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For many of us while growing up, school was the one big ‘thing’ to worry about. While sometimes a bit of a chore, I have always valued learning and enjoyed the routine of being exposed to ideas which helped the world make sense. However, many young people have become disenchanted with learning simply because it is an institutional expectation which is advertised as the only way to succeed in life. This is a problem in terms of what we as a society want to encourage young people to aspire to achieve, but also a threat to any lasting appreciation for the wonders of an education.
More than numbers
Personally, I enjoyed school because I generally did what I was told and was praised for doing so. I had never understood the significance of that positive recognition for achievement until I no longer got it – learning is a lot harder when you’re told you’re doing it wrong.
In many systems, students are ritually reduced to numbers in the forms of grades, feedback, progress, and expectations. Perhaps effort can be quantified in some forms, however the issue is that often it is determined by comparison with others – as if there can only be one ‘best student’ or one ‘hardest worker’. Whether or not this ranking can truly reflect success is another debate. Regardless, I doubt it can act as an indication of the joys of learning.
This begs the question of why we really go to school. In many Western countries we go through the movements of institutionalised education as a form of socialisation that prepares us to enter the workforce. Some enjoy it, others don’t…and sadly while we know this disparity exists, we aren’t doing much about it. An even greater danger is the growing normalisation of viewing education as a given; there are millions of kids who don’t even have the chance to decide if they like school or not.
There is evidently more than one extreme to this issue, and it is not fair to compare the struggles relative to one person with those of another. My point is simply that regardless of where you are, education is a gift that in many senses is threatened by a lack of access to or awareness of the empowerment that it can provide.
The UWC movement
In 1962 the aspirations of educational pioneer Kurt Hahn were actualised in the form of Atlantic College – the first UWC. Conceived in the midst of the Cold War, this international learning hub was intended to provide a space for young people to work towards common goals and shared values of global significance.
Now encompassing 18 schools across the globe, United World Colleges (UWCs) work to make education a force to unite people, nations, and cultures for peace and a sustainable future. This mission statement outlines the experience of its students, and as an alumni I can sincerely say that it’s ethos remains ingrained throughout the lives of those it has reached.
The true beauty of attending a UWC emerges with the realisation that such a place of diversity, empowerment and inspiration can exist. With students from over 150 countries, it is a place which genuinely thrives upon difference, and celebrates the fact that we don’t know everything – but are eager to learn. Studying with people who were affected by things I had only ever read about certainly put things into perspective – and is something which I think should be a part of the foundations of all education.
Back to basics
I’ve touched on quite a few issues related to the social value placed on learning enjoyment, the role of institutionalised education systems, as well as the severity of our worldwide problem with access to education. These are all big, big problems, and it’s quite hard not to feel overwhelmed by an inability to directly solve or even counteract their effects. While I realise this has been quite ominous, I hope to inspire a little bit of optimism with the insight that there are most certainly people working towards change, and you have the ability and means to be one of them.
While not intended as a guilt-trip for donations, I can suggest more than one way in which you can make a start as an education activist, including by donating to organisations which are already working to bridge the gap!
- UWC is currently struggling for donors following COVID and you can learn more here: https://www.uwc.org/
- Further, One Girl is running a challenge where participants wear a school dress for a month to raise awareness and funds for girls in Sierra Leone and Uganda to get to school! Learn more at: https://www.onegirl.org.au/
- If you wish to donate directly to my campaign you can find it at https://www.onegirl.org.au/fundraiser/tatecrofts where I’ll be posting updates as I do cool stuff while wearing a dress for a month!
Finally, take some time to reflect on where you are and how you got there. What has your experience meant to you? How has it shaped your journey?
‘learn what you love, and learn to love learning’
🙂