I don't agree!
It goes like this.
I Don’t Agree!
I don’t agree because that’s what I usually do. I know people who do that are usually labeled as stubborn but do not call me one as I have every logic to prove my answers right (unless it’s a mathematics question).
Without wasting any more time, I would like to get onto the point why I picked up my pen, which is I do not approve of the education system in our country. How often we hear, countries with good literacy rates are economically well-off, have less crime (of any type) rates, are technologically advancing, meaning thereby that every good aspect of the current situation is directly or indirectly related to the education system in the country.
My question is, aren’t there schools and colleges, or least of all, education in our country? The answer is simple, there are but not so many and not good enough to suffice the education needs of the country. And these state-owned schools hardly provide the conditions needed by students.
This being the case, my point now is that even the so-called good learning institutions are not schools, these are information-feeders. The blame does not lie to any particular school, it lays on the whole society, the same society we are a part of. We study to get better grade and good earnings, that’s all what we study for.
This idea has to change, if we are to succeed. Our focus should be on to educate ourselves, and not on studying-for-a-living idea. All those billionaires and rich people out there were neither born-rich nor they studied for living, instead they had innovative ideas which they put in use to get to where they are now.
I quote you a confusing incident, few days ago my cousin came to my house to do some RESEARCH (as he said, it’s too strong a word, don’t you think?). I asked him what he was going to research about and he replied, “I have to copy-paste some information needed for my social studies’ project.” I had already begun to get confused by now, so I asked him few more questions like if everyone else in his class had done it the same way for which the answer I got was that no one had done it in his class, and why he was doing it when no one else had was to get more marks than his peers. Oh dear! Did you notice two odd things here? Making marks as his primary objective he did an assignment that not even the teacher was going to read (I mean, imagine yourself, s/he is not going to read an 8 pages long copy-pasted material). Don’t you feel like asking here, whether why the teacher give such an assignment in which neither her efforts nor the child’s knowledge was put in use? We are dumbfounded, right?
But why are we asking these questions, if we are, now when we studied the same way in our schools as he is? This is quite unfortunate and surprisingly we never complained about it because all we cared about all along was to get better grades.
Pick any western country, do they study to get good wages or salaries? No, they study to enjoy what they are being taught and to apply it in their lives and not just in their jobs. Why every parent here wants or expects straight A*’s from their children whereas the western parents are happy with straight C’s with one or two B’s. What is our excuse, they their education standard is quite tough, this is wrong, what could be tougher than this. The point is they want their children to live a life of a human being and not of robots. Imagine, you screw up in a test, how enraged your parents will be if they get to see it, not all, but some will surely restrict you to your studies and no more fun, at least our country’s parents will.
Another general example is that our elders will never accept, or some might, that some students are naturally more genius than others, instead they will argue that s/he only studies more that, that’s why s/he is excelling.
We are taught some things and are made to learn others. Education should be in a way which is more practical, you need to show more than what you are telling. This way, undoubtedly, no one will, ever forget what s/he is being taught. I remember my environmental management’s classes. When you hear this subject’s title, don’t you think it would include practicals to teach us more effectively? And believe me, I studied the subject for three years and we did no practical!
This has to change! This is the only way I will sum it up because change is necessary as we stand on the stance where it’s either ‘Now or Never’. Lastly, I would like to beg for your forgiveness, if in some way I offended you or in case if you do not agree with me. You can hunt me down here at school, I am not going anywhere but I am sure you do agree with me!
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6 Comments
I share your worry that children are being turned into little robots. What a horrible thought. I don't agree with the current emphasis that is being put on vocational training. History, Art, Music are just as important for our society as Maths and Science, in my opinion. Is that what you're saying too? I'm not sure.
Having said that, when it comes to subjects like Maths, there is some purpose even though children (and parents) often don't see the relevance. When I was twelve I didn't see the point of algebra. However, when I was twenty one, employed as a space scientist, I did see the point. But do we really need to teach all kids about algebra, knowing that only a tiny percentage will ever use it? I doubt it.
There were some arguments on 'Word Cloud' that a university degree is not necessary for those wishing to pursue a career in the arts - writing of some sort. In my opinion a degree is useful, but tis may be because I do not have one. Those who say a degree is not necessary usually have one, or two, or three!
"Pick any western country, do they study to get good wages or salaries? No, they study to enjoy what they are being taught and to apply it in their lives and not just in their jobs."
Not sure I agree with this. Here are some personal anecdotes:
Me: Degree in Palaeobiology, post grad degree in teaching, now a teacher. My husband: Master's degree in Computer Engineering, is a test (R&D) engineer. My sister in law: phD in Marine Biology, is a Marine Biologist (Coral specialist) in Hawaii. My brother: Medical degree, currently a doctor in New Zealand (18 month exchange thingie). My friend Andy: phD in Chemistry, is an organic chemist (project leader) for a big petrochemical company. My friend Simon: degree in Maths, currently a CEO of a electronics company (was their Accountant). My friend Jane: A levels, works in an office. My sister: dropped out of college, currently does whatever she can (mainly bar work and shop work with a bit of unofficial child care for friends). My friend Kev: A levels, works in an office. My friend Kerry: Nursing degree, currently a local GP nurse. My friend Matt: Law degree, now a junior solicitor.
See a pattern? All of us who pursued higher (university or above) education are now 'professionals' and have managed to pursue what we wanted to do, whereas those who didn't, well, don't. All around me, I see a direct correlation between people being university educated and having 'higher paid' jobs and those who stopped at GCSE / A levels not being able to jump through these hoops... not because there is something wrong with them, but simply because they don't have that little piece of paper that says 'I am capable of doing XYZ'. Those qualifications means so much more than just 'I have passed an exam' - they also say 'I can stick to something, I can study, I can do things off my own back' to a potential employer. Of course, there are exceptions - my brother in law, for example, has a degree in Forensics, but works in an office... but that was due to his son being born in his last year at uni, and so he a) didn't do every well and b) had to get a job, quick, to support his family. Then there's my friend Sally - has a degree in Silversmithing and Jewellery Making, now works in the offices of the local university. One of the things I have noticed, though, is that all of us who have gone on to become so-called professionals have worked hard at it. None of us just picked a course for that sake of it and then worried about work later - we all went in and then carried on until we got to the point in our education where we could go off and get the job we wanted to do (I started life as a science teacher, and 6 years ago swapped to English). It's taken us all a varying amount of years - some us were still studying well into our 30's (my friend Andy had to break his education up into little chunks so he could afford to do it, and got his phD when he was 36), but, on the whole, it has worked for us.
After eleven years at school it's time to see what the real world is like. Take a break before deciding whether to spend many more years in education. That's my advice.
This is an interesting blog. I think that with all the testing and standards schools have to maintain, they have to stay focused on what is needed for the exams and stick to it. That is a great shame. My suggestion is to get the best qualifications you can as a solid foundation, then you can sidestep later in life when you know what you really want to do. My brother has just done this, going from chemical engineer to English teacher in order to do volunteer work abroad. Education is expensive, and when you get older it isn't always possible to pursue, time wise as much as anything else, so make the most of it.
Good for you for not agreeing. I think the only answer is, if something interests you but the education you are being 'fed' isn't enough (good point by the way) find out more yourself. I was examined on Cider With Rosie when I was at school, and was very disappointed that our English Lit teacher simply highlighted sections for us to learn for the exam! What was the point of that? The sections we had to learn meant nothing on their own! Your blog has just reminded me of this, and you're right for making this point. As Jill says, it would be interesting to hear what reactions you received.
To RB: Point-of-views can vary, right? But I do respect what you said or think. However, for me, it is more important to make those realize who I am addressing of the wrong that we are facing. Letting them know of the solutions will certainly catch attention of more people than this would otherwise be but I fear such a realization to be short-lived. Whereas, if I am able to make them understand of what I actually mean, and if they agree, the solutions will come to them automatically. And you are certainly right in saying that people should decide of their career with calm mind so that its not haunting them later in their life. But why do they not decide what they think will be good for them? Peers' influence and society's pressure is the reason(one thing I certainly don't care about). I ask people to let me do what I want to do and this way we can change everything. I hope you agree with me on this.
To Jill: Your words are always very encouraging, I like that. I will certainly let you all know what reactions I receive from my friends over this. Thanks a lot, for those encouraging words, I think if people do what they like they can all go a lot far, this will come with struggle but they will certainly manage it.
To Mike: If you ask me, I seriously don't know if degree really is of any use (its the skill that counts), what matters is studying what you like, you will surely excell in it even if you have a degree or not(but this is natural that degree will help because thats all the people see). If you compare my country with yours, the ratio of people choosing to study for employment prospects will here will be a lot more than yours, thats why I bothered mentioning it.
To ME: I will repeat what I said to Mike, "If you compare my country with yours, the ratio of people choosing to study for employment prospects will here will be a lot more than yours, thats why I bothered mentioning it." One more thing that takes place here is more than the individual's own wishes, its their parents(mostly), then the society who decided what career the individual will be pursuing. Ultimately, s/he ends up studying what he never wanted to study. Now what was the people-forcing-them's intention, that their sons, daughters, friends should study what will earn them huge money afterwards. My question, how can you expect yourself to excell in something you don't want to study? S/he might still be at on the same page with the person with no qualification. Glad to know that all the people in your family studied what they wanted to. Thats quite a good things. I hope I am able to explain myself.
To MinxieAd: I agree with you, not only its expensive, another thing is that naturally you are not that capable of studying effectively as that of a student at his peek. I will surely be letting you know what my peers have to say.
Thanks to all, once again :)
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