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When you're talking about solving this problem, please please please consider the role that poverty plays in education. Many of these discussions occur in a va
by fatbird 14y ago
When you're talking about solving this problem, please please please consider the role that poverty plays in education. Many of these discussions occur in a vacuum, absent any considerations about how various externalities affect education. At a minimum, consider examples like school lunches raising test scores because students aren't too hungry to concentrate.
Every problem a child has outside of school, shows up in the classroom as a barrier to learning. If you want to revolutionize education, understanding that is a very good starting point.
- biscarch 14y agoOne thing on my mind is the notion of a "Star Trek Economy". The idea being that in Star Trek, specifically TNG, the basic needs aren't an issue. Food is provided when needed, entertainment and physical fitness are available, etc. I use the Star Trek metaphor because people around HN are very likely to understand what I mean. I think that things like living arrangements, mental health and necessities (food,etc) must be provided in a way that allows focus on learning. The larger problem seems to be a cultural one, which isn't an easy fix, but the aforementioned items are a decent start. From my thoughts, I believe that the approach necessitates starting at a University-type level, with the self-directed learners. From the self-directed learners, we can then extrapolate flexible structure for those that want/need it and expand further to the concept of "classes" or "programs" down the line. I am interested in the fact that graduate level programs in the current model of education tend to go from the rigorous structure of K-12 to very unstructured, research driven. My personal experience doesn't include extreme poverty, but I will make sure I consider the impact of deficits on the educational process.
- yukoncornelius 14y agoThe term you are looking for is a post-scarcity economy.
- biscarch 14y agoThank you very much! I don't know how that slipped my mind.
- johnjlocke 14y agoMaslow's Hierarchy of Needs. You have to take care of survival before you get to betterment and self-actualization. Thank yo for remembering that these things play out in the very real world, not inside a bubble.