Education: Mind-Centered vs. Heart-Centered

[ChristsLight]

Not often that I'm around this forum. But I've been thinking of something that I felt led to discuss here.

Traditional education is mind-centered. Motivation comes from the outside. If you don't do what you are told, you are punished. You are measured according to objective standards, and told that it is a bad thing if you do not measure up. You are told either that you are smart or you are stupid, and both of these makes you judge yourself and others based on these standards. Because you are not in charge of your own education, you are not inspired to do what you are supposed to do, so your work is sub-standard.

I think especially the last point deserves further consideration. I'm in my last year of college. I have seen that I am told to do things, whether or not it seems worthwhile to me or not.

But when I am not inspired to do the work that I am forced to do, my work is going to be much lower quality than if I were inspired. I can write a decent five-page paper in two hours and get a B+ on it, but it's not indicative of my work. If I'm really inspired on a topic, my productivity will increase and the quality will be much better. If I am not inspired, then I have to force myself to do the work. If I do not do it, then I receive a bad grade.

When I am inspired to do something, grades don't matter. The quality is the best that I am able to output, because I genuinely want to do the work. Time doesn't matter, because I am excited to get it done. I know exactly what I need to do, and it will truly be my own, not just material spouted out after it was memorized. There's actually a personality behind it.

My best academic paper came out of inspiration. It was an epistemology class. We were told that we could write on any epistemological topic, and it could be any length, as long as it was at least 8 pages. My paper ended up being 18 pages, and I loved it. In fact, I wanted to make it longer, but didn't have enough time to flesh it out more.

So this makes me think that there is a huge flaw in traditional education. Because of the format it uses, students output sub-standard work, and rarely their best, highest-quality. If they fail to do very well, then they think they are stupid, when sometimes the issue is only that they hate what they are being forced to do.

Now I'm not sure what education would look like if it were based on the heart and inspiration instead of the mind, but I do think there is a much better way than what is being done right now.

Most kids aren't lazy. I taught myself to do computer programming when I was 11 years old, and have been doing so ever since. This was completely independent of any classes I took; it was just something I loved and decided to pursue.

I don't know if I've ever learned anything worthwhile in a class. On the contrary, the most meaningful things I have learned have come from subjects I was inspired to study, which I studied on my own in my own time.

Thoughts?

[nothuman]

So it goes that living in an economically driven society, school can be very much a holding pen until children are ready to join the work force.
There is a never ending system of pigeonholing kids in order that by the time they are ready to leave school they have their socioeconomic brand stamped indelibly on them.
In Australia there are schools that operate on a more intuitive level of teaching however sooner or later the kids have to meet back up in the sausage factory and this can create even more issues for them integrating back in. It really is a system ( like many ) that requires overhaul however as I said the prime purpose of school is not developing young minds but getting them ready to work with the least amount of effort.

[elucidate]

Originally Posted by nothuman

So it goes that living in an economically driven society, school can be very much a holding pen until children are ready to join the work force.
There is a never ending system of pigeonholing kids in order that by the time they are ready to leave school they have their socioeconomic brand stamped indelibly on them.
In Australia there are schools that operate on a more intuitive level of teaching however sooner or later the kids have to meet back up in the sausage factory and this can create even more issues for them integrating back in. It really is a system ( like many ) that requires overhaul however as I said the prime purpose of school is not developing young minds but getting them ready to work with the least amount of effort.

It's kind of funny to me that they spend, essentially, twelve years having their heads filled with stuff, most of which is forgotten within the first year or two upon graduating (and much of it is misinformation of historical "facts" at that). All that is left is a basic knowledge of reading and writing, and that is all anyone really needs to get a job.

!2 years, and up to $30,000 later and all we have to show for it is basic arithmetic and languages skills.

[nothuman]

Originally Posted by elucidate

It's kind of funny to me that they spend, essentially, twelve years having their heads filled with stuff, most of which is forgotten within the first year or two upon graduating (and much of it is misinformation of historical "facts" at that). All that is left is a basic knowledge of reading and writing, and that is all anyone really needs to get a job.

!2 years, and up to $30,000 later and all we have to show for it is basic arithmetic and languages skills.

I went to 14 different schools. I got lost educationally along the way as the curriculums changed from school to school. They dod monoge ta teech me ta speel tho. I became really good at intergrating and learning how to infilltrate social groups. Somehow I learned street smarts along the way and have managed to make a living out of that ability. But as for the education system after a broad exposure to it you really start to see it as simply a holding pen.

[elucidate]

Originally Posted by nothuman

I went to 14 different schools. I got lost educationally along the way as the curriculums changed from school to school. They dod monoge ta teech me ta speel tho. I became really good at intergrating and learning how to infilltrate social groups. Somehow I learned street smarts along the way and have managed to make a living out of that ability. But as for the education system after a broad exposure to it you really start to see it as simply a holding pen.

Holy Crap! 14 schools? That's a new school every year...and two in two years on top of that. That's NUTS!

So...does this mean you are a hustler by trade?

[nothuman]

Originally Posted by elucidate

Holy Crap! 14 schools? That's a new school every year...and two in two years on top of that. That's NUTS!

So...does this mean you are a hustler by trade?

Started out that way out of sheer necessity.....but managed to carve out a niche along the way. I still feel though I am living on the wrong side of credibilty street.

[elucidate]

Originally Posted by nothuman

Started out that way out of sheer necessity.....but managed to carve out a niche along the way. I still feel though I am living on the wrong side of credibilty street.

Well if it is your intention to cross the street to credibility street, then that intention will carry you there, if you really want it to. I guess you have to feel that you are credible first, for others to get that sense from you as well. What do you think?

Do you think you are credible? Do you feel credible, or worthy of being credible?

How can you use your skills for being a chameleon towards your aim?

[SlicK]

The educational system will have to change because it doesn't quite work anymore. Creativity wasn't required from 99% of employees, before. Now it is required in almost every area. I mean, even selling at McDonalds requires some creativity. I actually appreciate employees that know how to trick me into buying something I don't need. I'm certain that the employers appreciate them too.

[elucidate]

Originally Posted by SlicK

The educational system will have to change because it doesn't quite work anymore. Creativity wasn't required from 99% of employees, before. Now it is required in almost every area. I mean, even selling at McDonalds requires some creativity. I actually appreciate employees that know how to trick me into buying something I don't need. I'm certain that the employers appreciate them too.

I'm not sure creativity and manipulation could be considered the same thing... though both are utilized in graphic design companies to effect people subliminally using symbols and colors. I guess one can be creatively manipulative.

I've yet to meet anyone from McDonald's use the power of persuasion to trick me into buying anything...mind you, I never go in there, so I wouldn't really know what they do these days.

I agree with you in regards to the education system though. The right brain needs to be given equal importance so that a balance of both lobes is nurtured, which will bring about a more balanced society in the final result.

[SnerpGoodWord]

One key point here is that education isn't necessarily being provided just for your benefit. It's being provided (indeed, mandated) largely for society's benefit so we don't have a huge number of illiterate people unemployed and fomenting social unrest. We've got enough problems with that as it is.

[ChristsLight]

Originally Posted by SnerpGoodWord

One key point here is that education isn't necessarily being provided just for your benefit. It's being provided (indeed, mandated) largely for society's benefit so we don't have a huge number of illiterate people unemployed and fomenting social unrest. We've got enough problems with that as it is.

I have a firm belief that if everyone followed what they were inspired to do, the world would work perfectly, and no one would get in anyone's way. It reminds me of one of the central tenants of Thelema, which says: "Every man and every woman is a star." The belief is that every star has its natural course and if every star followed its natural course, then none would get in the way of another. It would work like a coordinated dance, perfect and beautiful.

So in that way, education works on the flawed premise that everyone must have a specific purpose that contributes to society in direct and measurable ways, and that we can teach these skills to such people. In reality, people will contribute simply by being who they are naturally, by being the star that they are and taking the course that they are meant to take.

It is when we try to become something we are not, because society tells us we should, that we do not contribute to society. When we are what we are, then education is meaningless, because the skills will come naturally.

Obviously we need the basic skills like reading, writing, basic math, etc, but the rest can come by those who are inspired to learn it in the way they want to learn it.

[nothuman]

Originally Posted by elucidate

Well if it is your intention to cross the street to credibility street, then that intention will carry you there, if you really want it to. I guess you have to feel that you are credible first, for others to get that sense from you as well. What do you think?

Do you think you are credible? Do you feel credible, or worthy of being credible?

How can you use your skills for being a chameleon towards your aim?

Actually, poor choice of words. Substitute feeling legit for credibility. I think it comes back to in a lot of ways, questioning the status quo and not going down tradition roads.
This can come with the territory and I have never chosen to try and live a different way.

[elucidate]

Originally Posted by ChristsLight

I have a firm belief that if everyone followed what they were inspired to do, the world would work perfectly, and no one would get in anyone's way. It reminds me of one of the central tenants of Thelema, which says: "Every man and every woman is a star." The belief is that every star has its natural course and if every star followed its natural course, then none would get in the way of another. It would work like a coordinated dance, perfect and beautiful.

I've always wondered what that saying meant about us all being stars. Thankyou, that makes sense, and I think that would work perfectly if people weren't interfered with so much from external forces like parents paving the way for their kids and deciding what their futures will comprise of.

If every child were encouraged to follow their own course from the start, imagine how much clearer things would be for many people.

So in that way, education works on the flawed premise that everyone must have a specific purpose that contributes to society in direct and measurable ways, and that we can teach these skills to such people. In reality, people will contribute simply by being who they are naturally, by being the star that they are and taking the course that they are meant to take.

Totally true. Every person has their own skills and unique abilities that contribute to the whole without any effort, it's just a matter of allowing those talents to surface rather than stifling them and forcing other skills on them that may not be what they truly excel at.

It is when we try to become something we are not, because society tells us we should, that we do not contribute to society. When we are what we are, then education is meaningless, because the skills will come naturally.

I agree. Everything would work so much smoother if this was the general attitude.

Obviously we need the basic skills like reading, writing, basic math, etc, but the rest can come by those who are inspired to learn it in the way they want to learn it.

So really, schooling could, theoretically, be compacted and over in 2 or 3 years if those are the only basic requirements needed. Coupled with knowledge of how to research what the individual really wants to learn about would also be useful, but then, it doesn't take much to learn to use a computer or to visit the library and look stuff up. Everything else is learnt along the way.

[Acting Like Godot]

Originally Posted by ChristsLight

Because you are not in charge of your own education, you are not inspired to do what you are supposed to do, so your work is sub-standard.

I think especially the last point deserves further consideration. I'm in my last year of college. I have seen that I am told to do things, whether or not it seems worthwhile to me or not.

.... Thoughts?

Well, my thoughts are that people ARE in charge of their own education and they DO have room to choose what they wish to study. This is especially so in higher education.

In college, you get to pick your course, and within the course, you get to pick the subjects you want to take. A couple of subjects are compulsory, but the rest are optional. Some are also assessed by thesis, which means you have a lot of room to pick your own thesis, do your research and write a paper about it.

[Acting Like Godot]

Originally Posted by SlicK

The educational system will have to change because it doesn't quite work anymore. Creativity wasn't required from 99% of employees, before.

I don't necessarily agree that the education system is anti-creative. I guess it depends on which education system you're talking about, and perhaps also the nature of what you're studying.

[Acting Like Godot]

Originally Posted by ChristsLight

My best academic paper came out of inspiration. It was an epistemology class. We were told that we could write on any epistemological topic, and it could be any length, as long as it was at least 8 pages. My paper ended up being 18 pages, and I loved it. In fact, I wanted to make it longer, but didn't have enough time to flesh it out more.

See - this could have been replicated in practically any other discipline.

You could have been in electrical engineering, and you could have been told that you could do a project on anything you liked, as long as it had to do with any electrical engineering topic and met certain minimum requirements.

[justhopingandsearching]

Originally Posted by Acting Like Godot

Well, my thoughts are that people ARE in charge of their own education and they DO have room to choose what they wish to study. This is especially so in higher education.

Agreed. Now if we could get people realize this ...

Originally Posted by Acting Like Godot

In college, you get to pick your course, and within the course, you get to pick the subjects you want to take. A couple of subjects are compulsory, but the rest are optional. Some are also assessed by thesis, which means you have a lot of room to pick your own thesis, do your research and write a paper about it.

I think this may depend on the college you attend because at my college once you picked a major, practically everything save 4 or 5 electives was already chosen for you. You had to take this particular history course and that specific English class, otherwise it would not count towards your major.

It was one of the things that really annoyed me about my college was how very little choice they us.