Most of my friends, and most of my friends' children, also have degrees. That doesnt mean that they've managed to find the kind of work they wanted. Not at all.
They went to university because someone, at a time when universities were important, said that, in order to rise in the world, you had to have a degree.
And thus the world was deprived of some excellent gardeners, bakers, antique dealers, sculptors, and writers. Perhaps this is the moment to review the situation. Doctors, engineers, scientists, and lawyers need to go to university, but does everyone?
I'll let these lines by Robert Frost provide the answer:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I -
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
My thoughts on education are best explained in this quote by Paulo Coelho. The importance of education is a globally held belief. From the International Declaration of Human Rights to the constitutions of most civilized nations, education is a core value of our society. However, I honestly think we have misconceptualized its significance in modern times.
Education should be about teaching our students to think, believe, create and dream. To find their passions and hopes by encouraging them to learn and to grow, by building on their strengths rather than fail in frustration in an attempt to overcome their weaknesses.
As teachers, not as individuals, but as a community of educators, we are the most important influence on the youth. Regardless of the level of teaching, we have a chance to impact a generation. It is our duty, as citizens and conscious human beings, to keep this thought in mind. Our approach should not follow the institutionalized framework just because it is the norm, but because it is right.
I believe the educational structure is changing positively, and we can contribute to this progress. For this shift of paradigm to slowly occur, extensive research must be carried out to “prove” that a change is necessary. In the modern world, especially in academia, decisions must be sustained by data. However, we can begin to experiment in the classroom. By using more creative tools and encouraging critical thinking in our lessons, rather than expecting students to robotically reflect what they have been instructed. We must make them explore, exchange and challenge new options and ideas.
I hope you enjoy this Blog. Feel free to post comments on the comment boxes at the bottom of each post, or drop them in the class discussion board.
Happy Learning!!
Fatima Beamonte
This blog is of great importance! I hope more teachers and educators feel the same way!
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