Solutions to the Education Problem

[Gauracandra]

I hope you guys don't mind, but I've transerred your posts to this topic. The other one was getting so big, and I figured this could be a fascinating discussion. Give me a bit (just got back from work) and I'll add my own comments.

 

Gauracandra

[Gauracandra]

JNDas said:

Since the learning process has been brought up...

 

I think the entire system of modern education is very shallow and artificial. You are basically just expected to memorize and repeat whatever is shown to you. There is practically no concern for the individuals personal nature. There is a standard syllabus that is given to everyone.

From a traditional vedic perspective, the students are trained according to their nature. If someone likes music, he should be given more freedom to explore music. If someone likes art, he should be allowed to immerse himself in art.

 

When you have an education system centered around an individual, that person is more likely to enjoy the process of learning - and not see it as an intrusion into his life.

 

But for such a system, you need loving teachers, or gurus; which just don't exist in the western society. When teachers work for money, the system of education becomes corrupted.

But how can a teacher work without being paid? It requires a loving and respecting community. Thats another thing that doesn't exist in western society (nor modern indian scoiety for that matter).

 

[This message has been edited by Gauracandra (edited 06-11-2001).]

[Gauracandra]

 

Jayaradhe said:

One small answer to that is charter schools. My daughter is homescooled and sees her education specialist (ES) theoretcially every twenty days but in reality less often. I am technically the teacher (had to relearn some algebra to help her out but now we're getting a tutor next time). The deal is, the state pays for the tutors, books, whatever is needed, and the ES helps the child choose what she wants to take each semester. My daughter was able to order lots of art supplies, paints and canvases (taking the financial burden off me as that is one area I don't hold back on for her) in addition to the text books and all. If she had accepted the offer to be an honor student this fall she would have been given a laptop computer and opportunites like going to other countries and stuff. She declined as it is also a lot of work for her as it is. So the drawback is, in the past year or so the charter schools, at least in California, have changed dramatically; the state has taken more control, against the wishes and philosophy of the parents, the students, and the educators, so there are stricter and less personal guidelines including more paperwork involved. The good thing though remains that the employess in this system, like our own ES, care avidly about education tailored for the individual, and find ways to take some of the bureaucratic pressure off too, as the encourage the child in his or her own ways. My daughtter wlaks a lot so this covers P.E. She can choose her own areas of study like focusing on the Rainbow Family, and the use of hemp as an environmentally friendly practice, etc. She can paint or sew or make a didgeridoo, as she does in her natural life anyway, and this all counts.

So charter schools may be an answer or compromise for those who are unable to take the full financial and teaching burden of homeschooling, and for those who want their child to receive more personalism than the ordinary public schools provide.

 

your servant,

 

Jayaradhe

[Gauracandra]

Recently I heard a great quote that I’ve been repeating every time a similar conversation comes up. It goes more or less like “The problem is not that we have worse children today, its that we have worse parents”. This to me was a very simple but kind of profound statement. Everyone is blaming the kids – but who is raising the children? Well it sure isn’t the parents. I read one statistic that said most children in the U.S. spend more time watching television than interacting with their parents. So T.V. is the real parent of U.S. children.

 

There are a number of problems with the U.S. educational system. For the most part I don’t think it’s the teachers themselves who are the problem. It’s the culture. Without a strong culture, that emphasizes respect to one’s elders, hard work, perseverance etc…. it doesn’t matter who the teacher is. We place so much responsibility on the shoulders of the teachers, who are often dealing with a bunch of hooligans. Actually, most of the disciplinary problems in U.S. schools are created by a minority of students (perhaps 5% or less). But due to various laws, these kids can’t truly be disciplined or expelled. Without a strong culture you can have the most innovative ideas and they will simply fail.

 

Another problem with education in the U.S. is the outdated model it is using. I once asked myself a very simple question “What was the best class I took in high school?” You want to know what my answer was – typing. I remember when I was taking this class (it was required) I kept thinking “Typing is only for girls, why do I have to take this class?” But the reason why I think it was such a great class was because it was a practical, real skill. Every single day of my life I use typing. When I went to college I used typing, every day at work I use typing, even right now I am typing.

 

I think any redesign of the educational system should be geared towards providing children with tangible skills. Then they will enjoy it much more. In my opinion, the children who tend to have the highest self-esteem are those who can do something (draw, play a musical instrument, expert at math). The basics must be there – reading, writing, and arithmetic – but after that I think children should try to develop specific skills. What classes would I emphasize? Again English, grammar, mathematics, but also music, art, theater (in fact I think every kid should take theater, it will train them in public speaking and give them self confidence).

 

We create such a one sized fits all school system, where everyone learns a little bit of everything, but never knows anything. You take one class on chemistry, and never use it again. Without use you quickly forget it. The idea behind a generalized curriculum is that most kids don’t know what they want to do so you expose them to a lot of different classes. But I don’t truly believe any kid actually “discovers” what it is they want to do. I’d venture to say that 95% of adults don’t know what it is they truly want to do let alone some 10th grader. We are starting to see this more focused curriculum in experiments like the Magnet schools in the U.S.

 

Finally, I suggest we get rid of the 3 month summer vacation. Education works best in small increments, consistently applied. Right now we cram a years worth of education into 9 month, then give the kids 3 months to let their brains atrophy. They spend all their time watching Jerry Springer & MTV, going to the mall, and getting into trouble. When is the juvenile crime at its highest? That’s right, during summer break. Plus every time you stop, it will take several weeks just to get the kids back up to speed. The 3 month summer break was initially designed back when the U.S. had 50% of its population in agriculture. As such, every summer family farmers needed their children to help pick crops. Now that percent is below 1%. My suggestion is to have fewer classes, with more time per quarter but to fill up the full year. Also, increase teachers salaries by 25% to account for this full years of work.

 

And one last bit, get rid of the Leftist propaganda in U.S. schools. I believe the number one reason the Right wants school vouchers in the U.S. is because they view the educational system as using propaganda to create “good little democrats”. Because of this our Public Schools lose support from a large segment of society.

 

Anyways, I’ve rambled on long enough. I’d be interested in any of your thoughts.

 

Gauracandra

 

 

 

[Maitreya]

I am pretty much in agreement from all the posts so far.

 

I strongly support the voucher system and any othe rproposal to decentralize the educational system.

 

Another point we all know is that the main problem with our educational system is they don't give knowledge, as in sambandha jnana.In fact to do so in a public school is actually against the law.a failure from the start.

 

YS MC

[JRdd]

Interesting. And Im glad you created a new thread as I did realise I was threading off from the other topic. You start some interesting ones.

 

Srila Prabhupada called the schools slaughterhouses. Alot of their focus is on gearing up the kids for the nine to five robot type stuff. It is striking how little time spent in the schools are actually spent on what they call education though. they are filling in time too, while their parents are at work. School keeps them off the streets. My daughter did a year's worth or algebra in a quarter of the time. I'm not claiming she retained it all, but that demonstrates how much you can do if not put to plod along in a public school. And part of the reason she gets it done is because she prefers to choose less subjects and just focus on them. the sad thing though is that even in this charter school the requirements are still imposing and largely unnecessary (due to the government interference) so there is the feeling of getting things over with. Education should and can be a joy. She finds it hard to believe when I tell her college is way different.

 

 

In an ideal society a person might be taken out in the field and allowed to apprentice to someone, around the age of thirteen. this way they could get a taste of real experience and also test out their inclinations and propensities, whether they be artistic or agicultural or whatever. I myself loved school until about age nine or ten, then the whole thing got tedious and boring and seemed pointless, after those basics were learned. My daughter has always hated school and refused to go for such a long time. I am glad she never went to the worst of the bad: high school.

 

Her charter school has a strong attitude about the kids not doing any school stuff during the breaks, including summer. then to dive back in in Septemeber. I have different feelings about this. but I know my daughter is joyful it's over for now, and is camping mostly now, at a swimming hole nearby, which she will do most of the summer off and on. I have been far from a great parent but I am glad at least that she has little taste for TV, having had none for the first seven years of her life, and then only in spurts off and on after that. I just wish I could have continued giving her more exposure to temple life, and been a better example myself.

 

Jayaradhe

 

 

 

[dasanudas]

Don't worry mum, alls well that evolves well.

[talasiga]

We must be educated

to stand and be counted for what is right

to learn from the illiterate

to follow the lowly

to cultivate our differences

with love

to grieve for our neighbours' sorrows

and to know

how little

we know

 

(PS Dear Dasanudas, I am sorry I got your name wrong on the other thread.....)

 

 

 

[amanpeter]

Originally posted by talasiga:

We must be educated

to stand and be counted for what is right

to learn from the illiterate

to follow the lowly

to cultivate our differences

with love

to grieve for our neighbours' sorrows

and to know

how little

we know

 

 

Very nice, prabhu!