In Part 1, we looked at the concept of schooling and whether schools restrain children or allow them to flourish. In this part, I will discuss education and demonstrate that if schooling limits imagination and reasoning whilst promoting conformity and homogeneity, then education is at the other end of the spectrum. In fact, schooling is built on the idea of preparing you for life while education is life, and learning is a lifelong journey, and not something that is or should be confined to four walls or done for some hours of the week dictated by those who neither know you nor care for you or your future.
Education
Philosophers have always struggled with the concept of education, its role in human development and its place in society. However, one thing they have always agreed upon is the ultimate purpose of education; enlightenment. Aristotle for example, believed that education is pointless unless it cultivates the heart alongside the mind. Then there was Comenius who believed that education cannot be acquired by studying books, but by studying the world around us, and that we should be able to derive knowledge from the original source rather than from others' observations.
In the age of enlightenment, the philosopher and academic, John Locke (1632-1704) developed a theory known as 'Tabula Rasa' (blank state). This theory referred to children as blank states as they come into the world with no prior knowledge. He promoted the idea of nurturing children and that early childhood and proper parental care was essential to allowing children to explore without any restrictions whilst using discipline in a gentle way. But the most important aspect of his theory was that learning should be fun, and not feel forced.
So let's ponder this for a moment. Millions of children wake up every day to go to a place called school where they are told they will learn the secrets to becoming successful according to society's definition of success. Most of these children dread going to school, and leave home with their heads down and defeat written all over them. By contrast, when they come back home, they are excited and full of energy. In other words, they can't wait to start their day so they can be free to do what they want. I am not suggesting that children should not learn, but that what happens in schools is not education, but instruction. Education is what happens when you are free to explore things, when your curiosity is aroused and when each discovery leads to what, why, where, how and when.
I am against schooling for many reasons, which is why I try my best to show others the differences between schooling and education. Education can happen anywhere and at any time. There is no specific curriculum and parents, not the Minster of Education (that title should change to Minister of Schooling!) should choose what to teach their children in a way they see fit. This doesn't mean that parents should teach 'rubbish' to their children, but that they should have the freedom to educate their children about the world and the parts of History that schools misrepresent or omit. The school curriculum is based on the selection and narration of a few, and does not represent or benefit all children. So why accept it to shape your child's view of the world or of themselves?
To conclude, education is not and cannot be limited to schooling or to a curriculum. Education can only materialise when inquisitiveness is encouraged and individuality is nurtured. In the final part, I will conclude this series on Schooling vs. Education, and in case you are still sitting on the fence about this issue, I hope to leave with you something worth pondering!
To read Part 1, click here.