Thank you for possibly the best podcast yet. Getting to the core of what we need to do to transform education - framing and changing human relations - is something few discuss. We tend to try to fix problems by addressing the symptoms and not the cause. Danny's core point of changing relationships to develop a better learning environment and better society.
"Prom for adults"!? Really? Patrick?! Really? LOL I do agree that social gatherings would be helpful though and having the concept of the school redeveloped into a type of community center (given the local needs and resources).
Simon - You are just radical! Six years of maternity leave... :-). Forced parental participation (BTW, nice 'Lily white' comment Danny)? Keep "spit ballin'" - you do add to the conversation some interesting points. Do the rules really allow a second spit ball though? :-)
So, to answer the question - can schools save the world? Schools are a subset of a complex human system. That human system is in a process of disintegration and integration. It is transforming. We can choose to allow it to transform through thoughtful discourse, action, and reflection or ignorance, passivity, and a lack of critical thinking. Schools are a natural place to support thoughtful discourse, action, and reflection; however, they are not the only part that needs to function to progress an ever-advancing civilization. That stated, we should help schools to fulfill their capacity to 'save the world', not as a separate place from society, but as a vital and integrated part of society. Schools do not save the world alone, we save the world by transforming human relations in all areas of daily life.
Do you want a practical application? Okay, begin by recognizing virtues as they are displayed by children (kindness, respect, cooperation, joyfulness, courage, tact, assertiveness, perseverance, etc.) in the classroom, as opposed to calling out the bad behavior always. Make these words a part of every teacher's (and student's) vocabulary and it will transform how we relate to each other. The virtues are not labels, they are ideals to be worked on and developed much like gems inside each of us waiting to be cut and polished. This is, fundamentally, the core of education and, in general, most schools are missing this point.
Thanks Mark. Who would have ever thought you would be so proficient at the ol' spit ball. We really have to broaden this discussion. The more I think about the problems, the less I think schools can save the world, but I know that those of us who committ ourselves to the solution will succeed. We just need to get our heads and our time together so that it doesn't take us another 100 years to figure it out.
Thank you for possibly the best podcast yet. Getting to the core of what we need to do to transform education - framing and changing human relations - is something few discuss. We tend to try to fix problems by addressing the symptoms and not the cause. Danny's core point of changing relationships to develop a better learning environment and better society.
ReplyDelete"Prom for adults"!? Really? Patrick?! Really? LOL
I do agree that social gatherings would be helpful though and having the concept of the school redeveloped into a type of community center (given the local needs and resources).
Simon - You are just radical! Six years of maternity leave... :-). Forced parental participation (BTW, nice 'Lily white' comment Danny)? Keep "spit ballin'" - you do add to the conversation some interesting points. Do the rules really allow a second spit ball though? :-)
So, to answer the question - can schools save the world?
Schools are a subset of a complex human system. That human system is in a process of disintegration and integration. It is transforming. We can choose to allow it to transform through thoughtful discourse, action, and reflection or ignorance, passivity, and a lack of critical thinking.
Schools are a natural place to support thoughtful discourse, action, and reflection; however, they are not the only part that needs to function to progress an ever-advancing civilization. That stated, we should help schools to fulfill their capacity to 'save the world', not as a separate place from society, but as a vital and integrated part of society. Schools do not save the world alone, we save the world by transforming human relations in all areas of daily life.
Do you want a practical application? Okay, begin by recognizing virtues as they are displayed by children (kindness, respect, cooperation, joyfulness, courage, tact, assertiveness, perseverance, etc.) in the classroom, as opposed to calling out the bad behavior always. Make these words a part of every teacher's (and student's) vocabulary and it will transform how we relate to each other. The virtues are not labels, they are ideals to be worked on and developed much like gems inside each of us waiting to be cut and polished. This is, fundamentally, the core of education and, in general, most schools are missing this point.
(spit ball complete)
Thanks Mark. Who would have ever thought you would be so proficient at the ol' spit ball. We really have to broaden this discussion. The more I think about the problems, the less I think schools can save the world, but I know that those of us who committ ourselves to the solution will succeed. We just need to get our heads and our time together so that it doesn't take us another 100 years to figure it out.
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