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Tao P
  • Tao P
  • Vancouver B.c
  • Canada

TEDCRED 50+

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If the state is so bad at raising children, how come we allow the state to educate our children?

It's obvious that our educational system is broken, but who is willing to take action to create a new system? Much of learning can be broken down into how much attention does a child get. In a classroom that's almost nil, as a teachers time is spread between 30 students. Studies also clearly show that grading children has a detrimental effect on them. So why do we continue this waste of resources that is also a waste of our children's potential.

What is an alternative to the current method of education. Is there a way to light the fire of children's curiosity rather than smothering it with facts.

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Topics: Learn creative potential education effective teaching high school
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    Tao P 50+

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    Oct 29 2012: I'm not making a push for private education. I think there can be a form of community based education, kinda like a home-schooling 2.0 approach. It would likely be far cheaper and more effective at inspiring childrens love of learning.
    I think you missed my point regarding french. I was told that I had a learning disability regarding languages when in fact I simply had a lazy, or perhaps ignorant, teacher. I like the idea of Summerhill school, a place where you let children choose what they wish to learn about.

    • John Smith 30+

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      Oct 29 2012: You seem to be pushing for community based teaching, the thing is that after a while that really becomes indistinguishable from state schooling, since that is, in essence, nothing more than community based teaching with the inevitable bureaucracy and standards that you would have to introduce as soon as two parents in the "community" disagreed on something related to the teaching.
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        Don Wesley 50+

        • +1
        Nov 1 2012: Better to collaborate at the community level, for a solution to the problem.
        Not doing so, is to deprive the democratic system; until it becomes worthless to the people at the bottom.
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          elizabeth muncey 10+

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          Nov 1 2012: Good morning Don, how are you today ? Been posting on another conversation about the power of branding. You can always click on my icon to see what I have been chatting about. Like your arguement about educating within a community. Educating a child not just in formal education but in what they see around them and how loved and secure they feel. Just because people less materially resourced does not mean less opportunities for holistic education. Learned loads from playing on beach and local Botanical Gardens. Learned loads from playing with water in the sink and playing with sand in the sandpit (good for physics especially) learned loads from painting and drawing and writing. Unfortunately also learned loads from dysfunctional parents and intergenerational conflicts. Neural pathways very different to many others and unfortunately also very similar. Still support your ideas of an inclusive community and also unfortunately the need to protect children's space to just be children. (like the UN resolution about a child's right to play).

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