Our education system is built around an idea that I call “Educator Throne”.
We, as educators, sit on this “throne” and expect students to look at us as “kings”. Sure, we’re willing to listen, but, at the end of the day, we expect them to obey.
Paulo Freire called it “The Baking Concept” where teachers are like banks, filled with precious knowledge and students are like safes, waiting to store it.
Don’t make the mistake of thinking this only happens in public schools. It’s also part of online courses, corporate training and adult learning.
We need to find new ways of education to get into a Modern Golden Age. And we need them now.
Rings true. Which is why I like the Māori word Ako. It means teaching and learning; the teacher is also the learner and the learner is also the teacher.