https://monoskop.org/images/1/17/Illich_Ivan_Deschooling_Society.pdf
I wanted to explore a few alternative educational systems and experiments, that suggest an alternative model or practices to those of the mainstream western educational system.
A colleague and friend recommended I look at the work of Ivan Illich in Deschooling Society.
Illich wanted to separate education from schools. He called for the abolition of the institution of schools (& other public institutions). He also thought that there was a problematic connection between institutional education and the western consumer society and economy. He thought that the schools system stifles learning and curiosity, rather than fosters it. Illich thought that, the fact that school was an environment where we are told what to learn and when, leaves little room for bringing your own interests and life experience into it.
Illich also discussed the role of the educator, that only those that have been initiated by the institution to a certain level of qualification, were permitted to become educators within the system. He saw this as a problem because it perpetuated the narrow focus of what education and learning are, and is also be elitist and prizes one form of education and knowledge over another.
The institutional school, he believed fosters helplessness and restriction. He saw schools as creating and perpetuating an educational hegemony.
But what are the alternatives? What could bring about human liberation and fulfilment according to Illich?
Skills Exchnages (in the community)
Learning Webs, a network of teaching & leaning including reference services where the population could access resources and materials (in a way similar to libraries).
He advocated the use of technology, even though he was writing before Web 1.0 came into being.
My questions and reflections on Illich
I wonder what he would have made of the vast online learning communities that are on the web, YouTube is a massive skills sharing resource for every day learning, from boat building, to cooking & coding.
Are formal accredited education programmes, taught in institutions, of less value to the millennial generation, who appear to have with teach yourself mind sets, facilitated by Web 2.0?
My other concluding thoughts were that although this is a radical proposal which seems unlikely to be implemented in full, there are aspects of Illich’s ideas and beliefs that I agree with and elements of his proposals that can influence my approach as an educator, albeit working within the system. I particularly agree with his point that leaning is life long and that only part of our learning happens in educational institutions. This institutional learning is however often prized above other forms of learning and other skills gained and experiencial leaning. I myself know that although I value my formal education, my life learning and experience has been equal if not more significant.