What is the Purpose of School?
I have asked thousands of educators, administrators, students, and parents one very important question:
WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF SCHOOL?
I have not heard many replies. That is scary.
I have been a teacher for 12 years and have witnessed firsthand how hard school teachers are working and how passionate they are about their students'. Somehow, however, the education system has managed to create enough busywork and fear inside of the schools, that we have seemingly lost touch with the reason we are even there.
It is more important than ever for you to take time at the beginning of this school year, as you are busily preparing for your new students, and think about the purpose of school.
Difficult conversations need to begin taking place everywhere.
Starting these conversations will be difficult, but they need to be started.
Here are five quotes to help start some conversations.
#1. “There is one way to avoid criticism; do nothing, say nothing, and be nothing.”
- Aristotle
I promise that if you are the one to start these difficult conversations, to start changing the "game of school", or challenging the status quo, you WILL RECEIVE CRITICISM. That is okay. For this reason, I thought this would be a good quote to start out with.
#1. “You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink”
Horse = Students
Water = an irrelevant curriculum
Drink = Learn
The days of... "because I am the teacher and I said you need to know this"... as the answer to "Why do we need to know this?", are over.
We continue teaching the same outdated and irrelevant curriculum to students, yet we are surprised when so many students are disengaged.
#1. “Give a man a fish, feed him for a day. Teach a man how to fish, feed him for a lifetime”
Give a man a fish = lecture about irrelevant facts to them, despite the invention of the internet.
feed = prepare
Teach a man how to fish = teach students HOW TO LEARN.
This may be the most important concept regarding our need to transform the education system.
Not changing the way that we educate students after the invention of the internet, seems similar to not changing the way we move things around after the invention of the wheel.
In this rapidly changing Digital Age, students need to know HOW TO LEARN, more than they ever have before. What is it that they will have to learn in 10 years? We don't know....but we do know that they will need to learn whatever it is.
#1. “In times of change, learners inherit the earth, while the learned find themselves beautifully equipped to deal with a world that no longer exists”
- Eric Hoffer
Amen. Great quote. I don't think this question needs any further explanation.
#1 "Don't ask what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive and then go do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive."
- Howard Thurman
What do you think the purpose of school is?
Whatever your answer is, despite what anyone else is telling you, is what you need to be doing this year (and doing it passionately).
Students deserve it.
They need you to, "come alive".
Check out my post on the most important thing I learned at ISTE this year.
Learning Experience Designer | Instructional Designer | eLearning Developer | Learning Consultant
5 年Public education system has similar vibes to a prison system: Initially, it enforces order/structure/confinement. I think this type of mechanism was introduced to manage a large number of people in one brick-and-mortar location. In my experience, I learned a lot in out-of-school time, where I got to ‘geek out’ with other students who are passionate about similar topics.
Great meaningful article! What makes you become alive and kicking; that should be the focus of attention. Feel what happens if you allow this flowing into your veins, to become alive. There you can find the intrinsic Drive to Learn, to experiment, to focus and to conquer your fears ans doubts. That is where Education should have its meaning and focus.
"Leadership is not about your title, it’s about your behavior." ~ Robin Sharma
8 年Great post Oliver Schinkten and thanks for asking this question! I address your question in my most recent post, "Listen To The Music" which also includes excerpts from a variety of student works as well. "Children have a boundless joy and passion for life. The purpose of school should be to help our students harness and focus that energy through vigorous learning activities that are relevant and meaningful to them. We should guide and support our students so they become healthy risk-takers and good decision makers as they explore their interests and pursue their passions... K-12 programs are now preoccupied with preparing students for tests that will supposedly determine if they will be ready for college and careers, at a time when young people want to be engaged; cognitively, emotionally, and socially as they learn how to live..."
I am an equity and future focused educator, bringing strategies, solutions and support to help schools improve, innovate, and meet the needs of ALL learners.
9 年Either DO or DON'T! No in between!
Tutor of shut down kids
9 年"We continue teaching the same outdated and irrelevant curriculum to students, yet we are surprised when so many students are disengaged." That is insanity as said by Einstein "Doing the same things again and again and expecting different results"