A conversation about education
Few weeks ago, Ravi my friend from India shared with me a new education plan where information technology will be taught in elementary school, high school, as well as college. He seemed excited that many schools will be provided with tablet computer called Aakash, prices at $35. He said: “Our government will buy million tablets and distribute them to students, especially students in small towns and villages across India, who are so poor and cannot afford a computer.”
Ravi was so enthusiast on the news. He said: “People in city have access to technology such as the internet but most of the poor who live in remote villages or the slums have been excluded. This Aakash tablet will end that and gives everybody a fair chance to be educated. We also launch a new education program focusing on science and technology. The new approach will start to teach information technology early in elementary, then high school and college. Our government considers the acquisition of technological skills is important to our economy and ensure our people will have good jobs. We need million IT skilled workers to continue our growth. I think this program will help maintain our dominant in the IT industry. Can you imagine few years from now even elementary students can code? That is wonderful isn't it?”
I did not want to make him feel uncomfortable but cautioned him: “I am not sure about this change in education system. For many years, education systems not only provide students with knowledge, but also becoming good persons to their family, good workers to their society, and good citizens to their country. If the new approach is focusing exclusively on technology but not much on other aspect such as being an ethical and responsible person then I think we may lose the balance in education. Today education program is full with classes in many topics such as mathematics, science, history, geography, biology, and citizenship etc. If you add information technologies then which one does you eliminate?”
He hesitated: “We must keep all the science courses.”
I said: “That is probably the conclusion of people in your government too. Everybody think about creating more jobs, more works to grow the economy but ignore the other aspect of education which is develop moral characteristics. Education must teach people to make ethical decision and effective thinking. Education must teach people to think clearly and responsibility, not just for oneself but also for the society. Therefore, teaching technical knowledge to students early is NOT a good approach. We must teach moral and ethic so in the future, when students go to work, no matter what position they have or what job they do, they will do it with moral and integrity. They will not violate the laws or hurt others for their own advantage.”
Ravi was surprised: “You are a science professor. For many years you always advocate improving the education to promote more science and technology. It seems that you have changed your mind.”
I explained: “For many years, I often wonder whether or not our current education is fulfilling its purpose. I have seen well educated people did many bad things and hurt the society. The financial crisis is one example. It created disasters for so many people and almost bankrupt the whole country. What happen in European countries today is also the result of irresponsible educated people in their high positions think for themselves and hurt others. To prevent our society from decay into chaos, education must teach people to weigh evidence for right and wrong; to discern the true from the false; the real from the unreal; and the facts from the fiction. To focus exclusively on technology will create an imbalance in our society and I do not think we should do that. There is place for technology but there is place for moral and ethic too. The function of education is to teach people to think logically and morally. Education without moral will be a menace to society.”
Ravi seemed unconvinced: “We are living in the information age. The inventions of IT govern our life; we are dependent on the inventions and discoveries of IT such as computer, software, electronics, internet, mobile phone. They are useful for our daily activities. We should take advantage of them rather than restrict them.”
I explained: “These are tools for us to use. Information technology is very useful but if they are used without conscience, it could drag us on the path of destruction and ruin. We should learn to use them for the welfare of humanity and the progress of our civilization by having a strong moral code of conduct. A dangerous criminal may be a person gifted with logical reason, but no morals. Intelligence is not enough. Intelligence plus moral character is the goal of education. The complete education gives person not only knowledge, but also moral character. The best education must focus not only on the acquisition of knowledge but also accumulated experience of social living because the purpose of education is to produce good citizens for the country.”
Ravi seemed uncomfortable: “We are living in the globalized world where we need to take advantage of technology to build the strength of our country. For many years, India is a backward country with a lot of poor people. For the past twenty years we have grown to a strong country with significant economic power. It is the result of the education system that focuses on information technology. We just pass the $100 billion dollar on IT export. If we continue to have more skilled workers we could achieve the $250 billion by 2020. We need every young people to have IT skills and with this approach, we could achieve our goal.”
I told him: “Having Information technology to dominate the entire education program will reduce the purpose of education to merely just jobs. You could have many skilled workers and they all have jobs but it would be more dangerous if they do not have good ethical characters. I believe there are different aims for different level of education. Elementary education must start with certain basic principles such as filial to parents, respect teachers, honesty, and family responsibilities. High school education must focus more on being a good citizen, with moral, ethics, empathy, and responsible to society. By then college education can focus on science knowledge and skills. By having strong foundation developed in elementary and high school, students can continue to develop certain moral characters to overcome obstacles and temptations in life and will not practice unethical behavior.”
A good education must start with the goal of develop good citizen. These people must have good personal character; a broad global perspective, and technical knowledge. Focus too much on technical without others is not a good approach.
Sources
- Blogs of Prof. John Vu, Carnegie Mellon University
