future education

[lonewolf]

I've got out of the habit of doing 'sums' without a calculator

I was brought up to do "mental arithmetic" and still do!!

[theoldcowguru]

They run on light - not necessarily electric.

I never implied using electricity

[FEISTY]

Absolutely. My husband was joint Dux of primary, my daughter was Dux of her primary, my son was Dux runner up (if only he was a bit more careful and had checked his work ). I was first in 1st Year and took part in a local (op-sec, so no names) pageant - places awarded on exam results. Education is important to us and, I think, having the skill to discern the important stuff from a world of information is pretty crucial - sorts out the sheep-like ignoramuses (there's a fight over there and I've no idea why, but I think I'll just join in anyway) from those who move society forward. DH would be in charge of maths and sciences (although I'm no slouch there either), probably also geography and I'd be in charge of languages, including English literature, homeskills, gardening etc. You can, of course, teach all of those things and more whilst doing everything else. Without education, you have nothing. Most of your humour would disappear for a start - you would end up laughing at people tripping over their feet and not much more. As already educated people, you would find that pretty wearing - would you subject your kids to a future of that? It would be foolish not to make the best of everything we still had.

[lonewolf]

it would depend on the event, our situation and what sort of "society" if any we had, the first thing to worry about would be food, water, warmth, security and shelter, anything else, including education, would come a long way down the list.

[theoldcowguru]

Absolutely. My husband was joint Dux of primary, my daughter was Dux of her primary, my son was Dux runner up (if only he was a bit more careful and had checked his work ). I was first in 1st Year and took part in a local (op-sec, so no names) pageant - places awarded on exam results. Education is important to us and, I think, having the skill to discern the important stuff from a world of information is pretty crucial - sorts out the sheep-like ignoramuses (there's a fight over there and I've no idea why, but I think I'll just join in anyway) from those who move society forward. DH would be in charge of maths and sciences (although I'm no slouch there either), probably also geography and I'd be in charge of languages, including English literature, homeskills, gardening etc. You can, of course, teach all of those things and more whilst doing everything else. Without education, you have nothing. Most of your humour would disappear for a start - you would end up laughing at people tripping over their feet and not much more. As already educated people, you would find that pretty wearing - would you subject your kids to a future of that? It would be foolish not to make the best of everything we still had.

I agree with you. I jusf never said it bluntly in case people took offence. I hinted this by saying degress but I did say this depends if the problem is permanent (long-term) and if society recovers from any event.

[jansman]

Reminds me of a film I once watched, a guy decides to take his family to 'safety' away from Big City life.

One of the locals is a classic Nut-job Survivalist who's son forms an attachment with the city guy's daughter (they seem to be the only older teens in the area).
She offers to lend him a book and he asks if there are any pictures, turns out he can't read at all........ But, in the words of his father "He can field strip an M16 and reassemble it blindfold, you could hang him upside-down over a stream and beat him with sticks and he wouldn't tell you a thing" ...... Like I said total

Reading and writing are important, even more so in the PAW because finding someone to teach you stuff is a lot harder then finding a library.
Ditto for basic maths and practical geometry......... I think we won't be needing anyone to understand particle physics for a while though

Teaching would have to be confined to times when you can't get on with other work, such as early evening or during foul weather.

The only other option would be to support specialists, a 'Scribe' class if you like..... But we're unlikely to have monasteries being supported by the wider community to produce them, like we did before Henry VIII.

Why do you think that the Traveller community get so deeply in the gak with the authorities? Its partly because they have such a low level of Literacy

I could not agree more with you. My Wife is in teaching( primary) and tells me that the kids from troubled backgrounds are often way behind. Being behind the rest of the class they often become disruptive, therefore falling farther behind in a downward spiral.
Jeffrey Archer , the politician and author said during his time in prison he helped many illiterate inmates. Indeed he said many of the repeat offenders were illiterate.
Moving forward to a hypothetical PAW, immediate needs would have to be met such as food and shelter. In the medium to long term we would have to improve upon that basic standard of living, as life is about so much more than basic survival. That is where education comes in. The experience of a lifetime can be contained within the covers of a book. Want to know how to grow spuds? Read a book. Want to know how to rear rabbits? Read a book.
Education is everything, and prevents mankind from sinking toward absolute savagery.

[lonewolf]

Moving forward to a hypothetical PAW, immediate needs would have to be met such as food and shelter. In the medium to long term we would have to improve upon that basic standard of living, as life is about so much more than basic survival. That is where education comes in. The experience of a lifetime can be contained within the covers of a book. Want to know how to grow spuds? Read a book. Want to know how to rear rabbits? Read a book.
Education is everything, and prevents mankind from sinking toward absolute savagery.

a bit simplistic in my view, nothing beats experience and skills, depends on the survival rates and what type of person survived.

[jansman]

Two ways of looking at it. If the person with the skill you need is not there, you need to learn. I could go on, but literacy and numeracy and an enquiring mind(all in your head along with any learned skills) are the greatest tools for your well being. After all the more you know ( including the practical skills) the less you need.

[ForgeCorvus]

I'm willing to survive so that the next generation can live.
But if we don't teach them one skill then everything else they learn will have to be from scratch.
If Generation PAW +1 can read then they get a leg up, if not they've got a few years supply of fire lighters..... Isn't that worth a few hours a week?

[theoldcowguru]

When I said teahing history, people also have to consider the understanding that comes with it. Even if the validity of what is official is disputed, history often develops the understanding of why people and society acted in a certain fashion in the past as well. There is a lot more to it but it is all important.