What Kind of Society Do I Want to Be Shaping?

In his book, A Can of Worms, Nick Terrones writes, Education, for me, is an institution for hope. Children never fail to offer their thinking in the most beautiful and honest of ways. If I carry a shred of hope for their future, then I must shoulder the responsibility to address their wonderments, insights, and understandings, as uncomfortable as they may make me. …When I think of the role of education in society, I see it like a double-edged sword. On one sharp edge, education has been used to maintain the status quo that serves the dominant interests of our country. It has demanded a homogeny of thought that disregards cultural ways of knowing and being. It has instilled a false sense of certainty in knowledge that is anchored in a particular viewpoint and that serves particular interests. It has also been tethered to limited ideas, including the notion that education is to get children school-ready rather than life-ready, which would leave them poised with the relational and emotional skills they need to navigate the complexities and uncertainties in life. On its other edge, the progressive approach to education that I follow is feared by those who seek to preserve the status quo. Educational institutions can spark social and cultural change. I believe that education shapes society, and a question that I hold for myself is, "What kind of society do I want to be shaping?" A Can of Worms is part of the Reimagining Our Work (ROW) book series. Learn more at exchangepress.com/row

For more information about Exchange's magazine, books, and other products pertaining to ECE, go to www.ccie.com.

© 2005 Child Care Information Exchange - All Rights Reserved | Contact Us | Return to Site