Last time we left off with some very important questions as to how we should educate our children. Namely, what is a proper system of education?
Let’s talk about the big five.
These educational theories have been tried in practice. I will name the theory and discuss what it means.
1) Classical Education
The idea with this theory is that humanity has acquired a massive amount of information and that we need to get this information into the brains of our young people.
It goes further to say that until children have a certain amount of knowledge they are not qualified to comment on things that they do not understand for the simple reason that they don’t have an understanding deep enough to start formulating valid opinions.
2) Progressive Education
The idea with this theory is that the purpose of education is to make sure the child knows how to fit in. Children will learn that the ‘group’ gets priority, that fitting in is the most important lesson, and that teamwork and relying on others is what is necessary in life.
3) Process of Individualization
The idea with this theory is that every child is unique and that the purpose of education is to bring about that uniqueness. The theory wants the child to be active, not just sit there and learn stuff. Children should be active and should learn problem-solving on their own, regardless of method.
4) Moral Theory
The idea here is to develop a ‘moral character’ in a child. The proponents of this theory state that what (facts and method) the child is being taught is not important. If you develop a proper character, the child will be able to get/find/learn whatever they need later in life.
5) Education as a Training in Method
Which methodology?
The methodology of thinking.
This theory seeks to develop the method of cognition in the child. It seeks to teach them how to think.
Now I understand the confusion.
Because most logical parents would want all of them.
“I want my child to learn facts, to learn how to interact with others, to become of ‘high character,’ to become a individual and to have a good thinking method.”
Sounds good, right?
Unfortunately, it doesn’t work that way.
Most of these methods are primaries and can’t be combined.
For example, let’s say that your child is in a progressive school (one where learning to belong is the most important). Many children won’t learn ANY absolutes in these schools because, after all the majority vote decides what is true, and the majority can change their mind.
If your child is in a school where they are learning that they are a “unique individual,” they will be presented with a problem that they will have to solve on their own. It doesn’t matter how the child solves the problem, or if the answer is correct. What matters is if they solved it in their own unique way.
If your child goes to a school where morality is taught, you would have to question ‘whose morality?’ I hope you would find it shocking that Adolph Hitler was a supporter of this type of education because he knew that teaching children that the Nazi Moral character was ‘right’ while NOT teaching them the facts about the world (i.e., why Nazism is evil) will produce his desired result.
I can go on but I hope you can start to see that most of these approaches are not compatible.
Which approach do I like?
A combination of the 1st and the 5th and, contrary to any other combination, these are compatible.
Children should be taught the facts. Remember that reality exists, it is real and it is the final arbiter and a child needs to be taught the faculty, which will help them make logical conclusions on their own.
If you like it in a shorter form, they need to be taught Reality and Reason.
“Ok, great!” you’re thinking…
“What subjects do my kids need to learn?”
We will cover that next time.
P.S I limit myself by words simply because I don’t want to word vomit on paper. I understand and agree that the above ideas could use more. If you have any questions, I would be happy to answer them.
Dr.K
