Great article Harrison. I love how you’ve approached the debate and that you’re thinking ahead.
I am interested to learn more about polarity - as I am often accused of sitting on the fence! Maybe knowing it exists will help explain myself.
When I was at school I thought I loved it. I’d been bullied and was traumatised but kept telling myself it was all part of education. What I actually loved was learning! That burst of confidence in overcoming a maths problem or remembering a moment from history that I had the opportunity to share. Getting praise for an art project or a piece of writing gave me pride in what I could achieve.
My twins are 16 and have given me a unique perspective on education as they’ve grown up.
My daughter has recently finished her GCSE exams and will get the results this coming week. She shines with the arts - often getting praise & encouragement from teachers on writing, art and music (we will see if it translates into actual grades!). Maths was a different story with an online homework app that you must get 100% correct and the ‘lessons’ where she was regularly berated by the teacher as if it was her fault when she (& her friends) didn’t understand something.
My son enjoyed every subject including maths, regularly shouting out the answer if we ever had a quiz and getting praise for his writing. Unfortunately he was bullied all his school life to the point where he felt unable to return in year 7 (first year of secondary). It coincided with the lockdown which meant we could see that there was another way. After a lot of battling with the authority and under threat of prosecution, we deregistered him to take on his education ourselves. Naively I made an attempt at ‘structure’ & teaching him. Didn’t work. I realise now and the word used in Home Education circles is that he needed to ‘unschool’ - effectively recover. Now he feels ready to go back to education but this time at college. Where he gets to choose to attend and choose the classes he’s interested in. Smaller class sizes means he’ll be seen as an individual and have much more support than school could ever offer.
Over the last few years I became anti-school. I saw the struggle of both my children and hated the system. As a tutor it became clearer that our education system just doesn’t suit everyone and yet we’re forced down that route - effectively punishing parents when their kids didn’t fit into it.
Coming out the other side where my children can leave school behind, I feel relieved. Relieved that we survived. I firmly believe that they can and will thrive now.
Sorry for the long post, I hope it helps with your research.
Great article, and I’ll come back to give it a re-read in a day or two. Two points popped up as I was reading, so I thought I’d share while they were fresh in my mind. The first was about how we’d likely confuse infants by explicitly teaching them to walk and talk. Yes, but children don’t exactly learn these things on their own. They see/hear them modeled, and generally in very loving and supportive ways. Getting baby to walk to daddy generally involves a lot of repetition, encouragement, eye contact, and a reward (cuddles, hugs). Children left alone or neglected are delayed in many ways, and in extreme abusive situations don’t even acquire a first language. Walking and talking don’t happen spontaneously.
The second thing I wanted to mention is that keep in mind that crawling comes before walking. I think it’s the first independent movement. I don’t know if that actually ought to change your focus, but it wouldn’t hurt to keep that in mind.
A million good wishes to you. Again, great article.
Interesting article. I find the framing using the word OR immediately doesn't allow us to consider the AND and HOW and WHEN. If we change the question. How could we focus on teaching/showing and allowing kids the space to figure out and learn through experience? What would be the appropriate time? When would it benefit them? Can we allow space once general framework and cause and effect are shared? What would that look like. When we use the word or we limit the questions we can ask. I think this would change the education space and the world. The structure of Debate itself is at question. where there aren't winners and losers but people hearing ideas and bringing possible solutions to the table and merging them in appropriate, useful and helpful ways.
You noted that babies walk before they talk, so I wanted to mention that a baby’s babbling and cooing is usually considered the first stages of talking. This progression a key part of language acquisition and expression, and I think the baby does this on their own. The caregivers then help the baby move into making words. 🌿
What incredible timing! I have just taken a position as Professor at our local college. I'm retired from the field of biomedical science, but I'm also a writer, a seeker, a perpetual student. Now I will be teaching writing. How fun!
But how scary at the same time. I cannot go back to the ways in which I was taught writing... it is outdated. This piece gave me much to think about and I will look forward to your series on education.
As you know, I favor the experience over the directing. Reality is there is a place and time for both. That can be different for each person which is why generalizing education is not so effective. And subject matter is relevant...we found mathematics to require far more structured instruction.
Last, there is no perfect way. Kids will survive the educational systems we put them through :) Although, an emphasis on correction when it comes to learning is hurtful. Particularly at the younger ages.
I wouldn’t even consider that it’s a question about how or what to think, but about making it mandatory. Have you read Ivan Illichs Deschooling of Society?
Great article Harrison. I love how you’ve approached the debate and that you’re thinking ahead.
I am interested to learn more about polarity - as I am often accused of sitting on the fence! Maybe knowing it exists will help explain myself.
When I was at school I thought I loved it. I’d been bullied and was traumatised but kept telling myself it was all part of education. What I actually loved was learning! That burst of confidence in overcoming a maths problem or remembering a moment from history that I had the opportunity to share. Getting praise for an art project or a piece of writing gave me pride in what I could achieve.
My twins are 16 and have given me a unique perspective on education as they’ve grown up.
My daughter has recently finished her GCSE exams and will get the results this coming week. She shines with the arts - often getting praise & encouragement from teachers on writing, art and music (we will see if it translates into actual grades!). Maths was a different story with an online homework app that you must get 100% correct and the ‘lessons’ where she was regularly berated by the teacher as if it was her fault when she (& her friends) didn’t understand something.
My son enjoyed every subject including maths, regularly shouting out the answer if we ever had a quiz and getting praise for his writing. Unfortunately he was bullied all his school life to the point where he felt unable to return in year 7 (first year of secondary). It coincided with the lockdown which meant we could see that there was another way. After a lot of battling with the authority and under threat of prosecution, we deregistered him to take on his education ourselves. Naively I made an attempt at ‘structure’ & teaching him. Didn’t work. I realise now and the word used in Home Education circles is that he needed to ‘unschool’ - effectively recover. Now he feels ready to go back to education but this time at college. Where he gets to choose to attend and choose the classes he’s interested in. Smaller class sizes means he’ll be seen as an individual and have much more support than school could ever offer.
Over the last few years I became anti-school. I saw the struggle of both my children and hated the system. As a tutor it became clearer that our education system just doesn’t suit everyone and yet we’re forced down that route - effectively punishing parents when their kids didn’t fit into it.
Coming out the other side where my children can leave school behind, I feel relieved. Relieved that we survived. I firmly believe that they can and will thrive now.
Sorry for the long post, I hope it helps with your research.
Great article, and I’ll come back to give it a re-read in a day or two. Two points popped up as I was reading, so I thought I’d share while they were fresh in my mind. The first was about how we’d likely confuse infants by explicitly teaching them to walk and talk. Yes, but children don’t exactly learn these things on their own. They see/hear them modeled, and generally in very loving and supportive ways. Getting baby to walk to daddy generally involves a lot of repetition, encouragement, eye contact, and a reward (cuddles, hugs). Children left alone or neglected are delayed in many ways, and in extreme abusive situations don’t even acquire a first language. Walking and talking don’t happen spontaneously.
The second thing I wanted to mention is that keep in mind that crawling comes before walking. I think it’s the first independent movement. I don’t know if that actually ought to change your focus, but it wouldn’t hurt to keep that in mind.
A million good wishes to you. Again, great article.
Interesting article. I find the framing using the word OR immediately doesn't allow us to consider the AND and HOW and WHEN. If we change the question. How could we focus on teaching/showing and allowing kids the space to figure out and learn through experience? What would be the appropriate time? When would it benefit them? Can we allow space once general framework and cause and effect are shared? What would that look like. When we use the word or we limit the questions we can ask. I think this would change the education space and the world. The structure of Debate itself is at question. where there aren't winners and losers but people hearing ideas and bringing possible solutions to the table and merging them in appropriate, useful and helpful ways.
You noted that babies walk before they talk, so I wanted to mention that a baby’s babbling and cooing is usually considered the first stages of talking. This progression a key part of language acquisition and expression, and I think the baby does this on their own. The caregivers then help the baby move into making words. 🌿
What incredible timing! I have just taken a position as Professor at our local college. I'm retired from the field of biomedical science, but I'm also a writer, a seeker, a perpetual student. Now I will be teaching writing. How fun!
But how scary at the same time. I cannot go back to the ways in which I was taught writing... it is outdated. This piece gave me much to think about and I will look forward to your series on education.
As you know, I favor the experience over the directing. Reality is there is a place and time for both. That can be different for each person which is why generalizing education is not so effective. And subject matter is relevant...we found mathematics to require far more structured instruction.
Last, there is no perfect way. Kids will survive the educational systems we put them through :) Although, an emphasis on correction when it comes to learning is hurtful. Particularly at the younger ages.
Loving the handwritten notes you've included!
I wouldn’t even consider that it’s a question about how or what to think, but about making it mandatory. Have you read Ivan Illichs Deschooling of Society?
One more great resource is this article from the consilience project https://consilienceproject.org/help-wanted-on-the-nature-of-educational-crises/