Illich states that schools should ask “What kinds of things and people might learners want to be in contact with in order to learn?” instead of “What should someone learn?” His point that schools are more focused on forcing the proper ideas onto students is incredibly salient. As a student myself I know that if I was given more freedom in what and how I studied, I would probably work much harder for each class instead of picking and choosing my favorite classes.
The statement that the current school system teaches children that the world is a “pyramid of classified packages” really scared me. Personally, I like to think that I am able to access any part of my surroundings if I work hard enough…but maybe that work is simply seeking out “the proper tags” required to unlock the packages…I think that I might be a little more brainwashed that I orignially thought. It seems that Illich wants to transform the existing system of locked doors (that can only be opened by professors or higher-ranking people) into one of open doors (equally available to the students).
Illich’s theory of education as a unit of networks available to students reminds me of the ideas proposed by Nelson. For some reason, however, the ideas presented to Illich are not as scary to me as those of Nelson. I know that I’ve said this before, but I love that both of these authors are concerned with instilling some form of intrinsic motivation within students. I believe that this truly is the key to having a successful school system. Creating a system that is capable of going in any direction depending on the interests of individuals is exactly what our society needs. I believe that Illich’s networks do, in fact, create the pathways needed for this type of education: channels are created to get students in contact with educational objects and peers, skills, and even different types of teachers.
The last thing that I wanted to discuss is Illich’s statement that “Technology is availablet to develop either independence and learning or bureaucracy and teaching.” During my English 295 class last semester, we discussed binary pairs and the ways in which they are set up. In our language, the positive almost always comes first. For example, good versus bad. Following this rule, Illich is arguing that “independence and learning” are much better than “bureaucracy and teaching” (or, in other words, the system we have now). He states, therefore, that no true learning occurs in our current school systems…every type of learning takes place outside of the system on behalf of the individual. I think that I would aruge that, at least in my case, school starts my learning. It is through my work at home that is spurred by class discussion that I really learn…I learn what I am truly interested in. I remember the things that I discover on my own more than those forced on me by classes.
Original post by jessica
