Once I thought about the question that what the education is indeed, a key word popped up into my mind: enlightening. So what can we enlighten to children? The interest, the knowledge, or their character? From my previous work as a teacher for children, I think to enlighten children’s interests to the knowledge is critical in their early stages.
I realized I narrowed it a bit down until I read John Dewey’s My Pedagogic Creed. John believed the true education comes through the stimulation of the child’s powers, and this is needed from the demands of social situations in which the child finds himself. From a perspective of social context, any education for children sets an expectation to shape their sense of citizenship and belonging. This is what I greatly agree with. Under this circumstance, children’s own instincts and powers could help themselves to construct a series of recognitions towards the society. It is can be described as constructivism to some extent. John gave me a broad mind to look on the education, other than enlightening the interests. The education respects children’s initiatives with an insight into the psychological base, also help to stimulate their values without much pressure. I was very appreciated John that he answered the true meaning of education in a professional way from two sides. He filled a gap in my conception of education from different views.
Hi, Xiaoying
Your ideas remind me of my earliest thoughts about education. In the field of education, I also pay attention to children's education. My childhood experiences as a child and observing the childhood of other people around me make me think that a person's infancy plays a very important role in the future growth of this person. The current Chinese education is more focused on how to improve performance. Schools, teachers, and parents have somewhat ignored the discovery of different children's own abilities. Many children cannot perform well in exam-oriented education and their abilities have not been fully discovered. This is a very sad thing. I often think that if we inspire and stimulate children's own potential before school…
Hi, Xiaoying
I agree with you that enlightening plays a key role in education. Not only for the children's education, but it could also apply to any other field. Education is not simply training people to do something or to learn something. It should inspire and develop the interest of students and learners. Teach people how to fish instead of giving people fish is more important in education.
As you mentioned about John's points, respects children's initiatives with an insight into the psychological base, also help to stimulate their values without much pressure, are also a good instruction for all other learners.
Sungling.
Hi Xiaoying, I must say that I agree with your initial idea, that a good way to enlighten children is to tap into their interests. As a former language teacher, I can tell you that students are much more likely to produce the target language, written or spoken, when asked to talk about themselves, people (and pets) close to them, or their interests and hobbies. Quite simply, it holds more personal relevance and meaning for them, and discussing a familiar topic can help ease their production anxieties.
I also agree with what you said in the second half of your post about cultivating in children a sense of citizenship and belonging through recognition. It is important for children at every age…