Why is our education like this?

By: Peter Druckenmiller

Posted: 10/7/08

Education today, whether public or private, is centered around a strict division: there are educators, those with knowledge; and the students, those without knowledge. The result is the stagnation of ideas, the taming of radicalism, and the preservation of the status quo.

Classes are set up with an "educator" dictating to students certain concepts or "facts." These nuggets of knowledge are meant to be absorbed by the students, memorized unquestioningly, recited at some pre-determined point, and most are ultimately forgotten once the student has proved proficient enough to advance to the next class where the cycle begins anew.

Whether the students truly understand and appreciate the information presented is secondary to whether the student can recite enough to earn a passing grade. Furthermore, students are unable to challenge the information presented so "knowledge" becomes removed from practical experience and interpretation.

For example, the capital of Oregon is Salem. Most students at one time or another have "learned" this as well as the other 49 states and capitals. But never was it explained why or how these capitals came to be. The capitals and states become isolated and disconnected from any interaction with the students and their lives.

A superior education model would be if students were able to interact with students from other cities and states thus exchanging ideas and cultures and truly "learning" about these other places as more than dots on a map to be memorized. Students become empowered as their own "educators" and are liberated from the meaningless task of memorization and regurgitation. Apply this same model on a global level and now students truly can become citizens of the world.

Now there are those who would say the previous model won't work. The main argument is that students aren't motivated enough to be self-educated. Technically the doubters are correct - students are not currently motivated enough because their wills and inquisitive minds are crushed by years under the current "education" model, an educational Catch-22.

Some would argue that in college, students are challenged to "think for themselves." While this may be true in some cases, it is sadly the exception and not the rule. When was the last time that any student here at OSU took part in a round table discussion in any class? Sadly, these inclusive methods are mostly isolated to a few English and writing classes.

Perhaps it is the size of the classes that inhibit students from being involved in class discussions in all subjects. As students, shouldn't we demand that the quality of our education be the highest possible and if size is the obstacle shouldn't it be removed?

Perhaps it is the way classrooms are set up - the "educator" is placed at the front of the room while the students are facing forward, unable to communicate to any but those immediately around them. Again, why are we allowing this instead of insisting that classes be set up to encourage class discussions?

I believe the most likely culprit to be that after 12 years of being discouraged from original thought and trusting others to do the educating, college students have accepted the role of the "obedient uneducated."

Obedience is the end goal of the current system of "education." An informed free-thinking society would lead to the challenge of the current institutions of power. This would run counter to creating a stable populace who obeys and allows others to rule. It also ensures those who are in power one day will be so the next. Free thought is stifled for the sake of order and security.

In an apathetic, unchanging society, the poor will always be poor, the wealthy will always be wealthy, and the middle class will decline towards poverty. Sound familiar?

It is our responsibility as college students to force institutional change, beginning here at OSU. Tired of over-crowded classes? Let's do something about it. What about droning lectures - anyone excited for those? We have all seen protests and demonstrations regarding Darfur, Iraq, and the like; why aren't we vocally opposing a culture of elitist thought that is present here?

The tool that ought to lead to intellectual freedom is the internet. Why couldn't a physics class on campus routinely connect to guest speakers and other physics classes from around the globe? This would allow for the exchange of ideas and the meeting of minds in a manner that has only been dreamt of before. Internet video-conferencing brings people from all corners of the planet with diverse backgrounds and thoughts together.

If collegians are content to have truth and knowledge dictated, then who are we to criticize the world we live in? The blame would lie with us as much as with those who actively perpetuate the myth that there are those with knowledge and those who know nothing.

After all, to borrow from JFK, "we all inhabit this same small planet." Isn't it time we all shared in where we're going? Where better to begin than with our education?