Education Manifesto

Artwork inspired by Claire Boonstra's Manifesto. Our education system was created in a period when ‘knowledge = power’ and it was scaled in the industrial revolution, where the world needed a rapidly growing amount of workers. The foundations of this system haven’t changed since. The system is created to accommodate for the masses and follows a standard. Everybody who doesn’t match the standards, has (or is) a problem. In fact, nobody matches the standards in every aspect. Society today needs very different skills compared to what is being taught at school or university. The way you learn at school (sitting still, broadcasting lessons) doesn’t match natural, preferred or most effective learning styles, such as visualizations (instead of words), figuring it out yourself (incl making mistakes), asking and discussing, reading various books. Standardized tests don’t even assess mastery of a subject. Let alone do they predict someone’s value in later life. Children love learning, as long as they are not forced to learn according to a system which doesn’t reflect their own capacities, rhythm and interests. People (both children and adults) are fundamentally more happy, effective and have proven to be more productive, cooperative and peaceful when their own talents, drives, interests and abilities are put at the center of attention. Every child (high/ low status, high/ low IQ, …) is capable of discovering its interests, talents and capacities – whether it is already at a very young age or a little bit later when having learned what does NOT fit. Focus on self/ value does NOT equal selfishness; nor does it imply “let children be lazy and do only the fun things”. Read the rest of her manifesto by Googling her name. I hope you enjoy this piece!