This article by Michael Strong argues that our current educational system is not a good match for our evolutionary psychology. Maybe if I haven’t expressed this idea strongly or eloquently enough you will be convinced by this excellent piece.
In conclusion he asks:
“ If schooling-as-we-know-it is excessively different from our environment of evolutionary adaptation, then how should we rethink schooling in order to create healthier adolescent populations in the future?”
Unfortunately he doesn’t really offer up any solutions in this particular post. I am not sufficiently familiar with the author to know what his preferred solutions are, but it looks like they mainly include breaking up the government monopoly on education.
Here, he offers ten alternative school designs, none of which seem that serious as a complete alternative to the existing system.
Here he presents a pretty reasonable homeschooling model. The basics are that from ages 1 to 6 you should mainly be concerned with teaching a child how to read (in a loving environment). Then, they should read, read, read (along with some writing and some math) up until high school age. Then they should take some AP courses, study for the SAT, and engage in a “substantial enterprise” which is anything where they can achieve “superb performance.” Interestingly, he also advocates spending money to hire a tutor for about 4 hrs/week, 30 weeks per year.
I agree with most of what he says, but would place more emphasis on how to develop and transmit a family identity and culture.
