Lifelong Learning - Book Report/Review Example

193251 INTRODUCTION It is undeniable that lifelong learning has given way to raising aspirations. The council-conducted research on participating men students is reported in the article that shows their masculine identities in contradictory, traditional, and aspiratory lights. Learning has been considered as a leveller of inequalities, destroyer of economic barriers and recogniser of social relations. In this context, article has tried to conduct a brief research. It has done a primary study with face-to-face interviews with the candidates who are involved in lifelong learning in different ways. Article has shown how various, multifaceted aspirations have found their way into the lifelong learning arena by creating hopes and dreams for the participators. SUMMARY Article says that social class is multiple, ever-evolving and argues that classed and gendered identifications are discursively constituted depending on how the discourses shape the aspirations through gendered power relations and identifications. The cultural practices and customs colour the worldview, complex social relations, and hierarchies among men. While going through educational process, men assume various masculine identities on different occasions and these identities could be traced to biographical, cultural, emotional and discursive originalities. Through 38 men candidates from diverse backgrounds, women interviewers have gone through educational memories, histories and experience. Two categories one of home students doing university degrees and another, participators of Access to Higher Education Course and while they are all British, most had foreign origin. Result showed that candidates from disadvantaged background had raising aspirations through education, hope of social inclusion, while the second group also possessed talent and special skills. The high level of aspiration has always been prodded by racialised worldview, sometimes aggressively heterosexual. A mixture of parental hopes, middle class values, dependence on the 'ideal good mother', who might have been the single most important influence for life, and also seeking motherly approval. Sometimes the interviewers drew out complex and contradictory masculine aspirations that are at loggerheads with the expected idea of masculinity and its power. The interview distinctly shows that there are grades and shades of masculine power among the learners. No doubt, their aspirations are masculine, stemming from their masculine achievability and psychologically supported by the gendered winning streak. But the achievement proclamations of men are very constantly mixed with their desire for support by the mother figure and winning its approval. The article rightly shows the combination of masculinity with the right amount of childish, almost feminine pure emotions, which downplays the vigorous masculine power. Article shows another side of human nature too. Most of these men could not achieve their dreams earlier due to some reason or other and have adapted lifelong learning. This does not mean that all were deprived or disadvantaged, because some of them might have chosen this as their path. The importance of lifelong learning shows as a firm alternative to earlier loss or as an answer to a late realisation of needing more/another education to fulfil a certain dream. The object of lifelong learning comes across as facilitator of dreams, or a ready path that could be adapted any time. CRITICISM Article shows the importance of lifelong learning as a positive force for which sacrifices of employment, enormous time, great funding need not be made. It is an encouraging article, but solely to men. While it is not wrong when it says that lifelong learning has encouraged aspirations, it is giving only a gendered view from masculine standpoint. Mention of women comes only in the form of two interviewers, although it is tough to understand why females should interview and in what way their genders could contribute to the knowledge. This remains unexplained despite having made the point that interviewers were females. It is difficult not to wonder why the study should be from the masculine side, why not from feminine, or why not a mixed study. Contrary to the popular belief, men are not pitted against women; instead they are shown against different degrees of masculinity. While stating their dependency on their mothers as almost the single, ruling influence in their lives, the apparent psychological angle is not probed much. But it is shown that this dependency is not culture-based. Some memories of childhood sounds rather coloured and romanticised, which is not unusual, as an adult is remembering the childhood landscape. The racial angle is played up without much substantiation. Even after reading the entire article, one remains doubtful how the race and culture have affected either the aspirations or the hope for mother's approval. Article leaves a few lingering doubts about the relevance of mother's support, racial angle, diverse cultures etc. Neither has it been explained that they have any affect on the aspirations of the learners. The reader cannot help wondering how small a contribution the father makes in the children's aspirations! CONCLUSION Undoubtedly, the article is of a 'feel good' kind and once again, it is shown that lifelong learning is a necessity not only as a ready answer to a person's zeal of learning, but also as an important dream creator. All the students of lifelong learning definitely have some kind of aspiration or other. Even seeking parental approval by fulfilling certain hopes of the parent is an aspiration and a positive one. One cannot escape a feeling that the students are trying to justify their decision. This shows the psychological confusion of choosing the lifelong learning as it is still going through that awkward stage when it has not completely justified its own relevance. This article provides a highly personalised view of the students and their problems. No doubt, it is for the authorities and government to create an atmosphere that would justify these aspirations. In the long run, life long learning will definitely have its own place. Now, as the initiation of any great policy, it seems to be floundering a bit. A couple of years ago, working from hope looked catastrophic and today it is accepted. In the same way, lifelong learning will become a routine soon and eventually more and more opportunities have to come into it. It will end up as the most important educational path with multiple life choices. Read More