I want to start my blog with a thought from the educational reformer John Dewey: “What we want and need is education pure and simple, and we shall make surer and faster progress when we devote ourselves to finding out just what education is and what conditions have to be satisfied in order that education may be a reality and not a name or a slogan.”
Dewey wrote his book 1938 and I am inquiring what we have learned in reflection on our experience working in education in the last 82 years since his book “Experience and Education” was written!?
Someone may think, we don’t need to discuss what Dewey brought to our awareness almost a century ago as we already have implemented his ideas into our work with our students and progressive education would have become mainstream. However even more disappointing and frustrating, is that learning is still often seen more theoretical instead of meaningful and rewarding. The latter to equip learners to take a full and active part in shaping their future society. With words Plutarch (Greek Middle Platonist Philosopher): The mind is not a vessel to be filled but a fire to be kindled.”
I propose that we approach education from their philosophical roots to understand the fundamental nature of knowledge, reality, existence, experience, and purpose. Furthermore, we should look into the original meaning of philosophy. The word philosophy is derived from two Greek words. The first word, philo, means “love.” The second, sophy, means “wisdom.” Literally, then, philosophy means “love of wisdom”.
We need to learn and understand how and why people do certain things, how to live a good life and what is the purpose of life.
For me, the purpose of education is to instill the spirits of humanity and virtues to young mind so that they can grow up to become a responsible and caring citizen of their community and hopefully the world but also inspire other for enlightening the humanity around them.
This leaves me with the question: In what kind of educational philosophy do you believe? Because I think, what we believe is directly reflected in both in our teaching and learning process. Moreover, our beliefs are shaped through and within our environment. Our belief system is the invisible force behind our behavior. Together with other factors, e.g. personality and our habits, the belief that helps us to interpret our everyday reality and affects any decision that we are making.
And according to Dewey: “This means that effecting a change of habits does not require a magical act of sheer willpower, but a rather intelligent inquiry into relevant conditions (psychological, sociological, economic, etc.).”
I cannot agree more and hope we generate more intelligent inquiry in education. An inquiry is related if not itself wonder. And as the old philosopher, Socrates said,”
Wisdom begins in wonder,”. Without a sense of wonder and appreciation, the capacity for lifelong learning begins to be muted.
I invite you to start your journey of wonder and inquiry right now.
An inquiry is how knowledge is created in our world, driven by questions.
The starting point here is myself, I wonder/ I inquire about …, I perceive the reality…, How does it make me feel? But then in the dialogue with others, we can start to imagine and pursue new ideas, give feedback to each other’s, create new ways, put our expertise together in action, reflect on it and share it (inspire) and start over again. It’s not a linear and one-way process it’s interactive and reciprocal. It is for me the concept of reflection-in-action and reflection-on-action.
Furthermore, asking questions is an art form. Art acknowledged here as the expression and application of human creative thinking skills and imagination. It’s not a product of individuals, it’s a collective creation.
Let's begin to be responsible "to" each other, and start inquiring for the good of all of us. In the end, the purpose of education is how much purpose we give to each other's lives, to live a meaningful life serving each other.
With gratitude and inspiration,
Sabine
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