How Modern Day School System Creates The Army Of Mediocre

Albert Einstein wrote, “Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.”

School is dead, long live the school. The modern day school hasn’t changed much since the age of industrial revolution. Yet they claim to prepare students for the future! Our history so far does not know how to teach children.

We birth children of golden proportions, we birth incredibly divine, smart and creative children, and then day by day, step by step we try to lower their geniuses to the crowds level. In order that all would be equalized. It is impossible to stretch the short, but you can shorten the long. Thus we find ourselves with the same dilemma - to create a reasonable average type of man who thinks stereotypically but usefully.

Wouldn’t one fit all make the majority of students feel like a fish that was made to climb a tree? In the end no two persons are the same. We believe that wonderful and obedient children have to continue to attend school. And what do they get there? Mouthful of geography, a thumbnail of history, a fragment of literary, an excerpt from the poem, a mathematical formula that has nothing to do with his further life.

Sure science is important but no more than art or dance and there is more than one way to learn the same subject. If I am better at mathematics, then maybe I can easier approach a certain subject from the angle of mathematics, and will be able to resolve it easier. If I am a good storyteller, perhaps I can solve the problem by using a certain story, etc. You must take into account the child's abilities and his certain nature.

And thus you start combining things. Not all children in the class can count equally easily or draw in the same way... Some are better at drawing, others – at reading, etc.
Then, for example, you give the task for a team. You let the children to select the team themselves. And they will do that not according to the similarities of their skills but, perhaps, based on their differences

In addition, the fact that you are the best mathematician does not mean that you are simply the best. Because every child is the best at certain things – either the best storyteller, the reader, the artist, the dancer, the best at sports, etc... You can find 20 kids in the class who are ‘simply the best‘ in their own way.

I know this might sound like a dream but countries like Finland are doing impressive things they have shorter school days, homework is non-existent and they focus on collaboration instead of competition.

And here is a fact: their educational system outperforms every other country in the world. I am not saying that it is the only approach. There are plenty of other working methods like Montessori or Kazini. Each is different but at the core level the same. Their focus is not to create robot zombies but people who think creatively, innovatively, critically, interdependently, with the ability to connect and realize themselves at activities they excel.
We cannot know what methods will be best in the future, we cannot impose one system for everyone, but a systematic approach must be.

About The Project

We have traveled around the world and collected insights, ideas and thoughts of the gurus, prominent people and pioneers on how they envision the educational system. What should be changed and towards what direction. What is already done and how successful it is. The thoughts and approaches of these people might shock you! But the biggest shock that you might face is that these approaches work and are already outperforming the traditional schooling that we grew up with.

The First Guru

The 1st interview that I would like to share with you is with Øistein Kristiansen the master of pencils the guru of drawing. Øistein started as a street artist in Norway, and a few years later he became a renowned illustrator in Singapore, working with brands such as Vogue and Elle Magazine. He is best-known for his TV-shows, such as "Learn to draw", "Box Yourself" and "Right On Top" - shown on channels like Nick Jr Asia, Al Jazeera, NRK in Norway and many more. These programmes have made him a household name in over 70 countries. This is his thoughts on schools and happiness.

Post Author

Simonas Radkevicius

Documentary Authors

Darius Radkevicius
Gintaras Seputis

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