Stitching @ Elna 13/14 August

A woman who had grown up and schooled in Serbia during the Eastern Bloc, commented how her experience expanded her general world knowledge. Her schooling had an intense workload, increasing the number of subjects as she progressed, graduating with 15 subjects! She feels that although it was very difficult at the time, it has served her later in life, especially by having to learn so many languages (6 including Latin). This broad and sound knowledge base has equipped her with skills to engage with a wide range of cultures during her global travels. She questions the “western” approach to learning [I think mainly the USA] where learners specialise far too early narrowing their knowledge base (and not necessarily deepening it) resulting in a parochial [non-global] vision. She is shocked by the apparent lack of general knowledge and global awareness of the youth, in spite of the apparent shrinking of the world through contemporary communication.

Another commentator discussed how technology can impede motivation to learn basic skills; why learn arithmetic when a calculator is readily at hand? This comes as a theme; how technology replaces basic skill functions, yet understanding the principles underpinning these basic functions are necessary for mastering future more complex functions (mathematics builds on arithmetic, etc). There seems to be a lack of respect for the learning process; that learning is a life-long process which builds on previously mastered skills, functions, awareness etc. The prevailing instant-gratification-use-up-spend-now-pay-later global culture does not encourage deep learning and understanding.

Education is a process whereby learners are introduced to Masters of the past, so that these knowledge bases can be developed, resulting in the new (innovation/invention). This model is to encourage new thought and awareness. This commentator feels that the current state of education does not do this. Its agenda is to produce conforming agents who will maintain the Status Quo.