Education, especially formal education what are we supposed
to do about it?
The problem is not very simple for us to over simplify and
over generalize and offer comments or opinions because it involves lot of
aspects of life which we cannot afford to gamble with or not actively plan.
Only thing that is bad is the extent and degree of emphasis
on certain aspects to the exclusion of the rest.
In the recent past I have come across articles, mostly,
manifesting extreme positions, one denouncing all that go with all types, forms
and levels of formal education along with all its concomitant parental and peer
group pulls, pressures, perks etc
And another deploring the lack of enthusiasm and emphasis
towards such important pursuit like formal education and the ensuing
deprivation which can lead to depression and more delinquents as indicated in
this article
So, youth who are actively gobbling up materials on the net
are psychologically made to swing like a pendulum between these two extremes.
While most of us like to portray ourselves with a crowd
criticizing standing on very high pedestal public opinions with catchy slogans
we also clandestinely nurture a hypocritical following of the very things we
criticize and condemn. In short we have a very healthy [acceptable] public view
and filthy private action.
I infer most of the problems in perception are entangled
around our lack of clarity about what we want to get out of whatever is called
as education or whatever we pursue in the name of education.
There are few things that elders and experts fail to follow
and understand like for example clarity of understanding and quick grasping of
the essence of any issue/subject/project/problem come about through
involvement, impact and influence of various factors, formal education,
acquired knowledge, sharp intellect, keen observation, interest, involvement
and chronologically gained experience being some of the major factors.
The beauty is different people get a combination of these
capacities at different times, I mean stages of life. For some people it
happens when they are just toddlers; for some in their teens; for some in mid 30s;
for some when they are around the fifties etc.
Another major malady that confuses clarity of perception is
the hoard of standard existing theories which are thrust on any avid seeker of
knowledge or learner. For example let us take the very subject of ' learning
methods/processes etc' you see texts about study of cognition, child
psychology, communication etc to start with.
Whereas, if anyone thinks of learning process it must start
and involve talking about factors like curiosity, observation, imitation,
listening, doubting, questioning, meddling, imagination, dreaming, creating,
attention, initiating thinking processes, exploring through all the senses etc.
These links also may be of use or relevance to the subject
in the article which has involved the role of parents as well.
