Tseveen
I appreciated both cmmneots. They led me to think about the difference between "training" and "education." May I suggest that "training" is something that is mandated from above, can be very important, and is probably mistaken for education in most discussions about rigor in K-12 education. Education, from its latin roots (to draw forth, to lead toward) is essentially an invitation to learning and knowledge.Here is one possible rationale for our current thinking about education: as a nation (whatever nation), we need a standardized set of knowledge to be received by each child in order to maintain (or grow) our prosperity --> we need to mandate that education because if left to the parents, it will not be consistent or even guaranteed --> now that we have this system in place, improvements to the system come from additional mandates. To me, that is training, not education. What has typically taken place in higher education, since it is "voluntary," is closer to what we call true "education."If we look at the results of the mandated education system in the U.S., for example, are we happy with the results? Of course, they vary, but I think by and large we are very concerned that students leave high school much less educated than we believe they should. So, if we're not getting the result that we would like, are we willing to question our methods? And that leads me back to the theme of "choice"--if we don't know what the right answer is, then we are most likely to see successful methods and innovation by allowing more choice in our schooling (especially since, as I've written, we aren't likely to even fully agree on what we think success is). So why are we afraid of choice? I think because we are afraid to not be in control; it is much easier and more comfortable to work within a system we know, no matter how flawed. And there are power structures that are inherent in existing systems, that aren't easily ceded.
Tseveen I appreciated both cmmneots. They led me to think about the difference between "training" and "education." May I suggest that "training" is something that is mandated from above, can be very important, and is probably mistaken for education in most discussions about rigor in K-12 education. Education, from its latin roots (to draw forth, to lead toward) is essentially an invitation to learning and knowledge.Here is one possible rationale for our current thinking about education: as a nation (whatever nation), we need a standardized set of knowledge to be received by each child in order to maintain (or grow) our prosperity --> we need to mandate that education because if left to the parents, it will not be consistent or even guaranteed --> now that we have this system in place, improvements to the system come from additional mandates. To me, that is training, not education. What has typically taken place in higher education, since it is "voluntary," is closer to what we call true "education."If we look at the results of the mandated education system in the U.S., for example, are we happy with the results? Of course, they vary, but I think by and large we are very concerned that students leave high school much less educated than we believe they should. So, if we're not getting the result that we would like, are we willing to question our methods? And that leads me back to the theme of "choice"--if we don't know what the right answer is, then we are most likely to see successful methods and innovation by allowing more choice in our schooling (especially since, as I've written, we aren't likely to even fully agree on what we think success is). So why are we afraid of choice? I think because we are afraid to not be in control; it is much easier and more comfortable to work within a system we know, no matter how flawed. And there are power structures that are inherent in existing systems, that aren't easily ceded.