Our first club meeting was held on Feb 25th in Sangita's home. We had 7 participants. Our discussion was framed around the particular cultural model of education that an organization, school or group adheres to and how that dictates the practices commonly found within that group. We also discussed the idea of "language as social action" and I shared my hope for Vimarsh to be a space where we can do that.
Some questions that were raised:
1. What is the purpose of education?
The quote that many found particularly powerful was “The central task of education is to implant a will and facility for learning; it should produce not learned, but learning people. The truly human society is a learning society, where grandparents, parents, and children are students together” by Eric Hoffer
2. How important is it to have a group of people that we can discuss our thoughts and struggles with?
3. What is the kind of society that we envision our students being a part of? Is it the same as society today?Should we teach them to simply participate in society or do we want them to transform it?
Your thoughts are welcome.
Some questions that were raised:
1. What is the purpose of education?
The quote that many found particularly powerful was “The central task of education is to implant a will and facility for learning; it should produce not learned, but learning people. The truly human society is a learning society, where grandparents, parents, and children are students together” by Eric Hoffer
2. How important is it to have a group of people that we can discuss our thoughts and struggles with?
3. What is the kind of society that we envision our students being a part of? Is it the same as society today?Should we teach them to simply participate in society or do we want them to transform it?
Your thoughts are welcome.
6 comments:
The third question is a tough one -- even as teachers, administrators, and other mentors become clear about the society they hope students will help create, it will ultimately be the students themselves who form that society, based on the preparation and education they receive from the former generations.
I believe students should definitely be supported in transforming pieces of society they deem necessary to change... but then it is also an important skill to be able to adapt and thrive in existing environments. It's all part of the critical thinking process that is so exciting about education.
Thank you for posting even short summaries of your meetings -- I look forward to following you online!
Hi... interesting set of questions posed... adding some of mine to it...
1) The purpose of education is well captured... however, questioning the box of this question itself (which, I think, says... education has to be there.. and it has to have a purpose)... do we need to have "Education", as we understand it today, to produce "learning people"? Or Human race is a set of "learning people" in itself? Don't our children learn anyways without participating in the process of formal education? Though I understand the need of formal schooling (not mixing it up with education itself) after industrial revolution... My question is aimed at exploring the construct of education and having a dialogue on it before we can deduce it's purpose.
2) Who are we "to envision" anything for anyone, even if their are our children? Should the task of envisioning a society, the decision of participating in the current one and that of transforming it not rest (rightfully) with children? Should our role not be limited to assisting our children in the process of making meaning of these things (and not imposing our own meanings)?
From
A lost-in-wonderland-of-education reader :)
Great Questions Rohit!
I agree and disagree with your statement that children are learning all the time. While they may learn certain things from life experiences - like don't touch fire or read print from left to right or how to search on google- there are some things that require guidance and mentoring; like how to reflect critically, how to think metacognitively...to understand the nature of a discipline requires expertise. These are a few examples. In my opinion, there is a role for schools to play in 'educating' human beings. Just as there is a role for parents, peers, media, society, etc.
Second, I don't think that it is POSSIBLE to teach anything without imposing our own meanings. So while I do agree that the ultimate choice of transformation or participation should be and is with the citizens of a society (in this case future citizens), that choice lies on the assumption that they understand the choices they DO have and as you have rightfully pointed out, make meaning of those different perspectives- including the teacher's. Our job as educators is to present these choices to students and provide them with skills to make the choices that they think are right. But the question that I like to ask is, right for whom? For themselves or for society at large?
I feel like I am rambling but interesting thoughts here :)
Hey Purvi... thank you for the response... I definitely thing that schools do serve a place for learning... however, I would really like to explore and debate on their current form... how well are they designed to address to societal needs of say 20 years from hence... what are their sociological role... are they corporate/market driven and if they are (and if they need to be) are they driven by the market for 20 years from now? Or can they really be organic/semi-organic in nature?
While discussion work profiles of different people during a comprehension class, one of my IX std student asked, "Bhaiya... when we decide upon what we want to do for ourselves, should we think for ourselves only or should we also think about what kind of benefit it can offer to others?" Though put in a very crude form, I think it's very important and an extremely interesting question... I think this question by her has the power to decide how education can shape market... rather than market shaping the education...
juss some random thought again...
LOVE your student's question! What did you say?
well as always... I refrained from giving any direct opinion of mine... rather.. we as a class discussed this question... students spoke in for and against of personal/social/market influences on our career choices... I just added whatever career choices I have made for myself and what influenced me at various points of time in my life... and I let my children form their own answers... :)
Post a Comment