Sept 11
The purpose of education is not to confirm us in some existing version of identity or culture, but to enable us to step outside of it, to view it with fresh eyes, and thus enrich our experience and enlarge our range of choice. (Osbourne, 2008)
I believe that travelling does that as well. Gives a person the chance to experience another culture’s way of being in the world. And then give people the opportunity to examine the positives and negatives in their own culture/country.
I also believe that the afore mentioned quote could be equated to the idea of teaching fish about water. A very interesting thing to do. Explain how to think about that which was previously taken for granted. Something that which learners may haven’t had any previous awareness of.
Another quote I want to record is the following also from the Osbourne article:
Democracy has to be created afresh with each new generation. [To] realize that democratic citizens are not born, but have to be made, that the personal qualities and social norms that underlie democracy need to be taught… Democracy depends on a shared sense of community with fellow citizens who don’t share our values or agree with out beliefs. (Osbourne, 2008)
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Osbourne, K. (2008). Education and Schooling: A Relationship That Can Never Be Taken For Granted. Wiley National Society for the Study of Education, 107(1), 31-32. Online.
