Our education system

I was just a little child who wanted to play and learn. I recollect feeling queasy, unhappy, stressed and upset once I was enrolled in school. Why on earth did I despise school, I was a great student ! I had good grades, I was considered a "smart" kid. But I always felt out of place. Something was missing. I was lucky enough to be in an alternative private primary school in which drama, music and art classes were really practiced, but I guess it still had this canonical idea of an education system in which it would create good citizens who would eventually be successful in life with a "decent" job.

I don't think this is a problem specific to any particular country; but our education system is really not working. Firstly, it's boring ! I remember being bored to death, having to sit on a desk 9-4, forced to learn things and not have fun. School doesn't tolerate different skills and talents either. To some extent they do, but there is always this idea of grades and the idea that you have to keep up the good work, you have to learn things at a certain pace, age and time. It was pathetic. (It is only at university that I started coming to terms with the idea of "school" since it's out of my choice and curiosity that I do this.) At the most basic level of education the hierarchization of disciplines doesn't help the learning process at all; why is mathematics and science classes considered more important than literature? Why are the smartest always pushed towards this constructed hierarchy and the "stupid" are pushed to social sciences? The distinction between the so-called "normal" and "the deviated" therefore do not start from extremes, they start right under our noses. From the moment we are institutionalized; exposed to the larger world, other people, we are doomed... My M.A. class focuses on issues such as disability; which I think is very important. However as I reflect upon this, I noticed (as my instructor also said) that discussions weren't necessarily about disability per se, it was about differences; different bodies, mentalities, lifestyles... I guess education is one convoluted branch I got to reflect upon, although it is far away from the subject matter of my graduate class.

Here is the video I promised to share. This TED talk has introduced me to one of my idols. Sir Ken Robinson. He's an amazing man who works on reforming our education system. He has other TED talks too, but this one is the clearest one in which he makes his main points. Our education system is not working since only certain people with the set of skills that are favorable are considered successful. Without giving further spoilers, here's the video. Do enjoy. I will be posting new videos through the weekend. (It's a surprise!). This video is really worth watching. I recommend it heavily to all of my blog readers. Lots of hugs and enjoy your valentines day :)