Modern Education

A few thoughts about today's system of education:

The ancient schoolmaster possessed two advantages over the modern educator. First, he knew exacctly what kind of a person he wished to produce. . . Secondly, he agreed in form upon an inquiry-based or knowledge-centered - as opposed to a child-centered - approach to education.

He (modern teacher) substitutes class preparation and teaching technique for knowledge and eros (source of virtue in learning)....In many instances, the moderen lesson plan disguises the teacher's embarrassing lack of knowledge, especially of the sort relating that day's gobbets of information or activity to fundamental human concerns. To foster this appearance, new courses and new departments spring up in the hope that once pulverized, the body of knowledge will yield up all its secets in one of its stray particles even to the most indolent mind.

...it adds enormously ot the burden of being a teacher, who must struggle to embody the ideal and who must take responsibility for cultivating in his students a sense of conscience and style both inside and outside the classroom.

Taken from Norms & Nobilities, by David Hicks
Other readings on modern education: A Thomas Jefferson Education

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