…….Continued from previous blog
The term ‘new’ is often miss interpreted as improved, advanced or ‘of better quality’, when in fact it only implies that something hasn’t been perceived before, at least not in its present form.
The new model of education I find lacks efficiency by over emphasising on theory, especially through on-line crash courses, designed with intent to save money, camouflaged with a required, presumably high standard, 100% passing mark. Many of those courses could, ironically, be out-sourced by the student. It is an automated system that ignores any of the requested feedback or constructive criticism, thus it contributes little or nothing to the development of the student’s professional competence. Competence is a human quality and a journey, not recognised under the new model, by rigid certification orientated bureaucracy.
The new model often requires us to conform to countless rules and regulations, from the practical and valuable all the way to the irrelevant, as I have experienced on many occasions. Preoccupied with all this conformity, one could easily forget to teach, or to ‘get the job done’, like the two pilots, who forgot to fly the plane and crashed, whilst attending to the pre-landing check list.
On a larger scale, let’s be aware of the fact that a new model may also magnify and grow into a ‘new world order’, such as the one President Bush announced after 9/11, when he declared war on terror. It may also harbour sinister, even evil intentions, such as Hitler’s ‘new world order’ with the genocide of millions of people at its core.
New models come and go. Some take root, but many prove to be a flop, like ‘new maths’ which was introduced during my school years and soon followed by a ‘return to basics’, because basics ‘simply worked’. New models are created and discredited by competing experts, or teams of experts this is reflected for example, in the ever changing and sometimes reversing ‘first aid procedures’ which only causes confusion in a ‘real life situation’ and puts lives at risk. Talking about first aid, I have just completed the on-line module of my refresher course, which is supposed to let you study at ‘your own pace’. Ironically, the system is set to turn the pages at ‘it’s’ own pace, suitable only for speed readers and it causes distraction by constantly having to pause or reverse the pages. When studying at my own pace, I would imagine, that an automatically self-progressing system be an option, rather than the standard.
Let’s treat new models with scrutiny, take on board what’s useful and discard the rest if possible.
However, should a ‘newer’ new model be introduced by ‘Big Brother’ next time my credentials come up for renewal, I guess I will have to erase all my knowledge and enrol in yet another ‘re-education camp’.