Traditional and Free Education - Essay Example

Children – The nation builders: Children are the most valuable asset for any nation. They are the future of the nation, and their fine mental and physical upbringing is vital for a nation to progress, since its future lies in the hands of the children. Therefore, it is imperative that children be provided with such an environment to study in which they can frequently socialize with one another. It would not only help them utilize their natural abilities to their full, but also inculcate good people skills in them. Realizing the importance of this matter, a lot of research has been conducted in the past in order to find ways to improve the mental and physical health of children and their psychology. Accordingly, new ways have come into existence that would provide an altogether innovative and unique form of educational system to enhance the children’s learning. “Under the umbrella term ‘democratic school(ing)’, it could refer to a number of related notions such as democratic education, equal educational opportunities, democratic or human rights school, democratic leadership, and democratic classroom.” (Tse, 2009). One example of such a unique system of education can be noticed in the A.S Neills Summerhill School, hereon referred to as Summerhill School, founded in 1921 and located in Suffolk, England as mentioned on the website of the Summerhill School. (www.summerhillschool.co.uk, 2004). The educational setup of the Summerhill School is fundamentally based on a democratic educational system, whereby children are not obliged to attend the classes, to gain the formal learning and understanding of the subject. The school organizes staff and student meeting four times a week to give the students an opportunity to express their views on the school laws and regulations. The students share their views with the staff and discuss matters of daily life. This builds a healthy and meaningful interaction between the students and the staff. Besides, the meetings are considered by the students as a forum to devise ways to further improve the system. As a result, the staff understands the students’ approach to bring a change in the system for good. The school nurtures the concept of an activity-based-learning, where the children and staff both indulge in school activities and operations on an equal and regular basis. This helps in making the education interesting and provides the children with a lot of learning and entertainment at the end of the day that ensures their mental and physical health. The individual’s views and approach are given due consideration, respect and importance which facilitates the development of self-confidence in the children. The system focuses on offering the students help with whatever activity they indulge in. It is left upon the children to choose how they would spend their time. Classes are not compulsory. The students are free to adopt any means that would help in the development of their perception about the subject as long as the means are right and justified. Also, there is no fixed time for the students’ learning. They can choose to do whatever they want and for as long as they want. This inculcates effective time management skills in the children, which is vital for them in order to succeed in their practical life. The practice eventually inculcates good managerial and decision making skills in the students and helps them grow to their full both mentally and physically by offering them independence. Besides, the students become more responsible and career-focused when they are encouraged to explore their world themselves utilizing the facilities offered by the school and given the freedom of choice. Their learning and self-discipline is enhanced. They know whatever they are and wherever they are is because of their own decisions, and therefore do not take the circumstances for granted, and rather, try their best to mould them as per their requirement and convenience. Traditional and free education: A comparison: The free education concept raised by the Summerhill School makes the students wish to stay at school and learn in contrast to the traditional educational system employed in the majority of schools all over the world, in which students are reluctant and hesitant to go to school. Developing interest for school is the first and foremost requirement of the child’s journey of education, and Summerhill School achieves that. The children learn the importance of being in the right place at the right time, which is the key to success. The challenging nature of the modern world frequently demands us to make important decisions in no time. free educational system develops the children as sound and good decision makers. The decision making ability is enhanced by the independence offered by the system to the students, unlike the traditional educational system, in which the students are required to abide by the schedules, rules and regulations imposed by the authorities. The traditional educational system leaves very less for the students to decide, and in turn, the students learn to follow and not lead. “Free education would lead to more educated people. More educated people in the society leads to overall improvement in the quality of life in the society.” (Juliet, 2009). Conclusion: “We must be careful as to the ways in which we debate this issue: first, because of the absolute immensity of the impact of education on our society, and second, because of the imponderables the debate throws up.” (www.jamaica-gleaner.com, 2007). The free educational system like the one dwelling in the Summerhill School is likely to develop the children’s self discipline, patience, knowledge and self-confidence. Children grow up as true nation builders. These are the qualities necessary for a nation to progress, in the dynamic and challenging environment of the modern world. The parents should give these aspects due consideration while deciding which school they should choose for their children. Children can only become true nation builders if their parents and teachers shape their education in a way that would enhance not only their knowledge but also their moral character. “Public education erodes personal freedom and thus should be replaced with parental choice, competition, and market solutions.” (Younkins, 2001). References: Juliet, J., 2009. “Benefits of Free Education”. Available at: http://benefitof.net/benefits-of-free-education/. [Accessed: 9 April 2010]. Tse, T. K., 2009. “Teachers and democratic schooling”. Available at: http://www.springerlink.com/content/m833n28701pg780p/fulltext.pdf?page=1. [Accessed: 9 April 2010]. www.summerhillschool.co.uk, 2004. “A.S. Neill’s Summerhill”. Available at: http://www.summerhillschool.co.uk/. [Accessed: 9 April 2010]. www.jamaica-gleaner.com, 2007. “The long-term benefits of free education”. Available at: http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20070729/focus/focus3.html. [Accessed: 9 April 2010]. Younkins, E., 2001. “Education in a Free Society”. The Free Radical. Available at: http://www.quebecoislibre.org/younkins19.htm. [Accessed: 9 April 2010]. Read More