Deliberations 2016 (6) #education

Amazing how the field of education has evolved!!

 

Yet statistics inform that more than 785 million adults worldwide cannot read at a functional level. This translates to 1 in 5 persons with only basic reading skills. They cannot read the instructions about how to take a medication or how much of it to take, and they do not know what to do if they take too much of the medication. They cannot read (or sign for) their child’s report card. (This is evident in our schools). They cannot fill out applications for a job, a loan, or for a travel document. These persons are classified as “illiterate” or “uneducated”.

But here’s the question. If these persons were taught to read would they now be literate? Of course. But do we call them educated? And can everything be taught? Hmmmmm……

Yes, education opens minds to vast amounts of knowledge, but according to our beliefs, true education means more than pursuing a certain course of study. We believe that persons should learn, but we also believe in redeeming them for Christ. Indeed there is One who stands higher than any human teacher. In Him “are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” Colossians 2:3.

Our thoughts, our intellect should reflect Him. As the earth reflects the sun, our aim is to reflect the rays of the Son of Righteousness.  This is what true education is all about – not just pursuing that high school diploma, or Bachelor’s, Master’s or Doctorate degree – but gaining that which is imparted by Him; out of whose mouth “comes knowledge and understanding”, (Proverbs 2.6).

25/03/06

In response to a comment on FB I wrote this:

I asked the question in my post whether everything can be taught. What do you think? I think it is difficult to teach everything, and as education evolves teachers are no longer founts of knowledge, but facilitators of learning. And it is certainly difficult to TEST everything. I like this picture that sums up some very important human qualities that are difficult to teach/test: