Education: More global, humanistic approach needed

Our schools are rightfully stressing reading, writing and arithmetic, and special education is in its heyday. But perhaps too many educators and parents are unaware of what our modern society stresses and what is actually perpetuated through our schools - success, domination, power, aggressiveness and acquisitiveness.

Children are sensitive, volatile and easily influenced. If the role of education is to help each individual gain self-knowledge; attain true, lasting values; alienate prejudice; and embrace sensitivity to all people as well as help students find a profession they love, children must be able to question each value as they encounter it.

We have traditional content-based curriculum and vocational courses, but have neglected curriculum which helps students realistically face the future. All children should learn the basics, but also increase their sensitivity to all things on Earth so that their traditional knowledge will not become stale and lifeless.

Insistence on knowledge alone deprives students of the human element in their education. We need to teach students to be creative and innovative as adults, which can be accomplished with a more humanistic and global approach to the curriculum.

This story was originally published February 22, 2016 at 12:13 PM with the headline "Education: More global, humanistic approach needed."