The lost purpose of schooling: learning to dance with ideas, with words, and with the pen

in #philosophy8 years ago (edited)

Schooling is something that we excessively idolize to the extent that we have stopped asking what its purpose should be and whether it is fulfilling this purpose. In this past post of mine, “Why much of our schooling is oppressive, I described how our current school paradigm is more concerned with creating a citizenry that is obedient and conformist rather than enlightened.

Art courtesy: Johannes Vermeer’s “A Lady Writing” (1665) 

On one hand, we say that schooling is supposed to help the child realize his potentialities. In practice, schooling teaches the child how to mindlessly follow a leader (teacher), to think on his (the teacher’s) terms, and to view the suffering of being bored as an acceptable state of life.

The philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche already saw the flaws of modern schooling in Germany. 

He writes: “What is the task of all higher schooling?” To make man into a machine. “What are the means employed?” He must learn how to be bored. “How is this achieved?” By means of the concept of duty.” 

Fortunately, Nietzsche has also determined the three goals of schooling.

Students should learn to keep their eyes calm and to withhold judgements.
They should look at issues from many different perspectives as if their eyes were a prism that catches light from as many angles as possible. Someone who is trained to view things from different perspectives is less dogmatic and is more willing to admit his views are wrong and to change them accordingly.

Students should learn how to think.
Thinking is an art that should be learned as dancing should be learned. Although necessary for any critical minded thinker, it is a dying discipline among even academics.

Students should learn how to speak and to write.
We should learn to dance with ideas, with words and with the pen. Our ideas are meant to be spread and communicated. If not communicated toward others, at least communicated to ourselves.

These three purposes of schooling make up, what I call, the “intellectual craftsmanship”. I believe that this craftsmanship has been absent from our school system. The consequence is that we live in a society where distorted logic rules:
- in which many people have an opinion about everything, but know absolutely nothing.
- where simplicity is twisted to sound sophisticated.
- where we tell others how to live, but are barely capable of dealing with our own struggles.
- where we use preventive wars to preserve peace.
- where we need socialism in order to safeguard capitalism.
- where we kill under the guise of humanitarian action. 

Is it possible that our society, based on such distorted logic, is the consequence of a deficit in “intellectual craftsmanship”?

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Excellent post! It is intellectually very stimulating. Thank you, again

Thank you very much for your kind words @nicku, again! Your comment means a lot to me. :)

━╤デ╦︻(▀̿̿Ĺ̯̿̿▀̿ ̿)

Hi, man with a gun.

“I have never let my schooling interfere with my education.” ― Mark Twain

Haha, great quote!

Absolutely our society is a consequence of a deficit in "intellectual craftsmanship"!

The modern school system teaches exactly the opposite of what you call intellectual craftsmanship. Judgment is a necessary part of the indoctrination system--the teacher determines, often subjectively, what material is "good" and "bad". Students are rewarded for that which is good and punished for that which is bad, instilling judgment right up into the subconscious...not to mention the pressure from the peer group to conform to socially accepted standards (frequently devoid of any real values). Judgment ingrained in the psyche of delicate young students continues to fester, leading to a judgmental society. Even "education" itself is seen as superior to the alternative; some individuals with higher degrees cling to the (biased) facts taught in school as if regurgitation of them equates to intelligence.

Thinking is NOT encouraged in modern schools. Children are programmed to color in the correct bubble on standardized tests so they will become obedient and subservient employees. We have an entire society of individuals operating not from value or honor; rather, they are simply following orders/doing as they are told.

While students are arguable taught the "rules" of the English language, true honest communication is discouraged. Again, there is powerful judgment and a system of reward and punishment associated with that which is considered appropriate or inappropriate. Students learn very quickly what will incur praise or criticism, and honest communication is censored accordingly. This breeds a whole society of individuals terrified of genuinely speaking up for themselves.

Have you heard of unschooling, @chhaylin? It's child-led learning, where the child is trusted to know what's most fulfilling for themselves. Without specific parameters, the child is allowed to explore all of their interests and passions. At the Garden of Eden, the children are trusted and empowered and learn that they are capable and competent and responsible, and because of this we're growing a unique community of capable and competent and responsible individuals. If you'd like to know a little more about the Garden of Eden, please check us out: https://steemit.com/introduceyourself/@gardenofeden/we-are-the-garden-of-eden

Great post, thanks for encouraging real thought!

Hi, @gardenofeden! Thank you for your elaborate comment, I appreciate it very much. I fully agree with everything you have stated above. I started to realize the oppressive/conformist nature of schooling when I was a young teenager in secondary school.

I have heard of unschooling, but more as a concept in which children are reflecting back on what they have learned in school in order to demolish their past learnings so that they can relearn.

I just took a look at your introduceyourself, and I am very impressed with the Garden of Eden. I would like to learn more. :)

Thank you, we are definitely doing amazing things! Schooling and parenting are a few areas that we are passionate about. It's crucial that we raise healthy, competent, capable, responsible, empowered children to raise the standards in society!

I wholly agree with what you have said

As an inhabitant of The Garden of Eden since before the children were here, I have to say the development of our own children has been fascinating to watch and be a part of. When other children come here to visit I really can see in contrast how ours compares. Overall our kids who are 3 and 4 years old are more mature and better able to manage their problems than many adults I know, including myself at times. These kids are almost never told "don't" and "no". That does not mean they are spoiled and allowed to whatever they want. This means they are honored as conscious beings who know what they need. No one tells them to get get dressed because it is cold. No one tells them not to eat candy. No one tells them not to stay awake all night long. If children are cold they know to get dressed. To tell them otherwise is abuse. To give them information about the effects of sugar or the poison in foods marketed for children might be how eating candy is addressed. They know when they are tired and need to rest. Bedtimes are set by parents to make their lives easier. I could go on and on. These truths might piss people off but the proof is in the kids. Show me one three year who is more mature, wiser and a better communicator than ours. Same with the 4 year old. Unschooling, believing in the children, works.

Education/Schooling is one of the most important aspects of life to discuss and one of the areas of life that needs the MOST improvement.
The truth is that the public education system was deliberately DESIGNED to create drones/citizens. It is an institution to train/program children to be obedient, complacent tax payers who do not question nor rebel and who fear authority and punishment, not to mention need approval of their pears/family.
I won't say much more than that because if you believe/agree with me then the point is made (we need MAJOR change and education is destroying freedom/happiness).
If you do NOT agree with me then I am not going to argue or try and provide any more info on that topic because the gap is much to large to even entertain. I of course respect anyones decision and even though this is my belief that does not necessarily mean it will influence 100% of people in this way.
One of my favorite quotes I often use is "All the problems in the world start with parenting, thus all solutions exist in New Paradigm Parenting" Quinn Eaker*
So to me what is even more important than talking about education is talking about parenting. For ultimately it is the parents who dictate a Childs education and entire life~
Thus if parents were to wake up and truly put their children first they would NOT put them in school but find an alternative.
Now of course parents always have reasons. They tell them selfs and their children "I love you, this is for your own good" yet it is just rationalization because the alternative would be to dark to bare.
The truth is there are MANY alternatives. I have been around children since I was born. By the time I was 12 I made hundreds of $ a year babysitting and children always liked me more than their own parents.
By the time I was 21 I was speaking and education conferences on parenting/family/children/education etc. I have led workshops and spoken at conferences around the world on such topics and am passionate about it.
Most importantly I have 2 children of my own who are shattering almost every belief about children and PROVING what I have been saying for 12 years to be true.
Which is that children are BORN conscious and connected. That learning and adapting is actually NATURAL and that children do not need teachers nor education. All they need is freedom and a healthy environment.
Now of course many could list plenty examples and reasons as to why this is not true, but that is because the children never actually had it and the argument is mute.
I have PROVEN this to be true and here are a few examples.
Both my girls were peeing/pooing in their potties at 3 weeks old. Of course they were not strong enough to get them self there or hold them self up. We had to take them to it. Yet they were conscious enough to recognize and CHOOSE to pee and poo there INSTEAD when the opportunity was provided.
My girls have also been slicing and dicing vegetables with sharp chef knives since they were 1.5 years old. They have only cut them self ONCE each.
They also know which plants are eatable and which ones are poisonous including mushrooms. They are 4 and 2 years of age.
I could go on and on. I hope that this inspires many to re consider and to check out what I have to offer in the realms of possibility~
Blessings~*~
www.intothegardenofeden.com

Your comment is very inspiring. I fully agree with what you have said about our education. Is there any book of Quinn Eaker (or you if you are him) that you would recommend me? I would like to dig deeper into the subject myself and learn more about it. :)

I am so grateful that you are inspired and receptive!
As I said this is the MOST important thing to me. I am currently working on a couple different parenting books though I seem to keep getting caught up in other projects (running an entire sustainable community demands A LOT).
I am going to write some articles here on steemit every day and your article INSPIRED me to write a post on education/parenting of which I am starting now. So hopefully that will be ready soon.
Hopefully you will follow me and we can inspire MANY together a whole new spectrum of possibility!

I just followed you, and am looking forward to read your articles about education/parenting :)

Quinn authored "Full Spectrum Health", available here http://www.intothegardenofeden.com/store/p192/Full_Spectrum_Health_Book_by_Quinn_Eaker.html

Which expounds the energetics behind health. His books on parenting are currently in the works!

What I really love about your post and your life is that you have truly lived these realities. As an "unschooler" who has been in the limelight for many years, as an example of human potential when one is not dumbed down by the norms of society, as a leader who always has solutions, you share the perspective of infinite potential and live sharing freely your perspective. If only everyone could feel the joy and exuberant tenderness you have with children, they would know there is a more incredible way.

OMG! I have soooo much to comment on this... all i will say is that you are absolutly correct. I just commented a different article by one of the guys here on free will and concience, and that is exactly the opposite.
The corrupt, destroyed and useless education system is a complete farse!

I do have a lot of ideas on how to develop it though, unfortunatly im in a hurry out of the house, so till next time!

Thank you, @serejandmyself! Hm... In what sense is that different article exactly the opposite? If you have anything more to add, I would be happy to read :)

Hi Chhaylin,

I like the post once again and especially the sentence with: learn to dance with ideas, words and the pen^^. Life indeed is about practice making art.

Keep up the good work bro!

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