My early Enlightenment came when I absorbed and understood the words of George Harrison's 'Within You Without You' from Sgt Pepper's, when I was 14 years old.
However, I think stating school makes us dumber straightforward is overgeneralising. The whole schooling experience? Everything from A to Z?
I think kids do learn and experience valuable things at school, although the underlying mindset and orientation over time has indeed drifted into excess of focus on knowledge and one-sided rational thinking/ideology/propaganda/worldview.
I would thus say “school does not make us dumber “ but “it does not make the most of us “.
I think that the modern schooling problem is that it teaches rather than educates. A teacher transfers from his knowledge to the pupil; an educator assists the pupil to reach his potential, which can be higher than the teacher's. Also, pupils need to learn how to learn.
Comparisons of Teaching and Education (AI generated)
Focus
Teaching: Primarily emphasizes the delivery of content and skill acquisition.
Education: Encompasses a holistic approach to learning and personal development.
Goals
Teaching: Aims to equip students with specific knowledge and skills in a structured environment.
Education: Seeks to foster critical thinking, character development, and lifelong learning.
Methods
Teaching: Often relies on direct instruction, lectures, and assessments.
Education: Employs diverse methods including experiential learning, discussions, and interdisciplinary approaches.
Setting
Teaching: Typically occurs in formal settings like classrooms.
Education: Can occur in various environments, both formal and informal
Assessment
Teaching: Frequently involves standardized tests and performance evaluations.
Education: Focuses on holistic assessments, including personal growth and skills application.
Royal Enfield has commenced operations at its first standalone motorcycle assembly plant outside India in Samut Prakan, Bangkok, Thailand, marking a significant milestone in its global expansion strategy.
The facility, which began operations in December 2024, has an annual installed capacity exceeding 30,000 units and is strategically positioned to serve the growing mid-size motorcycle market in the Asia-Pacific region.
Yes, the indoctrination is rife and critical thinking is not always encouraged. Astrophysics is no exception. For decades now, cosmologists have been chasing research grants where they’ve so often used Einstein’s name as a cash cow for funding. Einstein’s GR for example is riddled with mathematical errors, some of which can be seen in this very brief paper by Australian mathematician, Stephen Crothers:
Inspiring thoughts, Dr. D. Somewhere between a blank slate and formal education is our ideal self. Emerson indicates as much: “Trust thyself: every heart vibrates to that iron string. Nothing is at last sacred but the integrity of your own mind.”
But we were not born blank. We were created uniquely wired, in tune with that iron string, grounded to integrity. “Declares the Lord, “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people” (Jeremiah 31:33).
Clearly, “the world is too much with us,” wrote Wordsworth. We are out of tune. Cultural and spiritual harmony rests on the laws written in our minds and on our hearts. Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3).
Perhaps the teaching practice you're searching for, Mattias, is the Montessori method. The Montessori method is a child-centered approach to education that emphasizes hands-on learning, self-directed exploration, and a "prepared environment" to foster independence. Children choose their own activities, work at their own pace, and learn through experience with specially designed materials, while teachers act as guides rather than lecturers. Key principles include freedom within limits, respecting the child's natural development, and encouraging social interaction in multi-age classrooms.
This is the most impressive piece I've ever read, written by Mattias. It's incredible how Mattias describes school, precisely how I felt, especially in elementary school. In high school, I knew better how to filter what the teachers were saying. It's truly incredible how Mattias captures reality here. I'm impressed because I've always felt this way but never been able to put it into words. Thank you, Mattias.
Wonderful , I once saw a documentary about a few children in India and a computer and how they figured it out without teacher .
I always say scools are there for a goal in life and money for adults , not for children its like with nature and alot of things , leave it alone and observe , have a wonderful day Guy
I feel validated. I ended up teaching, for the first time, to children, because necessity forced me to go to this hostile-to-White people native remote reserve, in Quebec, deep in the wood, and well-known for its misery –child suicide is not rare–, without being a goverment approved teacher, and it made a profound impact on my life. Working in that unsupervised school environment allowed me a lot of freedom. We made crepe with water, flour and one egg with my little gas stove in the school yard, we spent a lot of time in the forest as well. These children only wanted to participate in the education ritual on their own terms, which was perfect to the undoctrinated me.
My early Enlightenment came when I absorbed and understood the words of George Harrison's 'Within You Without You' from Sgt Pepper's, when I was 14 years old.
Thank you Mattias.
Blessings and appreciation from Sydney Australia.
Great stuff from Mattias, as usual. Thanks!
However, I think stating school makes us dumber straightforward is overgeneralising. The whole schooling experience? Everything from A to Z?
I think kids do learn and experience valuable things at school, although the underlying mindset and orientation over time has indeed drifted into excess of focus on knowledge and one-sided rational thinking/ideology/propaganda/worldview.
I would thus say “school does not make us dumber “ but “it does not make the most of us “.
I think that the modern schooling problem is that it teaches rather than educates. A teacher transfers from his knowledge to the pupil; an educator assists the pupil to reach his potential, which can be higher than the teacher's. Also, pupils need to learn how to learn.
Comparisons of Teaching and Education (AI generated)
Focus
Teaching: Primarily emphasizes the delivery of content and skill acquisition.
Education: Encompasses a holistic approach to learning and personal development.
Goals
Teaching: Aims to equip students with specific knowledge and skills in a structured environment.
Education: Seeks to foster critical thinking, character development, and lifelong learning.
Methods
Teaching: Often relies on direct instruction, lectures, and assessments.
Education: Employs diverse methods including experiential learning, discussions, and interdisciplinary approaches.
Setting
Teaching: Typically occurs in formal settings like classrooms.
Education: Can occur in various environments, both formal and informal
Assessment
Teaching: Frequently involves standardized tests and performance evaluations.
Education: Focuses on holistic assessments, including personal growth and skills application.
Regarding Royal Enfield...
Royal Enfield has commenced operations at its first standalone motorcycle assembly plant outside India in Samut Prakan, Bangkok, Thailand, marking a significant milestone in its global expansion strategy.
The facility, which began operations in December 2024, has an annual installed capacity exceeding 30,000 units and is strategically positioned to serve the growing mid-size motorcycle market in the Asia-Pacific region.
Yes, the indoctrination is rife and critical thinking is not always encouraged. Astrophysics is no exception. For decades now, cosmologists have been chasing research grants where they’ve so often used Einstein’s name as a cash cow for funding. Einstein’s GR for example is riddled with mathematical errors, some of which can be seen in this very brief paper by Australian mathematician, Stephen Crothers:
https://vixra.org/pdf/2104.0006v1.pdf
lovely, thank you.
16th C smart English 11 year old kids might be at Oxford studying Latin, Greek and Hebrew. I gobbled up integration and differential calculus.
Kids minds are ripe for stretching. I am 74 so my education did that in many subjects. Now? Dumbing down.
Inspiring thoughts, Dr. D. Somewhere between a blank slate and formal education is our ideal self. Emerson indicates as much: “Trust thyself: every heart vibrates to that iron string. Nothing is at last sacred but the integrity of your own mind.”
But we were not born blank. We were created uniquely wired, in tune with that iron string, grounded to integrity. “Declares the Lord, “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people” (Jeremiah 31:33).
Clearly, “the world is too much with us,” wrote Wordsworth. We are out of tune. Cultural and spiritual harmony rests on the laws written in our minds and on our hearts. Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3).
Perhaps the teaching practice you're searching for, Mattias, is the Montessori method. The Montessori method is a child-centered approach to education that emphasizes hands-on learning, self-directed exploration, and a "prepared environment" to foster independence. Children choose their own activities, work at their own pace, and learn through experience with specially designed materials, while teachers act as guides rather than lecturers. Key principles include freedom within limits, respecting the child's natural development, and encouraging social interaction in multi-age classrooms.
Perhaps it was once , as you describe ?
Matthias…I cannot express how AMAZING THIS POST IS. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
I absolutely LOVE the conversation with the children!!! Thank you SO much for sharing here. I will share this and re read it a few times. Excellent!
This is the most impressive piece I've ever read, written by Mattias. It's incredible how Mattias describes school, precisely how I felt, especially in elementary school. In high school, I knew better how to filter what the teachers were saying. It's truly incredible how Mattias captures reality here. I'm impressed because I've always felt this way but never been able to put it into words. Thank you, Mattias.
Wonderful , I once saw a documentary about a few children in India and a computer and how they figured it out without teacher .
I always say scools are there for a goal in life and money for adults , not for children its like with nature and alot of things , leave it alone and observe , have a wonderful day Guy
I feel validated. I ended up teaching, for the first time, to children, because necessity forced me to go to this hostile-to-White people native remote reserve, in Quebec, deep in the wood, and well-known for its misery –child suicide is not rare–, without being a goverment approved teacher, and it made a profound impact on my life. Working in that unsupervised school environment allowed me a lot of freedom. We made crepe with water, flour and one egg with my little gas stove in the school yard, we spent a lot of time in the forest as well. These children only wanted to participate in the education ritual on their own terms, which was perfect to the undoctrinated me.
A French translation: https://dieudonnedard.substack.com/p/2025-pourquoi-lecole-nous-rend-plus