To kick off our Purpos/ed #500words Take 2 campaign we have Steve Philp, who writes:
In my own setting there are roughly three groups that we educate, each with their own perceptions on what education is for:
- Education for success – these families believe that the school system will give their children opportunities. Despite limited success at higher education themselves, they want that for their children.
- Education for happiness – these families just want their children to be happy. Often with negative experiences of their own time at school, they want their children to feel safe and content within school. Success is often linked with celebrity and being able to get the latest DVD before it is out at the cinema.
- Education for hardship – these families want their children to be able to survive. They tell their children ”if someone hits you, hit back harder”. They often see school as that annoying place that phones the social worker too often. Sometimes there is illiteracy in the family.
While each of these groups have radically different expectations of society, and therefore the purpose of education, they do have one thing in common – they all need hope.
You can continue reading Steve’s contribution at: http://frogphilp.com/blog/?p=561 (please do leave comments for him!)
The list of all contributors during this campaign is at: http://bit.ly/purposedu500
