Education as I dream of it

Nearly every country, both its government and people, places education at a high position in its social development. Of course there have many reasons to do this. Among these reasons, one always finds ‘survival considerations’, which could be no better put as’ knowledge is power’. Education acts as merely a training that makes one stronger, just as sports make one stronger. It aims at producing competent elites who are supposed to meet increasingly complex and difficult reality. A man who goes to school has in his mind what he hopes to achieve to survive. He learns new skills to win over his opponents. He feels he’ll fall behind without education, as if every one were trying to overcome and expel him. For these minds, education is the same as many other weapons that give them more chances to beat his competitors. Official schools and colleges are established to fulfill this end. Education in this form is relentless and smells dynamite, apt to spoil humanity.

Here I want to talk about a completely different form of education. Let us go back to thousands of years ago, when Plato set up his academy. Please note that, Plato has no specific intention when he founded his academy. As a matter of fact, this academy originated from informal gathering of Plato’s friends. These people assembled, conversing on what interest them and particularly, discussing Plato’s philosophy. No curriculum had been designated to any purpose. Although it was not open to the public, there had been no fees charged against its members. What drove them together? I could hardly imagine motivations other than this simple one: to enjoy metaphysical activities. Their love of knowledge and their passion of debating glued them together. When they met, they must be meeting in sacred atmosphere. When they had to leave, they must be thinking about next meeting. What is fascinating of this mode of education is that, there is no teachers and students, there is nothing separating one from another. The only judge is truth, and the only charm is personality. In this education, everyone participates as a complete individual. He shares thoughts with others and he gets exalted in spirit. No one has the right to assess another. All are equal and free. They are really free, because they even don't feel environmental oppression. They don't feel cruel competition.

In modern times, we urgently need such education. Needless to say, public schools and colleges are not adequate any more. Obtaining education does not equal attending lectures. Education does not simply mean acquisition of knowledge and skills. Education should become more of a source of spiritual joys, joys through sympathetic dialogues. No sharp distinction between instructors and receivers shall exist. Everyone shall benifit from and contribute to others in ideal education. Every individual should be allowed to open his own schools. When conceiving this education, one should not confine himself to old visions, in which education takes place only in designated places and at designated times. We should go beyond this and make education available everywhere and whenever you are desiring ! Further, education can vary in contents vastly. There should be no must-courses any more. No single assessment system shall make complete sense. Education shall not be solely provided by governments or millionares. All citizens shall take part in.