What is education for?

There is a debate going on about the importance of getting kids to school - with many voting with their feet since the pandemic. This 'problem' is often placed squarely at the feet of those young people and their parents - but rarely are the important questions being asked.

·?????? What is education for?

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

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

Do we want children and young people 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 children and young people everywhere

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. Is school where kids 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.

Education matters. What children and young people learn, both within and beyond the curriculum, shapes our world.

This is the first of articles I will be posting based on ASPIRE to Wellbeing and Learning for All - the principles underpinning positive education to be published by Routledge later this year