Throughout this blog there are examples of how traditional school systems lack healthy psychological, cognitive, social and emotional development, i.e. the very approach to learning, teaching, and knowledge itself. This post explains why current education structures ought to change - or face the consequences of incompetent, uninspired graduates.
The idea that going to school to learn basic skills and general knowledge has all but faded away in the eyes of modern thinkers, and thankfully, even some parents. In fact, schools now face the threat of extinction because of the system's inability to evolve with the times.
Although the concept of a place of learning and knowledge was a global phenomenon, i.e. Europe did not invent this idea, what we know as the education system today was created as a substructure of the Industrial Revolution. Traditional schools began as a way to counter the Industrial Revolution's social restructuring. As families nuclearlised, and children could not be minded by the extended family, schools provided sanctuary for the children, and peace of mind for the working adults.
These spaces also became a way to instill Industrial Age values in children, thereby making them competent workers who could follow instructions and unquestioningly submit to authority.
Although young children look to adults and education systems to help them understand and navigate the world around them, 21st century teenagers tend not to. They have all the information they need to understand and navigate the world they live in, and consider themselves capable and independent members of society. Schools do not help the youth by imposing unquestionable authority and mindless memorisation of facts which are all easily accessible.
In the 21st century, according to Yuval Noah Harari test scores alone do not determine how good a person is at critical thinking, communication, collaboration and creativity. These basic cognitive and emotional skills can only be encouraged, nurtured, and sometimes corrected by the system; however they cannot be taught, nor can they be learned and practiced within the sanctuary of schools alone.
In today's society, the core values of professional life have evolved, and thanks to the revolutionary thinkers, artists, and scientists who didn't fit in, we are now free from the ideals of the Industrial Age.
Imagining the reinvention of the education system certainly impacts the present, but it will determine how far - and how collaboratively - humanity will progress. In a world where information is accessible in a matter of seconds, a human being doesn't need to devote their time to making someone learn more of it. The idea that a young person should think for themselves in isolation is mistaken for education - and somehow anyone who manages this request well enough for a teacher's expectations is considered a model pupil. Thankfully the world is changing, and fewer people put their faith entirely in the education systems.
In the past we were prepared for a job market that employed people based on their specific skill set which they spent years perfecting. However, practice that makes perfect cannot be the same as practice that makes different. A musician who can play the piano perfectly but cannot record and edit her music is now considered lacking in skills. A lecturer who can talk about the history of the Han dynasty is no match for Google unless they can captivate students with interactive slides and other educational technology.
Changing a broken, outdated system will impact human evolution for the better. And it begins with you. How will you reinvent your skills to remain relevant in the coming years?