Blog 2: Learning as Freedom

The Council on Foreign Relations organized a task force in March to discuss national security. The task force believed the problems of public schools threatens national security. With the number of undereducated people it affects the United States to defend themselves against enemies and improve the economy. The task force view students as human capital meaning students learning specific skills so they can work in order to improve the economy. Some conservative scholars do not understand why people that are likely to have a low wage job, should further their education beyond high school. Peter Thiel a capitalist offered upcoming entrepreneurs money if they would drop out of college and take computer classes instead. A hundred years ago the idea of a dual education system was discussed and supported by labor federations. The dual system consisted of some students learning skills for a certain job and other students getting a diverse education that would prepare them for college. John Dewey disagreed with the dual system and had his own view of education. Dewey's view was to learn from life while still receiving a education that will take you beyond high school. By learning like this it will make an individual better overall in the work force and personally. The big picture of John Dewey's view is that learning from what you live or have lived is an important form of freedom.

I agree with the philosopher John Dewey's view of education rather than the dual system or the conservatives view. The conservatives are not teaching you anything to improve your life in a positive way. If you are being taught only skills you need to earn a low wage job, your beginning stereotyped as a blue collar worker. The conservatives are not thinking about someones overall well being in life; however they only care about human capital. The dual system does not seem fair because how would you judge if this individual deserves the right to a better education than someone else. The dual system in my opinion would create tension among students because everyone deserves the right to further their education. John Dewey's view about learning from life while still receiving a education is perfect to me. There are some things you cannot learn in school and there are some things you cannot learn just by living life. I have always heard experience is the best teacher, which it is because you know the consequences once you go through something. Education in general is one form of freedom because if you know what you are talking about, where you are trying to go in life, and what you've been through no one can tell you how to live your life.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/06/opinion/john-deweys-vision-of-learning-as-freedom.html?_r=1
September 5, 2012
10:58pm