Schools are often seen as both the problem and solution to many headlines…
Not enough engineers in industry? We need better science teaching! Teenage pregnancies? Inadequate school sex education! Obesity? More sport and dietary education! Ill-disciplined teenagers? Bring back the cane and school discipline. Young people today can’t read/ do arithmetic/ hold a conversation!! (Usually followed be ‘in my day…’) Blame the schools!
I don’t remember much of my teacher training; I do remember chuckling at the Aldous Huxley quote: ‘Ram it in, ram it in! Children’s heads are hollow. Ram it in, ram it in! Still there’s more to follow.’
The notion that as a teacher my job was to somehow open a child’s head and pour in knowledge… perhaps with perhaps a few skills and attitudes for good measure. This seems to be the way that many still think of education today.
The word ‘education’ is formed by two Latin words – ‘e’ (or ex) meaning ‘out’ and ‘ducare’ meaning ‘to lead’. Education is about leading people out from one place to another. Three thoughts from that definition:
Education is about…
…a journey. Whether we’re talking about mathematical education, physical education, sex education or Christian education we consider where we are coming from, where we are travelling to and the journey we need to get there.
…travelling together with those who have been on that journey before, who know the route, see the potential dangers. Children need parents and other wise positive adult role models as well as teachers to travel with them.
…holistic travel. Education isn’t just about one part of a person embarking on the journey. Teaching and learning includes many components – moral values, character development, social understanding, psychological contentment… as well as intellectual growth.
When a new young teacher joined our school I would often say, ‘If you want to be a teacher it’s the best job in the world. If not, it’s the worst.’ It was a privilege to see many teachers travelling with the children, bringing solutions not problems.
malcolmsmusings.org 
I ran into my adult children’s science teacher a few years ago. He said that when they went to school, his students could think critically and come up with answers/solutions. Now, he said, many of his students can’t figure anything out even if you give them the answers. Is it because everything is looked up online and thinking is null and void?
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Interesting, Nancy. I’ve no doubt that the work of the teacher is changing as the world is changing; I guess it’s about the starting point from where they’re leading their students, and journeying with them
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I just had a discussion about this very thing last night…with a computer. There are some great schools that are helping prepare students for the world they live in. And there are many schools not doing that. Education really can do much good or much harm .
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You’re right, Paula. My prejudice, having worked in good schools with good people all my life is to be defensive of schools and say that there are many more good teachers in good schools – it’s the bad ones that make the headlines, and the good and ordinary often go unnoticed and uncelebrated.
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I don’t blame the teachers for students not being prepared , I blame the state controlled curriculum and outdated mindset that you described of shoveling facts into their heads rather than teaching them how to solve problems and think. It’s like they have no real experience with how children learn. Teachers need more control over their classrooms.
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Your ability to break down complex topics into simple, digestible pieces is commendable. This blog is a treasure trove of knowledge for beginners and experts alike.
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