Mal Education - System Design - Should Be VS Is

The educational system we have in place now is probably not as bad as I believe it to be (after all it does work to some extent), but there is room for much improvement.

You and Jim have both pointed to some of the problems that exist and some of the possible fixes that we ought to try. And there are some fixes that have been tried, and some that are being tried. We can and should talk about them in more detail if you want to, but I'm more interested in talking about why so many of these problem/fix sets still exist.

And that will move us into the realm of politics. As long as we keep it confined here it will be OK. It would please me if we keep a high level of scientific content, but that may not be possible.

<center>This part of the forum is different</center>

The rule about 'attack the message but not the messenger' is still in force. But if anyone breaks a rule here the worst that will happen is that you might get blocked <u>here</u> but not on the rest of the forum. And even that is open to discussion.

This will be a learning experience for all of us.

Regards,
LB

My apologies. I have been distracted of late - something about an appointment with some salmon in Newfoundland, Canada. I also had a brain storm and had to write up a description of a new product I want to develop. I will get back to this topic shortly.

No rush - fish are important, too.

Good luck.

<b>LB: What if it was illegal to do that? Or almost illegal.

LB: Kids are natural learning machines. </b>

Hmmm ... then I guess our kids would be doomed to spend their young lives in jail.

I think that when the educational resources were scarce it would have been possible to create an educational monopoly and make it illegal to circumvent the use of it. If I recall correctly, it was illegal to provide education to slaves not so long ago. Today I think it is relatively easy to get a permit to do "home schooling" and many people do.

<b>LB: ... why so many of these problem/fix sets still exist.</b>

I think that the revolution in educational methods is <b>NOT</b> going to happen <b>within</b> the halls of learning - the investments in "the way things are" is too high. It will come from outside the present educational system.

We almost all agree that there are difficult systemic problems with the educational system. To me this looks like a huge opportunity for the newly rich entrepreneurs to create a "new" educational paradigm. Using the technology available today combined with some enlightened innovation, it should be possible to defeat the "<b>the rules of crony capitalism and crony socialism</b>" you believe we are burdened with.

<b>[shando] "...our kids would be doomed to spend their young lives in jail.

I think that when the educational resources were scarce it would have been possible to create an educational monopoly and make it illegal to circumvent the use of it."</b>

It's not illegal for the kids to <u>learn</u> with unapproved technology, rather it is the grown ups who get into trouble. But there are some ways to finesse the system. Charter schools and home schools are in this category. The main thing you have to do is pay the monopoly holders for the seat that your student is no longer using. (They have learned that making competition outright illegal is not the best way to go.)

Some true innovation is happening in charter schools and in home schools. But not very many people can afford to pay TWICE for the education of their kids, so things like this provide limited help.

And of course some of the monopoly schools are actually good. (And super expensive.) So some of our kids get a fair to good eduction - but what about all the rest? This is part of why science is in such a mess these days.

LB

<b>[shando] "I think that the revolution in educational methods is NOT going to happen within the halls of learning - the investments in "the way things are" is too high. It will come from outside the present educational system."</b>

For the most part, you are right. Don't overlook the presence of some dedicated innovators inside the system, however. The mavericks on the outside will lead the charge, most likely, and the mavericks on the inside will be able to provide 'surprise' help at critical times and places. Most of them will be teachers, but a few adminstrators and many kids will be there too.


<b>[shando] "We almost all agree that there are difficult systemic problems with the educational system. To me this looks like a huge opportunity for the newly rich entrepreneurs to create a "new" educational paradigm. Using the technology available today combined with some enlightened innovation, it should be possible to defeat the "the rules of crony capitalism and crony socialism" you believe we are burdened with."</b>

The main thing that has to happen is to get the hands of the cronies/politicians out of the parents pocket book. Just ending that ONE rule is probably enough to solve the whole problem.

LB