What would education in a SolarPunk society look like to you?
Curious to hear people’s ideas on how education would look in such a world.
For me, I’d like to see it moved away from testing and results based learning.
A stronger focus on physical engagement with things, e.g. learning biology by going out and cataloging wildlife and learning what’s in a local ecosystem before coming together and researching findings and looking for new questions to ask.
Less sitting around at desks being fed information and a greater focus on individual agency in exploring topics of interest.
Not to say there isn’t a time and a place for “high level” stuff where you need to deep dive into books and listen to lectures, but there needs to be a greater balance in methodology.
I'm so interested in this subject, but I have no societally-wide answers. I'm coming at this from the perspective of someone solarpunky who will have a child soon, and then as someone who will be educating that child eventually. I know what I WILL NOT do is send them to American public school, because of my own traumatising experience in that situation. Also because I live in the UK now. But I don't want to send them to UK public school either, if I can help it. Still too much focus on rule following and "behaviours" as things to be changed, instead of behavior as communication.
In the years before kiddo goes to school, or if I choose to home educate, I'm gonna try pulling in some inspiration from montessori/waldorf/reggio emelia styles. (I'm realising now that I know those names but not exactly what they stand for anymore. Gotta redo my research, because I know they're all a mixed bag)
But I think the ideal for school is time in nature, problem solving, finding answers over memorising them, etc. Big emphasis on time in nature, too-- I very much love tech and that should play a part in education too, but learning how the world in its most basic state works is so important. Especially with regards to where food and utilities come from.
Hey, I really enjoyed reading your comment. I'm also expecting a baby soon and am in the UK.
I'm also reluctant to send my kid to school as I just don't think it's very effective for learning for most children. The only concern I have is making sure they have enough time with other kids but I'm sure we'll figure something out!