A Proper Education
A mother wrote to me: “I took your advice and besides regular school, I also sent my 10 years old son to a particular school that teaches Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) to make sure that he will have the skills when he grows up. But I am still worried about the future because I do not know what will happen and what can I do? Please advise.”
Answer: No one can predict the future, but I am sure that it will be the difference from today. Will it be better or worse? It depends on many factors, but I believe the most important factor is the proper education of the next generation. Because they will have to live with a lot of changes so, they need to be prepared. Today our future generation is still in school but what they learn, how they learn, how much they learn will determine their future and the future of our country. Although education is the foundation of society, we should NOT depend solely on the education system to teach our children. The family should share this responsibility. As parents, you need to provide your son with additional training at home so when grow up, he can be a responsible person with ethical and moral characters. Even you send your son to STEM training to build a good knowledge for the future, BUT there are more things that you can do.
Being a technology knowledgeable person is NOT enough because an educated person must also have the moral characters. To be an ethically educated person means regardless of what job they do, they will always base their decision on that ethical foundation that they learned in school and from their family. Only by developing these characters, they can set examples for other to follow and future generation can look at them as the standard for their action and over time, we can transform our society for the better.
Why today the society is not as good as it should? Because many people do not have the moral characters. Many are easily tempted by money, greed, fame and personal interests, etc. so they cannot distinguish what is wrong and what is right. As more people are confused and behave badly, the society becomes a battle ground when people are fighting for everything and disregard honor, ethical and moral foundation. My questions are: “Is the current education system adequately preparing our future generation to take responsibility for themselves, for their family, and for the country?”, “Is the education system adequately helping them to develop a strong character so they can defense our country?” If not then the family must step in and provide it so our young children can grow up with principal characters to be a responsible person.
Why today education is not what it should be? Because some leaders do not pay attention to the goal of education. The goal of education NOT ONLY provides the knowledge BUT ALSO help to develop the moral characters of the students. Why today classroom is not what it should be? Because teachers cannot make a living by teaching but must work an extra job to support their family. Why today students are not what they should be? Because they do not see that education can help them to achieve their goals for their future. Many do not want to study because they see our obsolete curricula and unemployed graduates with no future.
A proper education should begin with the responsibility, moral and ethics where students learn to be a responsible person, for themselves, for their family, for their society. Young students need to be nurtured and support so they can grow to be a good and responsible person. I believe both teachers and parents must work together to provide the proper education to future generations so they can be skilled persons with strong characters to build and protect our country to be prosperous. I believe everything begins with education and with a proper education, anything is possible. Proper education is NOT the responsibility the school or teachers, BUT everybody and the family play a critical role in it. Many parents are so busy and do not have enough time to spend with their children. They would send their children to schools, additional tutorials, extra classes for specific skills but not pay enough attention to the development of the characters of their children and that could be a mistake.
Sources
- Blogs of Prof. John Vu, Carnegie Mellon University
