Changing education paradigms

In my Worldviews and Ways of Life class a couple of days ago, we talked about Christians making a real difference in various areas of life, such as business, politics and entertainment. My lecturer showed us this video clip by the RSA about challenging and changing the education paradigms of the modern Western world. It's a little long, but well worth watching.

I used to and still do love school (no shame in that), and thrived in that environment. But what if my kids don't? And what about all those other kids out there that our mainstream model of education is failing to cater to and support? The video particularly challenged me by making me realise that I too subconsciously think that people who don't do so well at school are "non smart". That's simply not true. They're just people who think differently to the institutionally prescribed and extolled view of the "academic" mind. They need an education system that picks out their talents and enables them to develop their abilities to the fullest.

What is the real purpose of education? Parents are de facto teachers, and if/when I become a parent, I want to be able to teach my children how to live well. I want to teach them the value of knowledge and the importance of pursuing justice and the truth, to instil in them an appreciation for what is good and beautiful, and to encourage and enable them to tap into their innate talents and achieve their dreams. I want to teach them to develop a love for learning and exercise their inherent creativity. I want to teach them to be awake to what they have inside themselves. I want to teach them to flourish as individuals, as human beings made in the image of God. But what happens if the education system of the day conflicts with or undermines all of that because of its uninspired purposes, potentially outdated foundations and generic one-size-fits-all processes?

I guess if/when I become a mother, I'm going to have to work extra hard to be attuned to the education system in which my kids are placed, and try my best to work with their unique personalities and ways of learning to help them become well-rounded, intelligent adults who are realistically confident in their strengths and abilities. I don't want to be constantly suspicious of the education system that my children become subject to, but I also don't want to be ignorant about its assumptions and practices. I hope it works out. I'm sure it will.

G.