mindsets asked...
Asked by mindsets - 10/09/09 at 10:09 amCan formalised education practices act to stifle new thinking?
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September 10th, 2009 at 5:07 pm
Of course.
Any time rigid ideas are held up as absolutely true, creativity and the ability to grow are stifled.
Formalized education systems almost always have many subjects they treat as absolutes. If you want to see this for yourself, go into a kindergarden class and ask if anyone wants to learn something new.
Note the excitement and willingness. Now talk to a group of high school seniors.
Note the difference.
Unless you’re very lucky the seniors will be mostly apathetic.
These examples (directly from the american school system, though other places also have the same kind of atmosphere) show that american compulsory education has been structured for ease of administration instead of teaching effectiveness.
Unsurprisingly, this approach isn’t really able to give students the skills they need to function easily in an information age.
And while there is some valid debate as to if kids are capable of handling mature discussion in the elementary school years, my philosophy on it is, if the goal is to help kids become adults, treat them like adults.
It would be harder on both students and teachers, but really, quality is what matters.
September 26th, 2009 at 9:46 am
Little else ever did!
November 12th, 2009 at 1:30 pm
It always does, once something is ‘formed’ and ’set in stone’, it’s time for a free-thinker to move on or .. away