Great read, echoes some of the arguments put forth by the late John Taylor Gatto in his books (I have only read Weapons of Mass Instruction).
While fulfillment is a worthier pursuit, I think both happiness and fulfillment are fleeting emotions and therefore inappropriate as potential purposes of life. I cannot say that I have a more appropriate purpose to provide, but given our social nature I think a possible purpose is to be in the service of others. This could be on a local (family, friends, neighbours) or global (via the arts, science, business) scale. This does not contradict your statement about individuality as there are many ways in which we can be of service to others.
I think the main (academic) purpose of schooling should be to develop our abilities to think and communicate as these are the foundational skills from which all other skills can be developed.
With regards to confirmity, I think this is somewhat inevitable when working at the scale of modern schools. Students spend more time with peers than teachers even in a classroom setting. Given that schooling take place at such formative years the environment has such a significant part to play. Creativity flourishes in non-judgemental environments where learners feel safe to make mistakes. Peers tend to be much more judgemental than teachers and therefore conformity ensues with or without the negative and positive feedback loops - it is just a matter of whose conformity. More often than not, the peers are given preference over adults.
Talk to most educators and you will find that the biggest factor in a child's learning is the parent. Where open parents are present members in the child's life, you find more prosperous learners. The student's creative interests can be facilitated best by parents.
These were just different thoughts that entered my mind while reading this article. Looking forward to reading the final installment shortly.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. The final installment just went out, "The Prestige Trap".
I do agree that happiness is a fleeting emotion but the reason I chose fulfillment was because it doesn't seem as volatile. Although it lends many definitions, the definition I thought of was raising your baseline satisfaction with life. Say, raising the mental state you approach each day with.
That being said, I can see why being in the service of others is fulfilling. I share my thoughts because I think they may be helpful to some people, I know that not direct service of others but in a way its trying to put my own good into the world through writing. As social beings - yes its a great way to find purpose and often some of the most fulfilled and pleasant people I meet work in the service of others and the most unhappy don't have meaningful connections that they continuously nurture.
I think conformity is inevitable, but not impossible to combat at the individual level. I think if people are more aware of it then they can learn to follow their own interests.
On creativity, yes being around peers most of the time in a judgmental environment makes it insurmountable harder to find the courage to be creative.
Great read, echoes some of the arguments put forth by the late John Taylor Gatto in his books (I have only read Weapons of Mass Instruction).
While fulfillment is a worthier pursuit, I think both happiness and fulfillment are fleeting emotions and therefore inappropriate as potential purposes of life. I cannot say that I have a more appropriate purpose to provide, but given our social nature I think a possible purpose is to be in the service of others. This could be on a local (family, friends, neighbours) or global (via the arts, science, business) scale. This does not contradict your statement about individuality as there are many ways in which we can be of service to others.
I think the main (academic) purpose of schooling should be to develop our abilities to think and communicate as these are the foundational skills from which all other skills can be developed.
With regards to confirmity, I think this is somewhat inevitable when working at the scale of modern schools. Students spend more time with peers than teachers even in a classroom setting. Given that schooling take place at such formative years the environment has such a significant part to play. Creativity flourishes in non-judgemental environments where learners feel safe to make mistakes. Peers tend to be much more judgemental than teachers and therefore conformity ensues with or without the negative and positive feedback loops - it is just a matter of whose conformity. More often than not, the peers are given preference over adults.
Talk to most educators and you will find that the biggest factor in a child's learning is the parent. Where open parents are present members in the child's life, you find more prosperous learners. The student's creative interests can be facilitated best by parents.
These were just different thoughts that entered my mind while reading this article. Looking forward to reading the final installment shortly.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts. The final installment just went out, "The Prestige Trap".
I do agree that happiness is a fleeting emotion but the reason I chose fulfillment was because it doesn't seem as volatile. Although it lends many definitions, the definition I thought of was raising your baseline satisfaction with life. Say, raising the mental state you approach each day with.
That being said, I can see why being in the service of others is fulfilling. I share my thoughts because I think they may be helpful to some people, I know that not direct service of others but in a way its trying to put my own good into the world through writing. As social beings - yes its a great way to find purpose and often some of the most fulfilled and pleasant people I meet work in the service of others and the most unhappy don't have meaningful connections that they continuously nurture.
I think conformity is inevitable, but not impossible to combat at the individual level. I think if people are more aware of it then they can learn to follow their own interests.
On creativity, yes being around peers most of the time in a judgmental environment makes it insurmountable harder to find the courage to be creative.