- Teddy Noutsos
- Agoura Hills, CA
- United States
This conversation is closed.
An education system built on psychology and the cultivation of innate strengths and interests - with a focus on philosophy
Imagine a school system based on psychology and the cultivation of personal strengths. Where psychology and philosophy are taught in grade school.
It's obvious today that our public education system is outdated and not conducive to creating the best possible society we could strive for. While public education has seen large overhauls since industrialism in the form of standardization and universal compulsory education, the time is overdue for a new renaissance in pedagogy.
How is it that while some children easily receive straight A's while others barely get by with C's, and many drop out all together? There are two reasons I see:
1: Lack of proper cultivation due to familial/social disadvantage
2. Lack of how conducive our pedagogical system is to their personality types.
The first is proven by statistics that a privileged background produces higher likelihood of scholarly success, and the second is proven by the many people who couldn't connect with their studies and yet went on to become self-actualized and successful, like Richard Branson. (His success is DESPITE his education, not because of it!). So, even privilege aside, this is an indication that our current system is perfectly fit for some (the straight A students) and that there COULD hypothetically be a "perfect fit" for someone like a Richard Branson.
So, shouldn't we update the way we look at education? The first proposal is the widespread implementation of psychology. Imagine that as children we are tested according to Jungian personality types, as well as their personal skills and interest sets to determine their greatest potentials. Children and teachers would be put into their respective programs that cultivate the best 'scientific' combination of personalities and skills for maximum realization of potential and self confidence. Also, by teaching philosophy and psychology to children, we will develop more moral and intelligent people. Mental health, confidence, self-actualization