Do you want factory made kids?
I am constantly looking and listening out for ideas, theories and opinions on what makes a school a good school. I myself, am fairly averse to production line schooling, intent on producing factory made kids, all with the same skills and mindset. At the same time though, I dislike the idea of haphazard education short on goals, planning and structure. My ideal lies somewhere on the spectrum with a sharp lean towards diverse and varied, structured and flexible opportunities for enquiry and experience.
I like to read what the 'haters' say, it gives me food for thought. Makes me think where we can improve on what we are doing, and what we are already doing that challenges mainstream thinking. For example, I love the fact that I consciously choose to make ML a technology-free zone. I value technology and see its incredible offering, but as new education trends show, having a tech-free space is hugely important for children today.
School trains children to obey reflexively; teach your own to think critically and independently.
John Taylor Gatto, a well know American school reform activist offers some interesting points to think about, in his article, Against School, he says, "Once you understand the logic behind modern schooling, its tricks and traps are fairly easy to avoid. School trains children to be employees and consumers; teach your own to be leaders and adventurers. School trains children to obey reflexively; teach your own to think critically and independently. Well-schooled kids have a low threshold for boredom; help your own to develop an inner life so that they'll never be bored. Urge them to take on the serious material, the grown-up material, in history, literature, philosophy, music, art, economics, theology - all the stuff schoolteachers know well enough to avoid. Challenge your kids with plenty of solitude so that they can learn to enjoy their own company, to conduct inner dialogues. Well-schooled people are conditioned to dread being alone, and they seek constant companionship through the TV, the computer, the cell phone, and through shallow friendships quickly acquired and quickly abandoned. Your children should have a more meaningful life, and they can."
Challenge accepted.
“When you take the free will out of education, that turns it into schooling.”