WHO’S LEARNING? Cont’d.

By Osman Hj. Kamaluddin

Ever wondered why there are so many tuition centers in town? If we were to ask any parents whether they send their kids to these tuition centers, the replies received would be, mostly do! So, what does this imply? What kind of ‘signal’ is it sending?

Could it be that the present kids are not clever enough? Could it be that because of this, they need further ‘coaching’? Well, I don’t think so, as there are no and/or any scientific researches and/or findings to show that they are any difference form the kids in the past. If this is not the reason, than what could it be? Could it be the education system we have?
Let us ‘explore’ the education system we are using.

In our education system, the basic method of teaching is using the ‘classroom method’ i.e. taking 30 to 40 students then put them in a room called classroom and teach. This is the method which we and mostly others, are using since time in memorial. Did anybody ever thought about the history of this ‘classroom method’?


Well, let us look at what is says in the book ‘ACCELERATED LEARNING FOR THE 21st CENTURY – THE SIX – STEP PLAN TO UNLOCK YOUR MASTER MIND BY COLIN ROSE AND MALCOLM NICHOLL (A DELL TRADE PAPERBACK). Extracts from page 344, quote:-

It’s well known that the roots of our education system go back to the early Industrial Revolution. The demand then was for large numbers of workers who would mind machines and neither complains nor question.

The model for the system was, literally, the Prussian army. The driving thought behind the education and training of the Prussian army was that 20 percent of the recruits would turn out to be officers and 80 percent would be troops (or cannon fodder!) So, a factory model system of education was produced, large classes designed for basic skills. The education of the many sacrificed to the needs of the few! :unquote.



And to quote from Wikipedia – Prussian Education System:

History

"During the 18th century, the Kingdom of Prussia was among the first countries in the world to introduce tax-funded and generally compulsory primary education, comprising an eight-year course of primary education, Volksschule. It provided not only the skills needed in an early industrialized world (reading, writing, and arithmetic), but also a strict education in ethics, duty, discipline, and obedience. Affluent children often went on to attend preparatory private schools for an additional four years, but the general population had virtually no access to secondary education. Current U.S education comes from the Prussian system, a system designed to create good employees and soldiers, people who blindly follow orders, waiting to be told what to do, including what to do with there money. Prussian model teaches to obey orders and do what you are told, become employees who are content to work for the rich or become soldiers who sacrifice their lives to protect the wealth of the rich"..

SO, WHO’S LEARNING WHAT FOR WHOM???