One of the reasons I became a teacher was to help the individual. The individual student exists to better himself or herself through means of productivity. Now, this productivity can be measured in many different ways, but it is fundamental to the learning paradigm that the individual remain central.
"The Changing Nature of Knowledge" video discusses the idea that there are two kinds of learning going on today: internal and external. There are "networks" within the individual's head and within his or her sphere of influence. The video emphasized that since the external network is more able to be "learner controlled," it should be the focus of education in the future. This is absurd. Both are extremely relevant, but the individual is of paramount importance. There is no society without the unique qualities and traits the individual relays to those around him or her.
Socialism in School
On paper, there is no reason to doubt ideologies of pluralism over the singular; however, there is cause for concern. When one seeks to downplay the role of the individual, there is a potential infection brewing in society. Since society is made up of individuals, it is important to put the "pieces" of the puzzle as primary to the "puzzle" as a whole. The picture may be a beautiful work of art, but with missing pieces, it ceases to be what it aspires towards, and becomes just a burden and blemish of incompleteness.
This idea of "collectivism" is not new... and it has not achieved more than mixed success in the past. In fact, a burden that is unseen until it is too great to effectively handle causes a cancer to fester where a process leading to productivity should be.
The following quotations identify pause for thought:
"Collectivism means the subjugation of the individual to a group -- whether to a race, class or state does not matter. Collectivism holds that man must be chained to collective action and collective thought for the sake of what is called 'the common good'." -- Ayn Rand click here for more on collective thought
"collectivism ... treats society as if it were a super-organism existing over and above its individual members, and which takes the collective in some form (e.g., tribe, race, or state) to be the primary unit of reality and standard of value." -- Prof. Fred D. Miller click here for more on collectivism
Can we in the educational community reject our oaths as inspirational mentors to those students who need us for their personal success, in order to follow a business model of modernity which has failed?
The article on Connectivism says that "the pipe is more important than the content within the pipe." There is no argument that the construct for learning is more important and long-lasting than the information being learned at any given time. However, without the individual pieces, a pipeline cannot be formed. Each section of pipe is fundamental to the survival of the whole. click here to read more on "Connectivism"
Let us hold to what is sacred. If we cherish our students, there will be societal rewards. Allowing the individual to "melt" into the stew of uniformity does not and will not help a society built on the crucial characteristics of bravery and nobility inherently found in individuality.
