From the Psychology Today website, a piece by Peter Gray, a research professor of psychology at Boston College...
A Brief History of Education
Mr. Gray opens with a statement that presents a viewpoint that I come into constant contact with in my interactions as a homeschooler with the general public...
He goes on to outline why schools being what they are is a direct result of the historical origins of "school." Not the end result of a logical, rational inquiry into how children learn best.One point that Dr. Gray brings out is that play is the natural way that children learn and that school, as it came about historically, does not mix well with play at all. Learning has become the work of children and not something that happens through spontaneous play. And we wonder why so many students quickly lose their love of learning and any internal motivation to apply themselves to study?
When we see that children everywhere are required by law to go to school, that almost all schools are structured in the same way, and that our society goes to a great deal of trouble and expense to provide such schools, we tend naturally to assume that there must be some good, logical reason for all this.
He goes on to outline why schools being what they are is a direct result of the historical origins of "school." Not the end result of a logical, rational inquiry into how children learn best.One point that Dr. Gray brings out is that play is the natural way that children learn and that school, as it came about historically, does not mix well with play at all. Learning has become the work of children and not something that happens through spontaneous play. And we wonder why so many students quickly lose their love of learning and any internal motivation to apply themselves to study?
2 comments:
Thanks! love this article. I fear our nation will never really come away from forced education.
I fear that you are right. Though hope springs eternal!
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