[admin]

Bravo to Elizabeth Perkins from Wiltshire UK, who wrote the following letter to Permaculture Magazine edition 61. I'm posting it here for her comments on the education system, rather than to support any particular environmental movement. Spot on how she picks up on manipulation through exam questioning.

"As a student aged 16 who has just finished GCSEs at school, I have direct experience of our education system and, to be frank, it worries me. My first concern is that much of what I have been taught at school seems irrelevant when I consider the issues our planet is facing right now. The environment and climate change are like side issues, mildly interesting topics that make nice assemblies now and then, but not to be taken too seriously. I'm taught abstract ideas which I know will not serve me in later life, despite what I'm told.

Instead, it is my belief that we need to look to permaculture. Earth Care, People Care and Fare Share principles need to be central to learning. At the moment they are not. If I relied only on what I have been taught at school, I would have no idea of ways in which I could help take care of the Earth; I have not learnt a lot about how I could communicate honestly and lovingly with other people, and my idea of fare share would be that in a chemical factory it is good to have high "atom economy" because this ensures I get the maximum profit - and oh, it also uses up the world's resources less quickly.
...
Students realise the irrelevance of what they are learning. In class I have heard countless times the phrase: 'What use is this going to be in my future?'
What can we do to change this situation? At the moment our flawed education system is self-perpetuating. Whilst working on some past papers in preparation for my exams, I came across this question on a past English paper: 'A close member of your family thinks that university is a waste of time. Explain the potential benefits to the individual and to society of people going to university.'

Doesn't anyone else see what a perfect opportunity exam questions are for the government to influence students at this critical time, when they will be making plans for their future? It's a very subtle way to make sure students don't question the education system and accept that going to university and then joining the workforce is the expected thing to do."

[psynonymous]

The school system and education is all so established and seemingly unquestionable. I think perhaps many people would agree that what is taught in school is rubbish, but what would school teach instead?
I thought about writing a new syllabus myself but my lack of schooling might be an insurmountable obstacle.

Who is going to agree about what children need to know most in those early years? Will it be feasible to add gradually, new concepts to slowly evolving school life, like the addition of computers and IT? Or do we need to wipe the slate clean and come up with something fresh?

Is a building full of kids, classes and teachers even a good idea? Some people prefer home schooling for example. I personally felt that school was a drag, full of dumb (old) people waisting everyone's time, but I could also see school being a really great place, if it were to include everyone and work at developing children in line with their potential rather than in line with a crap syllabus that everyone has to work to.

This is my first post here, hi to all.