What Education Should Be

Philosophy

I believe that the role of the educator is a singularly important one as it is the passing on of the principles of life to the next generation. How we, as educators, teach will have profound effects on the next generation and indeed on the future definition of what exactly 'Irish' means. It is of course, impossible to live without presuppositions; it is singularly important that teachers analyse their presuppositions, to make sure that they are the best and will result in the highest quality of life. I believe very much that the attitude of the teacher means everything and that teachers must be enthusiastic, committed and aware of the dynamic in their classrooms.

Personally I believe that the most important presupposition a teacher can have is a belief in God –thus providing a theistic education as opposed to a humanistic education. Intellectual ability of itself is neither moral nor immoral; it is simply a tool, and will have always an underlying belief behind it. Richard Shaull wrote in his introduction to Freire's Pedagogy of the Oppressed, that 'there is no such thing as a neutral educational process'. It could be argued that some of the world's greatest criminals were highly educated – Hitler, Al Capone etc. They had fully realised the potential of their minds, and yet their ability was used to a terrible end. Likewise it is the duty of teachers not simply to instil knowledge and intellectual ability in their students but also to give them a foundation upon which they can build their lives. Young people need certainties – the chaos of society today will support this observation. They need to be taught to look to the Giver of intellectual ability. An education is weak if it cannot tell a child where he came from, why he's here and where he's going. It is for this reason that I believe that values are as important as facts and knowledge. Values determine the quality of our culture, its length and its endurance.

Furthermore such a belief encourages critical thinking and independent learning. I can testify to this from my own educational experience. Belief in God gave me, as a young person, confidence that my life had a reason; evolutionary thought teaches children that they came from nowhere and that they are going nowhere and it is no surprise that societies that propagate such ideas have high depression and suicide rates. I was encouraged to understand issues, concepts and theories for myself; I saw life as something exciting, and I knew there was a special role for me to play in the world. Education in Ireland today is failing to inspire young people to believe in themselves and to realise their own potentials; rather 'as young people enter adulthood, they find life proposed to them in a package bearing 'instructions for use' and they are handed a prescription instead of being offered choice.

My philosophy of education begins with a moral foundation and then goes on to nurture understanding and to encourage critical, independent learning. The role of the teacher is crucially important; he or she has the responsibility to value each individual child as being equally worthwhile, and to help every pupil to reach their full potential and understand their reason for existence.

 

Audience with Gilmore

Eamonn Gilmore came to NUI Galway last night. I went into the lecture hall where he was to speak vaguely excited, wondering what I would hear, willing to listen to what the man had to say and hopefully to challenge him with a couple of questions.

I guess I am naive to believe that everyone thinks like myself, and appreciates discussion, interaction with ideas and simply a bit of a decent debate. The State of Ireland was built on the principles of freedom. The philosophy of democracy is built on a foundation of openness, respect for essential human liberties, and a sincere honesty.

Today's reality is not so. Recent Irish history has shown that the bit about honesty was buried and forgotten about years ago. As for human liberties, there are so many new ones being invented every day, its hard to keep track; the words 'I have the right to...' can be applied to almost....everything. Except murder. Unless of course you can a bribe a psychologist to write out a certificate for you, or you've got a granny who told you it was all right to give her a bit of an overdose if she went unconscious someday. Openess is a myth. Irish political society is as clannish and cagey and suspicious as the KGB. And that goes for the whole shebang, Student Unions included.

I firmly hope that I've learned my lesson once and for all from last night. I was enraged coming out, to be honest. Here is a man who looks good on posters. And on economic policies. And last night he did a simple job of buttering up a crowd of giddy students and some dedicated gang members with a few jokes, a couple of smiles and the promise of jobs in energy conservation projects and in the food sector. Wow. I thought we might have learned our lesson from Lisbon 2. Those make-believe jobs that Jim Higgins and Co. promised still haven't materialised, and we know they never ever will. It seems that we've lost the astuteness that used to single us out as a clever people who couldn't be fooled. We're being deceived by politicians left, right and center, and we're still smiling inanely at the latest pretty face that shows up on our screens, promising us the world, when he hasn't got two cents to rub together.

Those who can tell lies with self-assurance are bad enough. When they can get away with it is even worse. Mr. Gilmore mentioned a couple of times policies which sounded dangerous to me, including the nationalisation of the health system, education and public services. He also expressed a desire to change the Irish Constitution - saying that 'the Constitution was written in a different time' and that 'we need to determine now, what sort of Ireland we want.' Well, dear Sir, I know exactly what sort of Ireland I want, and you're not in it. He supports government controlled markets and is emphatic that free markets are dangerous - even though in some countries they've led to great wealth, independence and development. Mr. Gilmore wants to do away with that which has made Ireland unique - its Constitution, its attractive markets, its liberty. Recession has hit us, but we must not sacrifice the most important aspects of our country in an attempt to get money back into Ireland.

Mr Gilmore and his party will not be getting any vote for me. I shudder however to think of what awaits us in the future if Fianna Fáil loses the next election - a FineGael/Labour coalition. Definitely a very bad nightmare. I will be expecting the worst and will be try to be ready for it when it comes - but if I must go down, it won't be without a fight. I know the people of Ireland and mushy as it might sound, I am a patriotic soul at heart.

Suprise suprise - I never got to ask a question.

Whatever happened to Belief?

Belief is today an object of ridicule. To express an opinion is worthy of a few wide-eyed, frigid stares; to act on that opinion is indicative of insanity. A society permeated with political correctness and a vastly overexaggerated definition of tolerance has resulted in a situation where pluralism professes kingship and apathy has set in like rapidly-spreading cancer. The physical needs and desires are catered for with diligent devotion - the designer clothes, the widescreen, flatscreen TV, the organic, reduced-fat food, the Iphone and the AppleMac and the SatNav - while other facets of the human being are slowly starved and eventually die a slipping - away death.

For to be truly complete human beings, we must believe. And belief is only validated in supporting action, is only satisfied when it translates into works. Faith without works is dead. He who lives to satisfy the basic superficial needs of life cares only for part of himself. Refusing to probe into the potential of the soul and the depths of the mind is a tragedy, for it makes a man who is merely a carcass with no heart, a jewel box with nothing inside.

And so I take the plunge and dare to believe. I dare to pick up those tools with which each human being has been endowed and use them - cautiously at first and then with greater ease. I fill myself with something personal and original , so that when something else synthetic and man-made comes along to occupy empty space, I can politely smile and shake my head, because I have no vacancies.