What is Education For?

This is the first page of ASPIRE to Wellbeing and Learning for All: Primary and Early Years Edition. Manuscript delivered this week.

·?????? What is education for?

·?????? What do we want for our children in school now?

·?????? What sort of society do we want them to live in – and contribute to?

Do we want children to be curious about the world around them, excited by new discoveries, fascinated by all the possibilities for learning and keen to explore further, or do we just want them to get through the curriculum and cause as little trouble as possible? Of course, all pupils need to learn the basics in order to function in today’s world, but there are ways to do this that promote an innate love of learning rather than stifle it.

Do we want a society that maximises the potential of all citizens and ensures everyone has what they need for optimal mental and physical health, and to live life with meaning, purpose and engagement? Or are we prepared to put up with increasing inequality, escalating unhappiness, deteriorating mental health, rising crime, misogyny, racism and corruption? If we want values of kindness, inclusion, fairness, and respect for all to feature in our communities, this begins with the education we provide for our children and the relationships we have with their families.

Education is a means of preparing every child for the challenges of the 21st Century, showing them how to engage fully with learning about the world around them and discriminate between what is real and what is not. Do we want students to have respect for science and evidence and be uplifted by creativity and innovation, or is education just a means to an economic end? Is education about the freedom for each child to become the best they can be or a means of social control? These are rarely absolutes, but the questions are relevant.

People talk about ‘raising standards’ in education as if the definition of education was a given. There is less discussion about ‘raising engagement’, let alone joy in learning. Education matters: what pupils are taught, how they are taught, and their experiences of the learning environment, are where children begin to discover all the possibilities of knowledge and understanding as well as who they can become, and how to build the relationships in which individuals, families and communities can thrive. In some countries this is happening. In others it is not, and the outcomes are seen in disaffection, disengagement, and despair for some and perhaps privilege for others … but not necessarily good mental health and a life well lived.

This book’s title - 'Wellbeing and Learning for All' - emphasises social justice. We are concerned about what is happening for all students in schools here and now, but also the future we are creating. What children and young people learn, both within and beyond the curriculum, shapes our world.