A Child's Education Is Their Power
To many children, their school education is something to “get through”. It’s something they’re forced to do before they can move on to the next thing. It’s a necessity rather than an opportunity.
And that attitude is only hardened by some of the things our children are asked to learn. Will they ever really need to know what a subjunctive clause is? Will it matter if they can’t remember when the Battle of Hastings was fought? If they can’t speak a foreign language, will it prevent them from ever leaving the UK? Probably not.
Many people argue that the point of education is to prepare children for the world as it is today. Are there not more relevant subjects and themes that will equip them better? Is it not time to make the curriculum fit for the modern world? Absolutely right, but it’s only part of the story.
They say that knowledge is power. So, if education gives you knowledge, then education gives you power. The point of education is to give your child power.
Not power over others, but the power to determine their own future. Education gives them the power to think and analyse. It gives them the confidence to make decisions. It gives them choice and options. There is nothing more powerful than that.
As we get older, we tend to appreciate the importance of education much more. Immersed in the competitive realities of life, we understand how it can help us improve and do better. But when we’re young, it’s hard. The rewards for our effort seem so far off.
The Real Value in Education is Learning to Learn
But for most of us, it’s not about the subjunctive clause or the Battle of Hastings. It never was. The tool your child is developing isn’t necessarily knowledge of English or History. The tool they are developing is the capacity to learn.
It almost doesn’t matter whether you think the material they’re asked to learn has little value: the Greek alphabet, the home grounds of all the Premier League football teams, or names of flowers. They are developing the skill to learn.
Admittedly it would be much better to learn things of greater value, but we should never under-value the skill of learning. So next time you see your child working on something they’re unlikely to ever use for the rest of their lives, make it matter. Tell them that every ounce of knowledge they consume is power. Tell them, the more they know when they’re young, the more power they will have in future.
It’s not about being top of the class, or getting the best results. It’s about being your best and having the power to determine your own future.
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