Education from Scratch

Imagine finding yourself on Earth right here, today. You’ve arrived from somewhere else and you have no idea how things work. As you look around, you notice things that people that have always lived here, don’t.

You wonder the streets of the place where you are and you notice that there are no children, anywhere.

“Where are all the children?” You ask a passerby (who magically understands you).

“They’re at school, of course.” She replies, giving you a strange look.

You’re curious and ask the next person where you can find "school".  They direct you to a building on the other side of the road.

You’re even more curious now, as there are still no children anywhere in sight.

You notice people sitting at sidewalk tables drinking from cups at the next corner, so you sit down and ask the person at the next table what they’re having and order the same.

“What do they do in there?” You ask, pointing at the school.

“Learn, apparently, but who knows these days?” The person replies.

“Learn what?” You ask

“Well, everything they need to know for their future, I suppose.”

“And they learn it all in there?” You’re surprised and even more curious now. “Why do they need to be locked away? Have they been bad?”

“You ask some interesting questions” the stranger comments, “you’re not from here, are you?”

“No, I’m from another place.” You involuntarily look up.

“How do they teach children there?”

“Teach?”

“Yes, you know, so they learn.”

“Oh” you ponder for a while “I think our children just learn.”

There’s a pause in the conversation. Your new friend looks up, then gives you a sideways glance as you consider your next question.

“What exactly is teaching? Can you help me understand?” You ask.

“It’s when teachers show students how to do things, like read and write and calculate, and tell them about history, geography, science, and other stuff they need to know.”

“And why do they need to be locked away for that?”

Now it’s your companion’s turn to ponder.

“Good question. Thanks. I need to go now. Great chatting with you.”

As they get up, a person at another table turns around and says

“I couldn’t help but overhear. It's always interesting to look at something with fresh eyes. So I'm curious,

What’s your view?

What do you think is important for children and young people to learn?

And how would they learn it?

How could education look if we were to start from scratch?”

I'll share mine next week.

In the meantime, I challenge you to let go of everything you know and consider yours. And of course, let me know what you get, in comments 👇😊