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Hi Gay,
My bias is that our education system should be about producing critical thinkers. I hold this view largely because I think it promotes the greatest possibility for self-determination. I also agree with you that we need to learn to be considerate of others. I think that learning to be respectful and tolerant of others is in part how we promote other people's self-determination and our own in an environment of mutual respect. Is this what you mean by "in a considerate way"?
In my last reply I stop in midstream of thought. I was late to pick up my son. The point that I was trying to make with regards to the criticism of our present education system and the problems of the average Canadian family is that any change to our education system should involve everyone (i.e., parents, community members, educators, etc.) because any substantial change would have an impact on everyone. I think that the prospect of having a discussion on the direction that we want our society to go in would be very exciting and extremely beneficial to our society. However, talking about change and implementing it is seldom easy. As Gay observes, many people will probably have an opinion on what the purpose of education shoud be. Nonetheless, It is a discussion that we should have. Opportunities like this blog are definitely a step in the right direction to achieving this end but I think it would be great to be able to reach a larger population.
So, here is my suggestion: In some schools they have a public speaking competition. There is usually a theme. Does People for Education sponsor public speaking or essay competitions in schools? Why not have students from grades 4 - 12 compete to either write an essay or give a speech on the topic - What is the purpose of a public education? These types of excercises often indirectly (if not directly) get parents involved and through public dissemination of the winning essays, etc., the general public's interest might be caught as well. For instance, have the winner's essay published in local newspapers or carried on local news, etc.. Just suggestions. Maybe People for Education have been sponsoring these types of activities already?
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