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Ahmed Hamdy · 11-09-2013 07:38 AM

You have probably spent more than 17 years fighting your way through education. Always being told what to do, and never asked to innovate. You've began to give up on your dreams of inventing something revolutionary like Thomas Edison or introducing something new in physics like Albert Einstein, and started to believe that the greatest thing you can ever achieve is getting the A grade, getting a good job, a nice house, and that's it. You start to fight your way up, memorizing loads and loads of books, thinking you are being 'educated'. But what happens when you get to college? You're told to forget it all, to start all over again, and finally realize your 'A' grade was worthless.

You were never told to figure things out by your self
You were always thought that memorizing is learning
You have always been told that following the status quo is a top priority, and that changing it is impossible and wrong.
In fact, you were never educated.

Just like everyone else, you've lost your youth, and never achieved what you dreamed of.
AND YOU ARE STUCK WITH THE CROWD

All because of an outdated educational system

We need to change that
We need to create a system that belongs to this century, one that can discern the difference between people.
One that does not force you to think of failure as an abomination, but as an opportunity.
One that teaches everybody, not just the young
One that you will love from your heart
One that will help you chase your dream no matter how old you are

So how are we going to do that?
We are going to gather a team, think of a plan, start creating, spread the news, and start a revolution.

So first of all:
1-Planning

Go ahead, describe all the features you want in the new system. Think of every possible idea.
And when we have a grand plan that we all agree on, we shall move on to the next step.

James Comey · 11-09-2013 07:52 AM

As much as I want to change the system, it's one thing to discuss plans but another thing to put them in action.

A lot of students are brainwashed into thinking that school is good for them, and many don't know the truth. If we are to fight the system, we must create groups, organizations, etc. We may want to become writers and spread the truth about education. Once you're set free, the school has no power over you.

There was a previous thread not too long ago with the same subject. I think many users agreed that one of the best ways to fight against the system would be to form some kind of website, a social network, but a special kind. One that is not only students but teachers (former and current) that hate the system as much as we do ourselves. Where we can share and spread ideas. It's one thing to create a support forum for those that hate the system, but it's another to create one on purely changing the system.

Chanku · 11-09-2013 08:10 AM

(11-09-2013 07:38 AM)Ahmed Hamdy Wrote: You have probably spent more than 17 years fighting your way through education. Always being told what to do, and never asked to innovate. You've began to give up on your dreams of inventing something revolutionary like Thomas Edison

I don't think Thomas Edison ever really invented anything. However on topic, I have to agree with Hansgrohe, however, we need to not only form an organization, but gain evidence that it isn't good for students. That it is the opposite of what students are brought to believe, if we have evidence then it will be harder to argue against it.

brainiac3397 · 11-09-2013 10:33 AM

Lightbulb? He did spend forever on trying to find the right filament to make working bulbs that didnt go out a minute later.

Chanku · 11-09-2013 10:41 AM

He didn't invent the light bulb though, he improved it

brainiac3397 · 11-09-2013 10:47 AM

(11-09-2013 10:41 AM)Chanku Wrote: He didn't invent the light bulb though, he improved it

His improvement turned it into a practical product though. Meaning he's considered an inventor because he "invented" a practical lightbulb, even if he didnt actually invent it.

Ahmed Hamdy · 11-09-2013 07:09 PM

(11-09-2013 08:10 AM)Chanku Wrote:
(11-09-2013 07:38 AM)Ahmed Hamdy Wrote: You have probably spent more than 17 years fighting your way through education. Always being told what to do, and never asked to innovate. You've began to give up on your dreams of inventing something revolutionary like Thomas Edison

I don't think Thomas Edison ever really invented anything. However on topic, I have to agree with Hansgrohe, however, we need to not only form an organization, but gain evidence that it isn't good for students. That it is the opposite of what students are brought to believe, if we have evidence then it will be harder to argue against it.

Actually he did invent a lot of things, like the phonograph or the carbon microphone.

**SoulRiser** · 11-11-2013 01:17 AM

Quote:And when we have a grand plan that we all agree on, we shall move on to the next step.

This means the next step will never happen. Giggle

craxyguy562 · 11-11-2013 03:38 AM

Hi, Ariogaisus Welcome

l1qu1d · 11-11-2013 04:47 AM

Not a huge fan of Thomas Edison - I prefer Nikola Tesla

Anyway, the only thing I want is independent learning. I do not want to come into school. I mean seriously. All I wish for is to be given the subjects and topics within the subject that you must know and you do it on your own. Learn and explore all on your own - if there's something you're unsure about that's when you ask for 'professional' help such as of a teacher.

xcriteria · 11-11-2013 06:23 AM

Ahmed, I agree. Brainstorming how a new learning environment should work is an important step toward changing things. Just protesting against what doesn't work, without a vision for what might be done instead, isn't likely to be very effective.

Beyond a vision, and a plan, what next? Like Hansgrohe wrote, it's useful to actually put it into practice and see how it works. Fortunately, a lot of people are already doing this, even if they're still a minority. Not enough people know about these examples, but they serve as one starting point.

A better guide to this is needed, but these links are a start:

A Simple Ed Reform Solution - Connect School Life to Real Life -- started by Dennis Littky, see his TEDx talk, TEDxNYED - Dennis Littky "If we didn't know there was such a thing as school, what would it be?"

Chris Lehman's high school, Science Leadership Academy, is also quite student-focused, and was even featured on a White House hangout not long ago. His TEDx talk, TEDxPhilly - Chris Lehmann - Education is broken is a key talk to check out, and in it, he really tears apart school-as-usual.

New Cedar Rapids school to offer alternative approach -- recently co-founded by a teacher, Shawn Cornally (see his blog there, subtitled "Dealing with the fear of being a boring teacher'.)

Any inspiration in any of that?

And yes, Edison did invent a lot of things... The Inventions of Thomas Edison describes some of them. Edison was also homeschooled, and is a common presence on lists like Intellectually Respected High School Dropouts. Smile

Trekkie_Aspie · 01-04-2014 11:46 AM

Why the hell is that still only alternative education?

no · 01-04-2014 12:02 PM

Oi! *I'm* captain of the necromancy club, thank you very much!

Ky · 01-04-2014 01:16 PM

(01-04-2014 12:02 PM)planetfall666 Wrote: Oi! *I'm* captain of the necromancy club, thank you very much!

You're just lucky School Survival is the equivalent of the Dark Brotherhood; otherwise people listening in might have a problem with your dead-conjuring team.

brainiac3397 · 01-05-2014 05:19 PM

I love the Dark Brotherhood.

Ky · 01-05-2014 05:28 PM

Me too. They save orphans.

brainiac3397 · 01-05-2014 05:31 PM

And make em too.

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