1. Education

A discussion (on Monday 24th October 2016) about the position of Education in an ideal society. As a starting point (we will return to specifics about education in future discussions) I hope to set my general principles and offer specifics as illustrations only. The notes here are limited and there will be more offered in the discussion itself.

You are invited to contribute (by e-mail to editor@qercus.co.uk) at any time as a member of the Politics from Scratch group or a total outsider. Your contributions may be added to this page in an edited form. Please identify yourself as group member, U3A member (say which group), as a member of a political party (say which party), or from outside the UK (say where).

Questions:

Why educate people?

Who do we educate?

What is included?

Who teaches?

How is education organised?

Who pays?

Initial answers:

Our Eutopian community needs members who are capable of contributing to the community to a high standard. As our concern is both for the individuals AND the community as a whole, the alternative option of a society built on exploited members is not acceptable.

The capabilities and interests of individuals will vary as will the needs of the community. This will influence the content and length of education/training. In general those requiring the longer education will be expected to make the most critical contribution to society.

It is likely that we will expect most members of our community to make wide-ranging contributions to the future of our society, as parents, workers, politicians, good neighbours, jurors, voters. The good health of the community depends upon its members being educated beyond their expected need and be capable of responding to changing needs of the community.

Individuals need to be well-prepared for life and their education will naturally be shared by family, friends, employers, and the community, but the community needs to be prepared to step in to fill gaps in other provision.

Individuals contribute most to the well-being of their community when they are at ease with the community and themselves. Leisure activities play a large part in that ease and hence need to be included as an integral part of education.

Whilst professional educators must play a major part in education we need contributions from the wider society. Parents, specialist groups, individuals with knowledge/skills, employers, etc must all play a part in ensuring that next generations are well-prepared and that rôle needs to be one of the basic expectations that our community makes on its members. It also sets up a need for us all to be properly prepared to make that contribution.

<Organisation>

<Curriculum - based on the 6 Rs>

All that I have mentioned relates to the well-being of society through education and it makes sense that the community as a whole pays for that education. Whilst much of education and training can be included under that umbrella there are circumstances where it makes sense for individuals or companies to pay in full or part for education. Where skills taught are wholly or mainly designed to enable a private or corporate profit then the profit-taker might be expected to contribute to the costs. Where costs are high e.g. for leisure based education that rewards the individual but not the community then the individual pays - though may still benefit from general resources available to all.

Payment should be expected from those who are not members of the community though consideration should be given to the use of education as a means of improving relationships between communities - through sharing free access or donating education as goodwill.

JC October 2016


Responses welcome from anyone to editor@qercus.co.uk with ‘Politics from Scratch - Education’ in the Subject panel.

The subject will be developed following discussion on 24th October 2016 and any subseqent e-mail input. Education will be explored in greater depth and detail in future discussions.

© John Cartmell 2013