Purpose of Education

Education stands as one of the foundational pillars of society, shaping the minds and futures of generations to come. Traditionally, it has been viewed as a means to transmit knowledge and skills necessary for economic productivity and social cohesion. However, a deeper examination reveals that the true purpose of education extends far beyond these utilitarian goals. 

In this first issue, I want to talk about the basic idea: What education is supposed to do versus what it actually does now in our world. Also, I want to explore how we can guide our children towards genuine, meaningful education.

So, What is the purpose of education?

At its core, education should serve as a vehicle for personal growth and self-discovery. It should be aimed at empowering individuals to pursue their interests, fostering a sense of curiosity, and nurturing their unique identities. 

When individuals are free to pursue subjects that captivate their imagination, they are more likely to excel academically and develop a deeper understanding of themselves and the world around them.

However, the reality of the education system often falls short of this ideal.

Here is what the education system actually does?

Education system kills intrinsic motivation

Studies by educational psychologists have consistently shown the importance of intrinsic motivation in fostering effective learning.

Intrinsic motivation refers to the desire to learn for the sake of learning itself, as opposed to external rewards like grades or praise. 

When a student is intrinsically motivated, they engage with the learning process with a sense of joy and purpose, leading to deeper understanding and retention of information.

Unfortunately, the way our education system currently operates can stifle this intrinsic motivation.

A 2018 meta-analysis published in the journal "Review of Educational Research" found that intrinsic motivation has a significant positive impact on academic achievement, student engagement, and persistence. 

When students are allowed to pursue their interests, they take greater ownership of their learning and develop a sense of agency. This fosters critical thinking skills, creativity, and a lifelong love of exploration.

So, what's the problem?

Our current emphasis on standardized testing, rigid curriculums, and external rewards like grades can unintentionally undermine intrinsic motivation. 

This focus on "getting the right answer" can overshadow the joy of exploration and discovery.

This "teaching to the test" mentality leaves little room for genuine exploration of a subject's nuances.

Students become discouraged from taking risks or exploring topics outside the narrow scope of the test, hindering their natural curiosity and love of learning.

Schools operate on a factory model

The traditional education system, often referred to as the "factory model," has been under increasing scrutiny for its one-size-fits-all approach. 

Classrooms function like assembly lines, processing students through a standardized curriculum with little room for individual differences. This model emphasizes a "one-size-fits-all" approach, forcing students to learn at the same pace and in the same way. 

This approach disregards the vast spectrum of learning styles and intelligences. Howard Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences highlights that children learn differently, possessing varying strengths in areas like visual-spatial, auditory, kinesthetic, linguistic, logical-mathematical, and musical intelligence. The factory model fails to cater to these individualities.

The relentless focus on standardized testing creates a pressure-cooker environment where self-worth becomes tied to test scores. 

A 2015 study by the National Center for Education Statistics found that a significant portion of students experience high levels of test anxiety, which can negatively impact their performance. This can lead to stress,, decreased self-esteem, and a fear of failure, further hindering learning.

So, what can we do as parents or learning facilitators?

Fortunately, there's a growing movement advocating for a shift towards personalized learning approaches.

This approach recognizes that each student is a unique learner with a distinct set of strengths, weaknesses, and interests. Personalized learning incorporates student choice, project-based learning, and utilizes diverse instructional methods to address these individual needs. 

Students are empowered to take ownership of their learning journey by pursuing topics that ignite their curiosity.

Personalized learning goes beyond the classroom walls. Encouraging exploration through hands-on activities, field trips, and opportunities for unstructured play allows children to develop critical thinking skills, problem-solving abilities, and a sense of wonder towards the natural world.

This shift fosters a love of learning that transcends rote memorization and standardized tests.

As we move forward in the coming weeks, I'll share more about the problems with traditional schooling and what the future of education might look like.

With advancements in technology and people becoming more aware, many parents and educators are choosing alternative learning approaches to nurture their children's curiosity and mental health. 

Through this newsletter, my goal is to deeply explore a different topic each week with facts and figures.

Here's what you can expect in future editions:

• Research-backed essays on childhood education and the future of schooling.

• Insights into alternative paths like micro-schooling, small learning pods, and other non-traditional educational methods.

• Interviews with homeschooling parents, graduates, founders of alternative learning initiatives, and child development experts.

I'm thrilled to have you all join us on this journey.

🛠️ Tools & Resources

Prodigy Game: A game-based learning platform that uses adaptive learning games to teach math and English to children in grades 1-8.

School House: A free, online tutoring platform that connects students with volunteer tutors in a variety of subjects. A project by Salman Khan of Khan Academy.

Simple Homeschool: This useful website was founded by Jamie C. Martin — a mom, wife, teacher and author. It’s your one-stop-shop for resources, books and blog posts to help you homeschool effectively. 

The Spruce Crafts: Step-by-step craft tutorials for hands-on learning and creativity. They have a dedicated kids section.

🙌 Homeschool Stories

Anna Cabaniss is a homeschooled student who excelled academically from kindergarten through high school.

Attending a blend of accredited home school groups and private school co-ops, Anna maintained a 4.2 GPA, earned honors, and was involved in extracurricular activities such as Beta Club.

Her homeschooling experience, akin to college-style structure, prepared her for success at the University of Georgia, where she graduated debt-free with a Bachelor's of Science degree and received the prestigious Presidential Award of Excellence, recognizing her outstanding academic and extracurricular achievements.

We invited Anna to share her homeschool experiences with us:

Anna shares:

• How did her family craft social experiences for her

• What was her college admission process like

• How did homeschooling allow her to pursue her interests

And more…

🤓 Recommended Reads:

This section includes some relevant articles/videos, people to check out, and links you might find interesting and useful.

• The idea that learning mainly happens in school and only through teaching is too narrow. Real learning happens when we play and experience things in our daily lives.

• Here is how to make sure that you don’t forget yourself on your homeschooling journey

• Want to secure your child’s future? Carrie shares how to raise critical thinkers who thrive in the world.