Let’s really revolutionize education

I understand the case for science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education. STEM education has powered many of America’s powerful corporations. Hard to counter that, but I’m going to try.

Some would say STEM education is keeping America competitive.   The education revolution I’m talking about is much broader and deeper.  A more daring leap that will work.

The revolution I’m talking about puts any nation that becomes a Copiosis first-adopter so far beyond the reach of others in terms of any factor worth measuring, other nations would have no choice but to follow the first-adopter’s lead.

The education revolution I’m referring to, which inevitably follows closely behind a transition to a Copiosis economy, acknowledges that not every young person wants to be STEM-educated.  The revolution I’m supporting allows a wide variety of educational paths that are bound to cause exciting inflection points—turning points followed by dramatic change.  New opportunities could result for everyone, including teachers, administrators, activists, and parents, not just artists, musicians, poets, and history majors.

The revolution I support allows education to catch up with the new people being born.  They aren’t fit for desks, classrooms, massive class sizes, and programs constrained by costs.  They don’t want to be forced to learn  corporate and national propaganda.  They want to explore, be inspired, be emancipated on their own terms.

For those who want STEM education also would benefit from such an approach.

I’m not talking about changing the way the education system works.  I’m talking about opening the gates to all kinds of educational alternatives, alternatives that may not work, alternatives that may knock our socks off.  It’s not deregulation.  It’s lowering the barriers.  It’s disruptive from the level of teacher up.  From the level of student up.

Rather than locking down education to a certain style consistent with mass-producing worker bees rather than fully functional human beings, I’m talking about changes that allow each person to reach her full potential, whatever that may be, as determined by her.  I mean a style that trusts people to work together in a context free of earning a living, debt, jobs, and compromise.  I don’t know what the new education system will look like, but letting people whose passion is education work with learners in a context where people are rewarded for results holds great promise.  By results I mean what people actually do with their education in the real world and how well what they do makes people and the planet better off.

In Copiosis economies, this is possible.  In traditional systems where hierarchy, corporate mandates, and political pressure—not emancipating human spirits—shape how our young people learn, we can’t achieve what I’m describing.  Too many forces fight to shape the educational system, including that system’s content—what is taught and what is not taught.  The goal is always producing “job seekers” instead of radical independent thinkers capable of creating success on their own terms.  The former are malleable.  The latter are dangerous because they threaten power.

And yet, humanity’s future depends more on radical independent thinkers than ever before.  Creating success on your own terms is soon going to be the only way to success.  It’s our future.

The blessing that is Copiosis promises education on par with that future.  It’s why our innovation is crucial.  It’s why so many resonate with it.

Humanity isn’t waiting for an education overhaul.  It’s already being born.  Many of its young members are prepared to do what Jacob Barnett did—live authentically despite destructive, coercive attempts to squelch that authenticity.

The traditional system is done.  Yes, it works for some.  Meanwhile how many Jacob Barnetts are out there, having to deal with a status quo second in its inadequacy only to the larger system that perpetuates it.  Well, that and maybe our healthcare system.

That’s another story.