Comments on: What Is Schooling For?

By: Beth @ Smart Family Tips

Beth @ Smart Family Tips — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 11:53:39 +0000

I’m currently reading Zoe’s book, Above All Be Kind. I have twin 3 1/2 year old daughters and am acutely interested in teaching them to be humane people.

I have also taught at the secondary level and couldn’t be more convinced that our current education system is lacking. I don’t have the answers, but it seems that teaching children not only to pass tests, but to think creatively about solving problems would be a good place to start.

By: Sunday

Sunday — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 18:34:00 +0000

I’ve recently been hearing about Transition Towns on the hyperlocavore site, and one of the things they stress is that a better future will involved ordinary people on the ground making group solutions, instead of waiting for Experts to Solve the Big Problem. A different kind of education would go a long way toward getting more of the kind of practical innovative sense we need for this.

By: Christine

Christine — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 13:45:48 +0000

When schools focus on scores and providing a single solution for many complex personalities and needs, the competition factor runs high, suppressing the natural tendency for children to want to collaborate and work together for good. Instead they are more focused on competition to get ahead of their peers and get attention in an environment that removes individual freedoms and individual creativity.

In good schools that promote individual creativity and democracy among students, innovative solutions are created by children themselves and adults provide support and guidance for a safe and consistent environment where the students can best express themselves.

Children who learn with freedom whether in alternative schools or child-led/ interest led learning can grow up to be productive members of their local and larger community and form an interest in helping one another rather than just earning top dollar for their own good.