and respect for a child’s natural psychological development and is used in over 7,000 schools worldwide. (Wikipedia.com) The problem with this method is the lack of discipline. Working and thriving in the world today requires discipline and unless the child also takes classes in say Martial Arts, Music, Dance, or Sports. They will not be prepared for the demands of adult life.
This brings up my final point for today. A balanced approach which works both sides of the brain and body will produce a balanced individual, so simply focusing on the intellectual aspects of learning, as our present system does creates an individual who is out of balance. I hated gym, art class, music, and sports in elementary school but I was forced to take them and eventually I excelled in all but music. I am so grateful for this opportunity to develop a “whole brain” and thus the reason we have teachers and parents to guide us. (Please focus on what you do have and not what you lacked)
Please look carefully at your educational path and your families. If you are a parent take the time to really consider the impact of sending your child to a school which still uses the old system of testing and cattle prodding! If you are a teenager thinking of college, please read the next blog which will focus on the higher education trap! The future is for the bold and it will take courage to forge your own path, but ultimately it is the right choice for most.
🙂 Sequoia Elisabeth
Unity in Gender Diversity Free eBooks click here
Oneness Ministry 
Leave a Reply