Just the Facts

In my current teaching position I am often subjected to listening to others tell me how teaching should be done. Recently, there seems to be a push to say that the presentation of facts is no longer important. It has been said that with Google there is no need to memorize or know facts anymore. When you stop to think about that it seems rather silly. When speaking with someone who is very intelligent it is not difficult to recognize. One of the things that sets really smart people apart from the rest is their ability to call on factual information at opportune times and apply it to the given situation. I am a huge proponent of focusing on creativity and critical thinking but the importance of these skills does not negate the fact that intelligent people also know a lot of stuff.

Perhaps those who are imploring education to move away from memorization and facts need to frame the argument in a new way. The problem with traditional education is not the factual information but rather the way it is presented and tested. Most academic activities are simply an exercise in short-term memory games. The fact that formal education really does not know how to teach and assess factual information certainly does not mean that it is not important.

Uncommon School

For a few days this summer while on vacation I found myself with some time where I could select something on my own to read. For some reason I was drawn to read Thoreau’s Walden again. This choice did have a little to do with the fact that it was a free kindle download but I also remember reading this work earlier in my life and wanted to revisit it. While at the very least Thoreau presents ideas that require one to think deeply, I’m sure many who have read it find it to be full of philosophical ideas that can be adapted in order to make small changes in their lives. Thoreau briefly touches on his ideas of school, labeling it as uncommon school. It is strange how even today this critique of education is timely in the advent of the common core and the push to ensure that each student is provided with a common experience. Thoreau presents a concept where a community is the school, filled with people who are interested in intellectual pursuits.

Much of what we do today is focused on training for work. If you listen closely to a political leader or educational authority talk about education you will hear hints of preparing young people for careers and helping to spur on the economy. I don’t believe that education should be about providing employees for a workforce. Education should be much more about allowing people to see the world from an enlightened position and live lives that bring them and others happiness. I know many will choose to disagree with this. However, if education is simply about providing a skilled workforce then why don’t the employers build training centers that teach the skills that they need? Why is it the responsibility of the public school system to continually change to meet the needs of the employers? The truth is that thinking and intellectual growth never change. The educational system is currently misguided perhaps because of vision that has been clouded by the demands of powerful employers. Teachers and schools must be willing to step back from this constant pressure to change and once again focus on providing each individual with a path to enlightened thought. I propose that the training of workers is the business of employees. If they wish for individuals to have a common set of skills and knowledge then they should provide it. Let education focus focus on providing uncommon experiences that will truly help individuals.