This weekend I'd wonderful insightful chats with a friend about the Irish economic crisis (I know, I know how exciting - but don't worry I'm not adding to all the despairing news already out there - we have solutions, well kind of!).
We concluded that people in general (and us included) just don't know how to think for ourselves. In certain areas of our lives we just seam to follow the crowd or do as we're told. It is frightening how we are influenced by the media and so subliminally we are not even aware of it. The lady serving me in the bank the other day all of a sudden exclaimed "how did we find ourselves in this situation", right in the middle of our polite conversation about the weather and our children. She went on to say how we all did as we were told, studied hard, went to college, got the good pensionable job, bought the house to get on the property ladder and now look where we are, heavily in debt and stressed out.
When did we lose our autonomy? Why are we so under the influence of the media? Do we put too much faith in the Systems to guide us: the government, the church, the education system and the banking system? Have these establishments lost their way? A book I'm reading puts it nicely, "our arms have gotten so long we don't know what our hands are doing". Things have gotten complicated.
We concluded that people in general (and us included) just don't know how to think for ourselves. In certain areas of our lives we just seam to follow the crowd or do as we're told. It is frightening how we are influenced by the media and so subliminally we are not even aware of it. The lady serving me in the bank the other day all of a sudden exclaimed "how did we find ourselves in this situation", right in the middle of our polite conversation about the weather and our children. She went on to say how we all did as we were told, studied hard, went to college, got the good pensionable job, bought the house to get on the property ladder and now look where we are, heavily in debt and stressed out.
When did we lose our autonomy? Why are we so under the influence of the media? Do we put too much faith in the Systems to guide us: the government, the church, the education system and the banking system? Have these establishments lost their way? A book I'm reading puts it nicely, "our arms have gotten so long we don't know what our hands are doing". Things have gotten complicated.
My thoughts could get very busy around all these questions and all I'd end up with is a great buzzing headache! I must remain focused and my focus is the education system. Which I believe is where it all starts and ends. If we can foster our children to be happy, independent, motivated and creative human beings, what a bright future this world would have.
Ireland (well the world too) needs a massive overhaul, change needs to happen and the only real place to start is the education system as our children really are the future. I came across the race to nowhere website. So inspirational, I've my name down to get the dvd when they release it. If there's enough people interested we could have a showing in Cork (so let me know). Although it is based in America, it absolutely applies to Ireland. Actually I believe the Irish education system is even more intensive. When I was 7 we lived in California for a year, so I went to primary school there. I had to jump two grades because they were so "behind" us! So when they talk about "stealing our children's childhood" and "training from a script" it can be completely applied to Irish mainstream education.
The more I read about Maria Montessori (and I'm no expert), the more I realise she really has serious answers to many of our problems today. What a visionary. I liked this little video for talking about educating the whole child.
Here's another link to an article in the Times about FInaland's educational success. I really like the idea that the teaching profession is a well paid and sought after job. In Finland only 9.8% of applicants get on to the intensive five year training course to become a teacher. Because these teachers are so well trained in the philosophy of the whole child they are then given freedom to teach rather than having to adhere to strict curricula and tests.
"Their teachers are much better prepared to teach physics than we are, and then the Finns get out of the way. You don't buy a dog and bark for it," says Dan MacIsaac, a specialist in physics-teacher education at Buffalo State College who visited Finland for two months. "In the U.S., they treat teachers like pizza delivery boys and then do efficiency studies on how well they deliver the pizza."
So from my conversations during the past week I can see I am definitely passionate about the changes that need to occur in our education system. Someone just needs to half mention recession or consumerism and like a woman possessed I'm off on my rant about education (I might have to reign myself in a little!). But I need to start walking this talk as I'm no closer to the montessori school in Cork from when I started this blog.
Any thoughts, ideas, links or further information I'd love to hear from you ...
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