by Sandra Gillhouse

Created on: March 30, 2010   Last Updated: May 07, 2010

We must treat students as three dimensional beings, if we want to see a real change in education. Curriculum created with the understanding that people are body, mind, and spirit, rather than cardboard cut-outs.

Education should increase wisdom not merely “knowledge,” because data fades, but wisdom is forever. And wisdom encompasses the whole person. Most curriculum today fails to educate because they are not allowed to encourage thinking, and thinking is what promotes wisdom. Until now we have built-in curriculum that simply states a broad sectored point of view. The one we want them to believe. The one we were forced to believe. I hate to say it, but it feels more like political agenda rather than true education.

Education reform must have a solid foundation of these core concepts, awareness, honesty and responsibility. Everything from basic reading primers to math can and should be based on honesty.White washing past mistakes don't make them disappear. Admitting and discussing them is what will heal the hurts they have left behind.We won’t grow as a nation if we stifle our students ability to think and reason. Starting with historical truths, that’s right I said truth and nothing but the truth, followed by asking the questions, “what do you think, and what would you do differently?” stretches their minds and shows regard for them in ways that encourages them to learn. If we continue to placate our failures by continuing to tell the same lies, then we can expect more of the same failure in future generations. Truthfully, they know we have been making things up anyway.

Even computation skills are not abstracts, but basic tools under which we all apply in our daily lives. Especially with the relentlessly emergent technologies. Math experiences that can be contextualized within these core concepts, which will go a long way in developing stronger math and science students. Why, because they will believe in it more when they are seeing it put to practical use like computer and/or gaming programs, construction and electronics. Even basic math skills taught with real-time meaning sticks to the memory better than rote. For instance understanding why 2+2 =4, supported by all three concepts, makes a difference in how well young minds assimilate with new information.

We're faced with so many social issues today that the role of educator has begun to feel more like a warden in the upper grades—everyone is looking out for trouble with one eye leaving only half a mind for actual teaching. Think about this,  the possibility that our kids may have given up on trying to get us to change as a bitter hateful society and simply joined on their own terms. After all no-one has asked them the vital questions, nor has anyone shown them that we regard their ideas about social and historical problems. We don’t let them think. Surely we need to share our knowledge with them. We need to share our experiences and collaborative understandings as a community. But accepting that it’s their future and they need to indulge their own wisdom. As a wise man once said. “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results.” So the real question is are we going to keep doing the same thing over again in our education programs or are we ready to evolve?

Learn more about this author, Sandra Gillhouse.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.