Monday, October 10, 2011

What's Really Missing in Our Schools? Thucydides Knows.

As some people know, I'm trying to write a book about education.  Here's the shortest chapter I have so far.  See if you can determine what might be missing.

Trust me on this.  We can give all the standardized tests we want and even tie teacher merit pay to results.  But we're not ever going to improve education until we understand what it is.

Aesop’s Gym

“Not much is ever gained simply by wishing for it.”
Thucydides


Here’s the first clue, maybe the only clue that matters in the end:  If you hope to improve education you must understand that schools function, in fundamental ways, just like workout facilities for adults. 
***

Imagine that you have a gym filled with state-of-the-art equipment, a mile from your home. Membership fees are reasonable and you can readily afford to join. The gym opens early, stays open late, and closes only once a year on Christmas Day. Machines are available to work every muscle group and free weights in racks stand reflected in mirrored walls. Treadmills, stair-climbers and stationary bikes are all aligned in perfect mechanical rows.
Still, something is missing.
And in education—as in exercise—identifying that missing “something” is the real key. 

LEAVE AN ANSWER BY USING THE "ANONYMOUS" CHOICE UNDER "POST OPINIONS."  OR SEND ME AN EMAIL AT VILEJJV@YAHOO.COM.

8 comments:

  1. As with much of life, my guess is the answer was given to us once we identified the prime component of Soylent Green: it's people.

    ReplyDelete
  2. People, intrinsic motivation, a desire to learn, teachers, a prgressive education environment that focuses not only on subject matter, but the students as well

    ReplyDelete
  3. A willing participant!
    ~Timmiera

    ReplyDelete
  4. A goal specific to each student's (athlete's) aspirations and personality.

    ReplyDelete
  5. A relevant and engaging curriculum

    ReplyDelete