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Sir Ken Robinson calls for educational transformation, but does his vision create a new set of systematic problems?
Those who spend any amount of time in education generally agree on one thing: this could be better. I know very few people who would adamantly defend that the current model of education is working efficiently enough to meet the needs of today’s diverse learners. It is for this reason that Sir Ken Robinson’s research and proclamations generate such interest among educational circles. However, diverse opinions start to surface when it comes to the practical implementations on how to address the change that is needed.
Robinson (2010) states that education does not need to be reformed by improving a broken system, but needs to undergo a complete transformation. By simply looking at the layout of a 21st-century workforce, it is evident that such a transformation is required.
Robinson is onto something as he describes the need to reject an industrial model that promotes conformity among learners and embrace an agricultural model that endorses customization of learning. However, my contemplative side wonders if a complete rejection will swing education too far into a direction that will cause different sets of systematic issues. To say this in a different way, we may remedy our current struggles only to create new ones.
I fear that removing common standards altogether will leave the organic process at the mercy of a young student’s unpredictable and ever-changing motivational level and willingness to take ownership of learning. Furthermore, on a personal level, I have had students enter my math class completely uninterested and even verbally declaring their disdain for the subject. These same students have written me letters from their Calculus and Trigonometry classes in high school thanking me for challenging them, pushing them, and creating learner buy-in where there was none. Math is now a strong subject for them and they are considering working in fields that are based on mathematical concepts. This is not self-promotion; I know these situations happen every day, in every school, in every state. My conviction is that young learners need teachers to teach them how to make difficult choices, teach them how to take ownership, and teach them how to find their voice, especially when it is not present naturally. When this transformation happens in our educational system, we need to seriously consider how to balance these organic processes with opportunities for students to be exposed to content that is challenging, pushing them not to give up on it when they could easily change their customized plan.
In no way am I disagreeing with Robinson, in fact, I view these thoughts as a continuation of his proposal, thinking through some of the implications that will help sustain this transformation he calls for.
References:
TED. (2010). Bring on the learning revolution! | Sir Ken Robinson [Video file].
Retrieved from https://youtu.be/r9LelXa3U_I
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